Sports Rehabilitation and Conditioning BSc Degree

Program Overview

The University of Northampton's Sport Rehabilitation and Conditioning BSc program provides practical training and knowledge in assessing, treating, and rehabilitating injuries and developing injury prevention strategies, preparing graduates for careers in sports rehabilitation, therapy, or strength and conditioning. With a strong focus on hands-on skills and real-world experience, this program ensures students are equipped for success in the field.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The University of Northampton’s Sport Rehabilitation and Conditioning BSc course is aimed at students who are committed to working with the public, athletes and populations of all ages to support improvements in the public’s health and wellbeing. On this sports rehabilitation course, you will apply both academic and practical skills to assess, treat and rehabilitate people from injury and illness and develop injury prevention strategies. This practical-based Sport Rehabilitation and Conditioning BSc (Hons) degree will equip students with the hands-on skills needed while our active blended learning approach will engage and support students both during and outside of the taught sessions. As an accredited member of the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT) you will be eligible for membership and benefit from the professional industry insight they provide.

Outline:

The sport rehabilitation degree is built upon the core competencies required and set by BASRaT which includes modules that develop your knowledge and skill in musculoskeletal injuries, athlete screening and injury prevention, manual therapies and strength and conditioning, as well as the underpinning sports-science disciplines modules such as physiology, anatomy, nutrition, psychological management of athletes and a research dissertation. In addition to developing your own business and entrepreneurialism skills, you will complete a minimum of 400 hours of work-based learning to enable you to apply your knowledge in real-world settings and gain the valuable experiences needed for future employment.

Year 1 (Stage 1):

• Develop skills across all core areas that underpin a graduate sport rehabilitator.
• Develop the skills to conduct a range of injury screening tests.
• Develop knowledge of a breadth of musculoskeletal injuries and learn the skills to assess injured clients.
• Underpinned with extensive anatomy, physiology, academic and professional skills.
• Opportunity to gain an industry recognised pitch side trauma qualification.

Year 2 (Stage 2):

• Build on the grounding of knowledge from Stage 1 and expand your understanding of exercise prescription.
• Expand your treatment toolkit developing competencies in the delivery of electro-physical modalities; compression, thermal and cryotherapies.
• Develop the ability to assess and treat common injuries associated with the spine.
• Gain understanding of the psychological stresses associated with injury, how these can influence successful rehab, and intervention to overcome these issues.
• Experience your first work-based learning experiences with opportunities to undertake activities both externally and on campus.
• Continue with work-based learning experiences and develop a body of evidence from these experiences to support you in future postgraduate or job applications.
• Expand your knowledge of sport trauma and undergo teaching in readiness to complete a Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh approved pitch side trauma qualification.
• Broaden your understanding of, and abilities to adapt exercise and rehabilitation strategies to wider population needs inclusive of para athletes, female athletes, elderly and paediatric clients.

Modules:

Stage 1:

• Neuromusculoskeletal Injury, Illness, Disease and Assessment (20 Credits)
• Form the foundations to support the development of the practical skills necessary to assess a range of musculoskeletal injuries, illness, and disease.
• Manual Therapy for Neuromusculosketal Conditions (20 Credits)
• Acquire a range of psychomotor (hands-on practical) skills that can be used by a sports rehabilitator in addressing and preventing neuromusculoskeletal conditions and dysfunctions.
• Acquire a theoretical understanding of the mechanism, indicators for use and contra-indications of each form of manual therapy.
• Professional and Academic Skills for Sport Rehabilitators (20 Credits)
• Gain the basis of sound academic and employability skills.
• Understand the core principles that underpin the practice of a sport rehabilitator aligned to the industry requirements of a graduate sport rehabilitator (GSR) and the industry profession statutory body BASRaT.
• Exercise Prescription for Injury Prevention (20 Credits)
• Gain the grounding of skill, knowledge and competence in planning and delivering exercise-based activities to help reduce injury risk and support athletic development.
• Functional Anatomy and Physiology (20 Credits)
• Provide a comprehensive level of the structures and functions associated with musculoskeletal (MSK) performance including anatomy of the musculoskeletal, neurological and arthrological systems of the human body.
• Develop the underpinning knowledge of physiological systems in the human body and their responses to exercise.
• Screening and Testing for Injury Prevention (20 Credits)
• Develop an evidenced-based understanding of the strengths and limitations of the procedures used.

Stage 2:

• Sport Research Methods (20 Credits)
• Develop knowledge and understanding of a variety of research designs, methods and research skills within a subject-based context.
• Equip the student with a framework in which to conceptualise quantitative and qualitative traditions and applications.
• Emphasize understanding and experiencing the research process and developing critical skills necessary to collect, analyse and present data.
• Mobilisation and Exercise for Spinal Conditions (20 Credits)
• Develop the students ability to assess the spinal region, perform manual therapy and exercise techniques, manage spinal conditions and understand the theoretical concepts and principles of pain.
• Professional Practice and Entrepreneurialism (20 Credits)
• Gain experience working within a programme relevant environment and to make an effective contribution to the operation of the host organisation.
• Prepare students for small business start up by developing entrepreneurship, business development and management skills through the application of vocationally relevant knowledge.
• Athlete Injury, Health and Wellbeing Management (20 Credits)
• Provide students with a skills set for managing a range of client conditions.
• Provide students with evidence based knowledge of how to apply methods for different forms of conditions and different phases of injury.
• Develop student’s ability to develop and monitor the effectiveness of individualised rehabilitation plans.
• Plan, adapt and monitor physical activity programmes to improve health and well-being.
• Rehabilitative Exercise and Programming (20 Credits)
• Provide students with the technical and digital skills to develop short and long term injury and rehabilitation programmes.
• Develop students practical skills in exercise prescription, strength and conditioning, and functional training for athletes.
• Screening and Conditioning for Sport Performance (20 Credits)
• Apply and extend their learning from SPO1035, develop further knowledge on the principles of periodisation and the development of athletic training programmes for sport performance.
• Develop the skills to implement a battery of field and laboratory based screening assessments to aid the performance development of an athlete or client.
• Introduce the coaching, instruction and progression of a range of Olympic lifting techniques required within strength and conditioning professionals.

Stage 3:

• Sports Trauma and Immediate Pitchside Care (20 Credits)
• Provide students with theoretical and practical training and knowledge in the immediate management of an injured athlete.
• Provide an insight into specific issues associated with a range of sports.
• Acquire a knowledge of the anatomy and mechanisms that result in sports injuries.
• Exercise and Conditioning for Specific Populations (20 Credits)
• Broaden students understanding of core principles and practices of exercise conditioning and injury rehabilitation to a range of specific population groups.
• Develop the skills to adapt these practices and the reasoning for this.
• Applied Practice in Sport (20 Credits)
• Put into practice the skills and knowledge they have acquired in real life work based environments and reflect upon their development and readiness to meet the demands of their specific areas of sport and exercise employment.
• Contemporary Issues in Sport Rehabilitation and Conditioning (20 Credits)
• Cover topical matters including nutrition and its impact on associated health related conditions and it’s role in the recovery from injury.
• Understand professional practice, the role of the professional body, scope of practice and the referral processes relevant to a sport rehabilitator / scientist.
• Discuss emerging technologies and their impact on the profession of a sport rehabilitator / scientist.
• Dissertation (40 Credits)
• Apply knowledge, concepts, and research techniques to a question or problem in sport, exercise, or physical activity.
• Build and expand on students' prior knowledge of research acquired at levels four and five.
• Foster the development of expertise in methodology and skills in the planning, conducting, and writing up of research reports.

Teaching:

• Active blended learning approach.
• Practical-based.
• Hands-on skills.
• Engage and support students both during and outside of the taught sessions.

Careers:

• Sport rehabilitation.
• Sport therapy.
• Soft tissue therapy.
• Sports teaching.
• Strength and conditioning in both sports and private practice settings.
• Specialist military medical and rehabilitation centres.

Other:

• International scholarships available.
• Purpose-built laboratories and research facilities for sport rehabilitation and conditioning students.
• Northampton Energy Elite Athlete Scholarship
• Guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.
• HP Laptop and software included with this course.
• British Associate of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers Student membership is £45 for 36 months.
• The England Rugby Pre Hospital Immediate Care in Sport (ICIS) Level 2 (up to £300).
• Uniform requirements are tracksuit bottoms and Polo t-shirt (costs will vary; approx.
£30-50).
• Travel to work placement (will vary depending on distance, mode of travel, and frequency of attendance).
• You will need to cover costs associated with producing a poster for the final year conference.
• Additional costs will be incurred if you decide to participate in optional field trips/visits as part of your course.
The exact cost will depend upon the location chosen for the trip.

UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 International – Full Time: £15,200

International – Integrated Foundation Year: £15,200