Sports Therapy

Sports therapy applies the principles of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and rehabilitation science to the prevention and management of injury in physically active individuals. It is a clinical discipline, distinct from sports science or physiotherapy, focused specifically on enabling athletes and active people to return to performance as safely and quickly as possible. The field demands both scientific knowledge and hands-on clinical skill, and the ability to assess, treat, and rehabilitate injuries in real performance environments.

At Edge Hill University, this applied degree provides substantial hands-on experience working with clients in the on-campus clinic, putting theory into practice from early in the programme. You will study the anatomy and physiology of the musculoskeletal system, injury assessment and diagnosis, manual therapy, sports massage, rehabilitation planning, and the management of acute injuries in sport. The programme is accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists, the professional body for the discipline, and includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you extensive clinical and international experience before graduation.

It runs over three years full-time.

Graduates of sports therapy programmes work with sports teams, in private clinics, with national governing bodies, in leisure and fitness settings, and increasingly in occupational health and active rehabilitation contexts. The accreditation provides a clear pathway to professional registration and the ability to practise independently. Some graduates go on to postgraduate study in physiotherapy, sports medicine, or rehabilitation science, while others move into coaching, performance analysis, or education roles within sport.