Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation - BSc (Hons)

Students will cover the biomechanics of movement, movement patterns of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk; bones and surface markings of the lower limb, upper limb and spine; joints of the lower limb, upper limb and spine; muscles (origin, insertion and actions) of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk; soft tissue structures of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk; and nerves of the lower limb, upper limb and trunk.

The main aims of this module are to explore and gain knowledge of human physiology. Students will study the major systems of the human body including the musculoskeletal system, the cardiovascular system and the nervous system. Students will gain an understanding of their structure and function.

This module looks at the systematic processes involved in testing fitness. Consideration is given to the evaluation of fitness in both the field and in the laboratory. A range of fitness tests for a variety of parameters of fitness are covered. Students are taught to consider the reliability and validity of the tests as well as the specificity of the test to the population they are working with.

A synopsis of topics included in this module are:

- Health screening

- Fitness assessment & evaluation

- Principles of sport & exercise training

This module will cover topics including, but not limited to: Introduction to referencing and plagiarism, Introduction to academic writing style, Introduction to history of science, Introduction to critical thinking, Introduction to research methods, Introduction to statistical concept and research ethics.

This module will enable students to interpret the pathophysiology of a range of sports injuries by mechanism of injury, anatomical region and tissue type. The module develops the students' ability to relate the mechanism of injury to the pathology of sports injuries. Students will also be required to understand the risk factors associated with sports injuries.

This module will introduce skills in problem solving and clinical reasoning including subjective and objective assessment and the relation to presenting signs and symptoms. The module develops your ability to examine and clinically assess your client, focusing on the upper and lower limbs. You will learn how to assess range of movement, muscle length and strength, ligamentous stability as well as how and when to apply a number of special tests.

This module will enable students to acquire an understanding of sports massage, in order to practically demonstrate a range of sports massage skills effectively and safely. The module also develops the students' ability to record and review their own sports massage sessions with clients.

Content will include all skills required in order to carry out a full body sports massage. Basic sports massage strokes such as effleurage, petrissage, tapotement and frictions will be included. These strokes will be applied on the back, shoulders, gluteals, legs, feet, arms, hands, chest, neck and abdomen.

Underpinning knowledge will include record keeping, professional ethics and code of practice, as well as health and safety regulations.

This module will provide students with a grounding in training theory and application, specifically looking at programme design and implementation in health and athletic performance.

Indicative content includes:

- Principles of sport & exercise training

- Training methodology

- Programme design & organisation

- Adaptations to training

This module will take students through the research study design process. In collaboration with a member of staff (supervisor), students will design and produce a research and ethics proposal that will be carried out at Stage 3 as their Dissertation Project. Sufficient detail and rigor in this module should allow dissertation projects to be undertaken at the start of Stage 3.

A synopsis of the curriculum

Introduction and knowledge check

Independent and paired t-tests

Regression analysis

Further regression analysis

Qualitative research

Independent ANOVA

Factorial ANOVA

Repeated measures ANOVA

Non-parametric data

Principles of Rehabilitation will enable you to recognise and describe the different stages and components of rehabilitation. Youwill learn how to progress athletes from one stage to the next and also recognise when an athlete needs to regress their rehabilitation programme. You will learn how to adapt exercises according to your clients' needs. The different stages of healing and recovery of a range of sports injuries will be taken into account

This module is an introduction to a variety of treatment modalities including manual therapy techniques, electrophysical modalities, bracing and taping techniques and analysis tools that can be used e.g. for gait assessment. Therapeutic modalities for rehabilitators will enable you, to pursue inquiry into interventions in the treatment of common peripheral and vertebral dysfunction and the theory that underlies practice.This module develops your ability to select and use therapeutic modalities that are commonly used in rehabilitation. You will be required to analyse current issues in the use of therapeutic modalities within a rehabilitation environment. You will learn a range of interventions and skills in the treatment of common joint dysfunctions.

In this module, you will be required to complete hours at a supervised work placement in addition to the lectures and practical seminars.

Applied Rehabilitation will enable you to apply the principles of rehabilitation to different tissues and injuries within the body.You will formulate sports specific rehabilitation programmes for their athletes and clients individually and as part of group based rehabilitation. In this module, you will be required to complete hours at a supervised work placement in addition to the lectures and practical seminars.

What does psychology have to do with sport, exercise, and rehabilitation? In this module, you will learn how these are closely related. You will also learn about psychological and emotional responses to sports injuries and chronic conditions.

Topics covered in this module include: adherence to rehabilitation programmes, the importance of motivation, dangerous behaviours in sport, and applied psychological interventions for the injured athlete.

This module will enable students to apply the principles of rehabilitation to different tissues and injuries within the body using specialised equipment and techniques and build on their knowledge from previous modules. Students will be able to apply their prior knowledge to different rehabilitation equipment, pre and post operation and specialist areas and formulate sports specific rehabilitation sessions and programmes for their athletes and clients. Students will learn how to screen athletes and how to formulate group based exercise sessions and programmes. Students will study how rehabilitation progresses and how outcomes are measured and assessed.

This module will allow students to develop knowledge in epidemiological analysis of common injuries in different sports and exercise activities and risk factors for injury in specific populations. Students will develop an understanding of an athletes needs analysis and profiles of specific sports and athletic populations. Students will apply this knowledge to design and implement screening and prevention programmes. Students will evaluate injury prevention and return to play programmes by using outcome measures. Students will learn about return to sport criteria for different components of fitness and rehabilitation. These will include strength, proprioception, speed, agility, Range of Movement (ROM), flexibility, cardiovascular. A range of both clinical/lab and field based tests will be covered during the module. Specialised issues relating to specific sports and body regions will also be covered.

- Exercise prescription for the asymptomatic older adult

- Physical activity & cardiovascular diseases

- Physical activity & metabolic diseases

- Physical activity & neurological impairment

- Physical activity & orthopaedic diseases

- Physical activity & pulmonary diseases

- Exercise in cardiac rehabilitation

- Exercise psychology

Soft Tissue Techniques will enable students to pursue inquiry into the treatment of selected soft tissue injuries, using a variety of soft tissue techniques. This module develops the students’ ability to use critical analysis and clinical reasoning skills in the application of soft tissue techniques.

Students will be required to analyse current issues in the use of soft tissue techniques within the field of Sport and Exercise Therapy.

A synopsis of topics included in this module are:

- Deep Tissue Massage

- Soft Tissue Release

- Reciprocal Inhibition

- Trigger Points

- Positional Release

- Taping techniques

The course takes the form of an individual research study. There are 4 taught lectures covering the management of a research project. The research projects are then conducted with the supervision of a department tutor who will advise the student on issues such as methodology, analysis and presentation. It is the student’s responsibility to organise, conduct, analyse and present the research as required.