Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation with a Foundation Year
Sports therapy and rehabilitation is a discipline concerned with understanding how injuries to the musculoskeletal system occur, how they can be assessed and diagnosed in the field, and how they can be treated and rehabilitated through manual therapy, exercise, and progressive loading. It occupies the space between sport and medicine, working with athletes and active individuals to prevent injury, manage acute problems, and support the return to full function after damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Practitioners combine anatomical and physiological knowledge with practical clinical skills and the communication abilities needed to support patients through what can be slow and frustrating recovery processes.
At the University of Kent, this programme is designed for people who want to understand how injuries occur and how to diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate them. You will explore anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, soft tissue techniques, rehabilitation protocols, and the clinical skills needed to assess and manage a range of sports injuries. The programme includes a foundation year, providing additional preparation before the main degree content begins, and is offered on a part-time basis, giving you flexibility to balance your studies with other commitments.
The combination of scientific grounding and practical clinical skill development means you graduate with both the knowledge and the hands-on competence to work in sports therapy and rehabilitation contexts across a range of settings.
Graduates from sports therapy and rehabilitation degrees work in professional and amateur sport, physiotherapy support roles, fitness and rehabilitation clinics, NHS physiotherapy teams as support practitioners, and private practice. Many pursue professional membership of the Society of Sports Therapists and maintain continuing professional development throughout their careers. Postgraduate study in physiotherapy, sports medicine, or related health professions is available for those who wish to develop their clinical expertise further or qualify in a regulated health profession.