How to become a Sports Physio?

frogg

I really want to become a sports physio but not sure exactly how to get there. I understand that you must obviously complete the undergard Physiotherapy degree but unsure what happens next. Is it then necessary to do a masters in sports injuries? Once qualified, would you be able to just join a sports clinic and learn your trade there? From what I have heard, most grads do a while in the hospital to gain experience before specialising in their area of choice. I don't really see how hospital experience would be very relevent to sports injuries however. Would you not be better off trying to get work with a sports team or clinic? Can someone shed some light on the whole thing?

JC3

Hey Frogg,

Heading down the line of "sports" physio isn't a great starting point. You really need to be a Chartered physio first and foremost and then decide what branch of physio you prefer. There are lots of "sports physio" courses available of varying duration, content and cost but the only one that's state registered and will stand up internationally is the university based courses in BSc Physiotherapy. A degree in physiotherapy will allow you to embark on a year or two of rotation through basic grade rotations (usually of about 3 months each) where you will get a taste of varyious branches of physiotherapy. Then you decide where you are best suited and follow that path.

Sports physio is a path that's made up of lots of many areas of medicine/physiotherapy. Orthopaedics, neurology, A&E, paediatrics and out-patients to name some. Basically I'm saying the broader t your experience going into in the better equipped you are to handle all presentations and recognise the unusual among the usual.

Hope that's of some help.

Bbbbolger

I believe there's a course now called Athletic Therapy and Training. (not sure if thats the exact name). Look it up on qualifax as I think it's a bit more orientated towards becoming a sports specific physio.

Larianne

Bbbbolger wrote: »

I believe there's a course now called Athletic Therapy and Training. (not sure if thats the exact name). Look it up on qualifax as I think it's a bit more orientated towards becoming a sports specific physio.

There are two people who transferred into my course having completed this course so I dunno how much use it is as a Physio.

There isn't much Sports Physio taught in the undergrad course. You can do a masters at TCD in Sports Physiotherapy.

I know a lot of Physios work with Sports teams as well as their hospital 'day job'.

I think if you get in touch with the head of departments of the various colleges they may be able to help you out. Or if you contact the ISCP and see which route to go.

bubbleking

hey here is the link to the Athletic Therapy and training course

http://www.dcu.ie/prospective/deginfo.php?classname=ATT&degree_description=B.Sc.+in+Athletic+Therapy+and+Training+%28Bachelor+Honours+Degree%29

From experience the ATT's are better clinically at the graduation level but after a couple of years experience there really is very little difference between sports physios and ATT's. The reason a couple of ATT's decided to do physio after their first degree was because they felt it would increase their chance of getting a job - doing physio opens up more doors and allows you to work in hospitals etc. In saying that legislation has nearly been put through that will allow ATT's to practice more freely in Ireland as well as the states. This legislation will be well in place b the time you graduate.

So that's it really give me a shout if you would like any more info

eilo1

"I don't really see how hospital experience would be very relevent to sports injuries however. Would you not be better off trying to get work with a sports team or clinic?"


Hi OP, Im a 3rd year physiotherapy student and I used to think this, before I started clinical placement (you have to complete 1000 hours to graduate).
But from working in various departments such as outpatients, neurology and respiratory care I can now see how relevant that is to working with athletes.

I think if you have the opportunity to do a physiotherapy degree then you should take it rather than do a similar degree and then have to retrain as a physio later on.

Sports jobs are competitive and can be difficult to get, the hours are usually not enough for full time employment either. It should be easier to get a job with a well recognised qualification.