Sports Therapy

Sports therapy is a regulated healthcare profession specialising in the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries sustained in sport and exercise. It draws on anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, clinical assessment, and therapeutic techniques to help athletes and active individuals recover from injury, return to performance, and prevent future problems. The profession sits adjacent to physiotherapy and sports medicine, with a specific focus on the musculoskeletal system and the sporting context in which injuries occur.

At Birmingham City University, this three-year full-time programme is accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists and is built around innovative practice-based learning. You will study musculoskeletal anatomy, sports injury pathology, rehabilitation programming, manual therapy techniques, taping and strapping, exercise physiology, and the psychological aspects of injury and recovery. The accreditation by the Society of Sports Therapists is important: it underpins your eligibility for professional registration, which is the standard entry requirement for many employment contexts, including working with professional sporting organisations.

A sandwich year gives you extended professional experience, and work placement opportunities are integrated throughout the programme.

Graduates register with the Society of Sports Therapists and work in professional sports clubs, elite athletic environments, private clinical practice, NHS rehabilitation settings, gyms and health clubs, and the armed forces. With experience, sports therapists develop into specialist roles in areas such as strength and conditioning, sports medicine support, or clinic management. Some also progress to postgraduate study in physiotherapy, exercise rehabilitation, or sports science, and the skills the degree develops are also valued in occupational health and workplace wellbeing settings.