Sports Therapy
Sports therapy is a clinical discipline concerned with the prevention, assessment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions in physically active populations. It draws on anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, sports medicine and rehabilitation science to support injured individuals in returning to full physical activity, whether that is everyday life or elite athletic performance. Sports therapists work alongside physiotherapists, sports medicine doctors and strength and conditioning professionals in a range of clinical and sporting settings, applying evidence-based assessment and treatment techniques.
At Hartpury University, this three-year full-time degree develops your practical hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge across sports therapy, exercise science, sports medicine and research. Hartpury is a specialist sport and exercise science institution with strong industry connections and excellent practical facilities, and the degree benefits from teaching by staff with real professional experience in the field. You will study musculoskeletal anatomy, injury assessment and diagnosis, soft tissue therapy, exercise rehabilitation, taping and strapping, emergency care and sports nutrition, developing the full range of clinical competences that a sports therapy professional needs.
A sandwich year placement and a work placement are built into the programme, giving you significant clinical experience in sporting and healthcare settings that is essential for developing professional confidence and competence.
You will develop practical assessment and treatment skills alongside the evidence-based reasoning and communication abilities that effective clinical practice requires. The ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and to manage injury cases from initial assessment through to return-to-sport is a key goal of the programme.
Graduates move into professional sport support roles, private clinical practice, NHS and community settings, fitness and wellness facilities, occupational health, and sports development. Many pursue further professional development and membership of bodies such as the Society of Sports Therapists, and postgraduate study in sports therapy, physiotherapy or sports medicine is a pathway for those who want to develop deeper specialist expertise.