Sport and Exercise Therapy

Sport and exercise therapy is a clinical discipline focused on the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries in sport and physical activity settings. Sports and exercise therapists work with athletes and active individuals to identify the causes and nature of injuries, provide therapeutic interventions, design rehabilitation programmes, and support a safe return to activity. The profession demands both detailed scientific knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics and the interpersonal skills to work effectively with clients who are often in pain and under pressure to return to performance.

At York St John University, this three-year full-time programme includes a foundation year and a sandwich year with work placements, giving you a well-supported route into the profession with significant practical experience built in. The foundation year provides a structured introduction to the biological sciences and clinical knowledge that the main degree builds on, making it accessible to students who need a strong academic foundation before entering the professional curriculum. You will learn to reduce the risk of injury through screening and conditioning, to assess and diagnose musculoskeletal problems, to apply therapeutic treatments such as soft tissue techniques and electrotherapy, to design and deliver rehabilitation programmes, and to manage the return to sport process.

The programme develops your clinical reasoning alongside your practical technique, preparing you to work safely and effectively with athletes of all levels.

Graduates go on to work as sports and exercise therapists with professional and amateur sports clubs, in private therapy clinics, at universities and schools, and in rehabilitation and performance centres. Many pursue further qualifications or membership of professional bodies in sports therapy, physiotherapy, or strength and conditioning. Postgraduate study in sports medicine, sports rehabilitation, or physiotherapy is a natural route for those who wish to develop advanced clinical expertise.