Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation

The human body is an amazing machine but sometimes imbalances or external factors can inhibit performance or cause injury. We explore the role of the sports therapist and rehabilitator, and discuss the techniques and equipment used to ensure the human body physically functions effectively in sport, fitness and everyday life.

Why do footballers injure their knee? Why do sprinters injure their hamstrings? We explore injuries in sport and discuss strategies that can be used to prevent these. Movement screening, joint assessment and injury risk management will be examined, focusing on the role of the sports therapist and rehabilitation practitioner in this process.

With the FIFA 2026 World Cup coming to North America, understanding the challenges of playing matches that span a large geographical area is crucial to inform preparation. We discuss how our research across Major League Soccer is addressing the key challenges of travel, changes in climate and playing matches at altitude. This session showcases the exciting application of science to elite sporting context and the opportunities for graduates to be globally connected.

Moving more can be a powerful strategy to lessen the risk factors of several chronic illnesses, as well as helping to manage associated symptoms. We explore the health benefits of exercise and physical activity, as well as identifying ways that we can promote more movement in daily life. You also have the opportunity to test your own health markers such as blood pressure, cardiovascular fitness, grip strength and lung function.

We discuss the role of sport science in helping athletes reach their potential. Physical training, nutritional education, psychological skills enhancement and/or how technology can impact performance are explored, and applied examples give you an insight into the real-world athletes on the receiving end of sport science support.

Injuries have a negative effect on an athlete’s career and ability to perform. With appropriate guidance, athletes can come back faster, stronger and better. We discuss the rehabilitation of an athlete from an injury to the musculoskeletal system and focus on how sports medicine can accelerate the journey on the road to recovery.