People in the United Kingdom I have a question about Degrees

[BBC]

Have any of you done both physiotherapy & sports therapy degrees? if so were you able to do one course for a short period of time because of your experince in the other?

***sigh*** i wish you could do both in one go

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[Physiobase]

One of my senior physios has done both a sports science degree and also a physio degree. He had also done a massage diploma pre physio. Whilst these gave him some useful knowledge in a small component of the outpatient part of physiotherapy it did not make his UK degree any shorter. The best one could hope for is exclusion from a subject or two. This might make a semester or year a bit easier but the overall course length would be the same..... Sigh..........

[BBC]

thanx for your response physio base could i ask you what your physio intended to do with both those degrees because im intending to do Sport Science or Sport therapy and do physiotherapy as a futher degree.

Also could you tell me why football(soccer) clubs have a both a physiotherpist and a sports therapist these days?

[Physiobase]

Sports science was his stepping stone as he did not have the grads to do physio directly from school. He then used this to earn some money as he managed a large health and fitness studio. This gained him access to physio where he maintains a keen interest in iron man events and adventure racing. This is both for himself and his clients.

Having a sports science degree assists you with some of the applied physiology when studying in the UK. In Australia however the applied physiology componet of the physio course is excellent and much above that of a sports science degree. Unfortunately this is not so in the UK. In OZ the sports science degrees do however have excellent training in human movement and kinesiology.

As far as I am aware (and this is biased) Football clubs have exercise trainers as the are cheaper to do run of the mill training. A lot of physios would not work for the money as a fulltime job and would manage the input from the trainers. This is like the practices I have worked in in Canada where we emplyed several AT's (Athletic Trainers). They were an essential and valued part of our team but did work under our supervision.

The term Sports Therapist is perhaps a bit over titled. (Can't wait for the comments on that one).

[BBC]

''The term Sports Therapist is perhaps a bit over titled'' how comes? lol

[Physiobase]

Therapy relies firstly on a sound medical and physical assessment and diagnosis of injuries presented prior to exercise and as a result of exercise, not just the application of a technique or exercise. Sports Trainer would perhaps be a better term for most of these courses. Not sure how much diagnosis about disease process a sports therapy degree has.

[BBC]

oh I see, thanx for the reply

[alophysio]

You think that Sports Therapist is bad...

I work in a gym-based setting where the personal trainers are called "Exercise Specialists" but only after 3-6months worth of courses. A first year grad with some gym experience would be more qualified. Having said that, some are actually quite good but think that Internal Oblique contraction = core activation!

Of course, I can't even call myself a Sports Physio or anything with specialist because of restrictions on physios! I am but a lowly physio just trying to do his job...

[Physiobase]

I think if you quit the APA you can call yourself whatever you like!

[domtie10]

'The term Sports Therapist is perhaps a bit over titled.'

you only say this to try and give sports therapists a bad name. physios are becoming ever more worried of sports therapists, especially as they are just about to gain state registration in the uk, with physios finding it very difficult to find jobs.

in reply to why soccer clubs are employing sports therapists. its because they are becoming more aware of what a sports therpist is trained to do. for example, on university courses, physiotherapsits do work experience in hospitals, where in a day they may experience rehabilitation of a 60 yr old recovering from a hip replacement to a young child experiencing breathing problems.

a sporths therapist is covering uni sports games, doing on field assessment of injuries, pre/post match massage, warm ups, first aid, immediate treatment and then refer them onto a sports injury clinic where their tutors rehab and treat the injured students with the students shadowing and doing appropiate treatment where needed.

this is far more useful for a professional sports team, and your statement 'The term Sports Therapist is perhaps a bit over titled' has nothing but fear written all over it.

i suggest that sports therapy is the new specialised course in sports injuries, whereas physiotherapy is know seen by professional clubs as, dare i say it..... 'jack of all trades.'

[Physiobase]

Not at all. PT's do have a use for sports therapists although in places like Canada they are more appropriately named Athletic trainers or AT's. They are very useful to have about as the PT can assess the injury and provide the strategy and the AT can then perform the training guidance. They in fact rather good at that part, and the motivation as well.

In terms of professional clubs, well let's just say most people who work for them are not much more than volunteers or dare I say it "dogs bodies". AT's come alot cheaper than PT's, they are often more enthusiastic as often they are huge fans of the sport they are working with, and... well... to be honest the manager has a lot more voice over an AT than they do a PT so in relation to politics an AT is also preferred. None of this however has anything to do with the title of "therapist".

However in countries like Australia where the PT is considered a vital part of the team we will see them working directly with the team Dr and manager about the management of million dollar assets. They to often have a small army of AT's under their control and they do find them a very important part of the team management. Unfortunately in the UK, time and time again we see players returning from injury only to be reinjured in the first 15 minutes. Michael Owen springs to mind. I suppose that is due to the lack of PT input to these clubs and they lack of injury diagnosis and appropriate rehabilitation.

Physiotherapy and Physiotherapist are now protected titles in the UK. The only way anyone is now able to refer to this title is if they have a physio degree and are registered thereafter with the Health Professions council. As for sports therapists.....well diversional therapists are registered as well, that has nothing to do with the role of PT's in the UK.

Many individuals who study sports science and human movement go on to do post graduate degrees in physiotherapy. This is an excellent line to take if sports is your desired vocation. And for that reason I would recommend it to anyone who couldn't get into a physio course directly. The information gained during a sports course will assist your PT degree and rounding as a sports physio... although you won't actually get any study credits for it

[footloose]

is it good or bad???...quitting the APA?
some insight plz.

[footloose]

btw, i really like your take on the 'sports therapist' bit; although i myself have not worked in the sports arena as a physio, but i can surely tell where you are coming from!

[Physiobase]

Well as for the APA? One should become a member of not based on the services supplied to the Physio. The launch of the Physiobase PI insurance product several years ago caused a bug shakeup in the APA as physios didn't need to remain members unless their needs were catered for. I am pleased to say that this has worked and in recent years the APA had made numerous strides to improve it's organisation and transparency.

That said the APA is becoming ever more controling on what a PT can and cannot call themself. You seem to have to pay money and do the right APA related courses and joing the official interest group to hang various signs on your door, e.g. Sports Physio. I think though if it all gets to much you can always stay state registered which alows you to practise and then call yourself whatever you like.

For the record I am still a member of the APA as it is a needed organisation for the work it does at a governmental level.