Course overview
Develop your practical skills with a problem-based learning approach, gaining an advanced understanding of assessment, diagnosis and rehabilitation of health and sport related conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system. Explore evidence-based practice, therapeutic interventions and rehabilitation techniques, underpinned by sound clinical reasoning and a problem-solving approach in classroom and on placements. Gain an understanding of the role of biomechanics, physiology and psychosocial factors that contribute to injury risk and management. Your learning and experiences culminate to form a self-initiated research project in an area of your interest.
Student-led clinic
Your opportunity to put your skills into practice and gain hands-on experience in massage, injury assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation in our specialist sports clinics on campus. You are supervised by our experienced clinical supervisors and work with staff, students, and alumni of the University.
Teesside University sports therapy clinic won the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence 2021, which recognises and rewards collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning. Introduced in 2016, the scheme highlights the key role of teamwork in higher education. The clinics form a strategic part of the MSc Sports Rehabilitation course, providing an excellent environment for you to enrich your practical experience.
Course details
Practical experience is an essential element of the programme. You get 400 hours of supervised clinical experience in a range of settings, working with local sports teams and health-care providers. Previous student placements include Middlesbrough Football Club, Hartlepool United Football Club, Darlington Rugby Club, Ministry of Defence Infantry Training Centre as well as aquatic rehabilitation in our bespoke on-site hydrotherapy suite. You can also gain practical experience with the University sport teams and in the sports injury clinic.
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Clinical Anatomy and Assessment
Gain essential knowledge and skills to understand human anatomy and assessment. Evaluate current issues and evidence underpinning the assessment of injured sportspeople.
You consolidate, integrate and expand on learning from previous modules. Practical skills, clinical reasoning and theoretical aspects of musculoskeletal soft tissue and manipulative sports therapy are developed in a practice-based setting. This module provides part of the framework necessary for you to achieve membership of the British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT). Practical experience is an integral component of this course, and you are placed in a sports injury environment to experience meeting the complexities of real clinical situations, supervised by a mentor. You are encouraged to be independent and reflective in your learning, captured in a CPD portfolio. You can discuss the structure of your learning experience with your placement supervisor and module team to accommodate your individual requirements.
You gain the necessary knowledge and skills to design and manage a primary or secondary research, audit or evaluation project relevant to your practice. This provides preparation for your dissertation. You develop skills in project design and management; primary and secondary research methods; audit and evaluation methods. You explore research governance and ethics, which prepares you for applying for ethical approval/release.
You gain the essential knowledge and skills to manage musculoskeletal peripheral and spinal conditions. You also explore the clinical use of soft tissue, peripheral and vertebral mobilisation techniques relating to the mechanisms and pathophysiology of relevant musculoskeletal conditions. You learn through group discussion, problem based learning and practical implementation tasks during seminars.
You develop a critical understanding of the theoretical and practical application behind effective rehabilitation programmes for injuries to the upper and lower limbs and spine.
You learn about the importance of therapeutic exercise in the rehabilitation of injured athletes, through a practical teaching strategy and problem-solving approach. This includes case studies and clinical scenarios to expand and challenge your knowledge of rehabilitation techniques for musculoskeletal injuries. You evaluate the evidence base to analyse appropriate management strategies for a range of conditions.
Year 2 core modules
Building on the Clinical Experience 1 module you further consolidate, integrate and expand on practical skills. Practical skills, clinical reasoning and theoretical aspects of musculoskeletal soft tissue and manipulative sports therapy are developed in a practice-based setting. This module provides part of the framework necessary for you to achieve membership of the British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT). Practical experience is an integral component of this course, and you are placed in a sports injury environment to experience meeting the complexities of real clinical situations, supervised by a mentor. You are encouraged to be independent and reflective in your learning, captured in a CPD portfolio. You can discuss the structure of your learning experience with your placement supervisor and module team to accommodate your individual requirements.
Exercise Physiology and Sports Clinical Biomechanics
You develop exercise physiological knowledge establishing the dynamic relationships of neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. Explore sporting biomechanical principles in the context of injury prevention and performance enhancement.
Exercise Prescription and Strength and Conditioning
This module focuses on understanding of the theory and application of components of exercise prescription, which can be used to increase athletic performance, improve health and manage chronic health conditions. You build on the knowledge gained throughout the programme, exploring the roles of strength and conditioning and exercise prescription in the world of sports rehabilitation. You take a practical approach to explore key issues.
Sport and Exercise Research Project
Apply your learning from previous modules to conduct a substantial self-initiated research project. You research an area you are passionate about, that you wish to gain increased knowledge and expertise in. You are supported by a designated supervisor with knowledge of the research process and relevant expertise.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
This is a two-year full-time course. Your contact time at the University main campus is equivalent to one day a week. You need to carry out 400 hours of clinical experience over the two years of study. This can be a mixture of internal and externally arranged hours in University-led clinics and through external providers.
Different teaching strategies are used appropriately for each module. Staff with experience of working in professional sport and health-care settings deliver key information across lectures, tutorials, seminars, online learning, practical workshops, problem-based learning, work-based learning, guest speakers and student-led research projects.
You have the opportunity to continue professional development throughout all modules on the programme. Modules are delivered through blended learning, which uses a combination of face-to-face learning and online support. All modules are supported by the University’s virtual learning strategy to provide you with learning materials that support your studies.
How you are assessed
Assessment methods include assignments, critical review, presentations, portfolios and practical examinations.
These methods allow you to demonstrate a critical and systematic understanding and application of the relevant curriculum. Professional and key transferable skills are also developed through these assessments. You are required to undertake appropriate research, using the skills developed in the core modules and this provides the impetus for the development of your project proposal. The sport and exercise research project module gives you the opportunity to demonstrate an appropriate standard of research and enquiry into a specialist area, selected by you, displaying an original and/or compelling study or review of that area.
Entry requirements
Applicants should normally have a good honours degree in sport science or a related area.
An enhanced criminal history (DBS) check may be required for certain modules or placements which involve working with children and/or adults at risk. Where an enhanced DBS check is required, applicants will cover the cost of these checks which can only be processed through the University.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
Employability
Career opportunities
Typically, graduates are employed as sports therapists and sports rehabilitators. In addition, you are also well prepared for employment in related areas including the health and fitness industry, sport development, research and sport science support.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
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Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
This course is endorsed by the British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT). 
