The programme explores the interrelationships between training, performance, injury and rehabilitation in sports. It seeks to develop practice that minimises injuries during training and competition and maximises rehabilitation and return to competitive performance. University based elements encompass principles that the student may apply to their personal engagement with sport whether it is at elite level or in support of community based activities. The programme is therefore, designed to give practitioners the opportunity to explore and evaluate the evidence base for their practice enabling them to develop more effective and innovative approaches within their area of interest.

Topics covered include:-

1. Maintaining the healthy athlete
   Parameters of fitness, Fitness testing, Sports nutrition, Sports psychology and coaching, Health promotion, Drugs and Performance, Medico-legal considerations, Disability in Sport and Biomechanics.
2. Dealing with the acute episode
   Pitch Side Management/First Aid, Pharmacological Therapy, Sports psychology and coaching, Clinical reasoning (diagnostics/timing & options for treatment e.g. surgical vs. conservative.
3. Rehabilitation of the Injured Athlete
   Treatment modalities, Taping/Bracing/Orthotics, Therapeutic massage & soft tissue treatment, Matching muscle function to performance.

The programme is interdisciplinary and students work together exploring the contribution each discipline makes to patient care. Through this approach students will develop a better understanding of other disciplines and develop approaches to working together to provide a patient led service.

Students will all have:-

• a first degree in a health related discipline classified as second class or above
• professional registration with the relevant regulatory body from their home country and/ or
• current membership of the relevant Professional Body
• relevant work experience is desirable but the applicant’s overall profile will be considered during the admission’s process

We anticipate that the programme and modules offered may be of interest to a range of health disciplines including Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Occupational Therapists, Rehabilitation Nurses, Sports Therapists, Chiropractics, Osteopaths and Medics. In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.

Students who apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.

The programme forms part of our Post Graduate Framework for Health Professions, which offers a wide range of accredited short courses and modules focused around patient centred care and evidence based practice.

Full time Students complete the programme in 5 months.

Part time students may take one to three years – undertaking modules at a pace to suit their busy lives.

Students are required to complete two core modules:-

• Managing the Healthy Athlete
• Sports Rehabilitation: Injury to Optimal Performance.

The modules are studied through a variety of activities including keynote lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, workshops, laboratory sessions, web-based learning. Self direction is encouraged from the beginning and develops throughout the modules.

The modules use:-

• Presentations, which encourage students to communicate their novel ideas, make interpretations and develop critical awareness with their peers from across the disciplines
• Case studies which encourage the students to review and evaluate their own practice;
• Practical and laboratory sessions which develop new skills for management and evaluation of practice.

This Masters level programme has been developed in accordance with underlying principles currently held at the forefront of the professional and academic disciplines. Students are asked to show originality in the application of knowledge and understanding of how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through practice.

Assessment includes:-

• Case Studies exploring the evidence-base for management of an athlete in their particular area of practice.
• Written assignments that present a current view of research surrounding the normal functioning and management of the athlete and which critically evaluates the relevance of current understanding to students’ chosen specialist area.
• Presentations: these will give an evidence-based overview of the current thinking and literature relating to the management of a particular injury or pathology within students’ chosen specialist area.

The modules are designed to support the activities of individuals involved with sporting activities at a number of levels; from those treating sports injuries at an elite level, to those involved in developing community sporting activities.

By working together, students involved in different aspects of these activities will expand their knowledge and be able to practice more effectively, taking account of all of the athlete’s needs

The students become more confident to articulate their practice in an interdisciplinary setting. This leads to advances in implementing continuing professional development, research or advanced practice in their departments and in wider context.

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Students completing this programme are eligible to transfer onto the MSc in Advanced Practice for Health Professions, where they will have opportunities to further develop their practice in Sports Rehabilitation by undertaking other related modules and a research dissertation.

Most of the students will return to the practice environment and will be in a position to expand their career or personal horizon. In the past, some have continued to undertake research, acted as consultants to related commercial enterprises or have been promoted to higher grades as a direct result of completing our MSc programmes.

Several students have moved on to a career in Higher Education.

The School Help Desk provides immediate help with day to day problems. This is normally the first point of call for a student and if further advice is required the Help Desk staff will advise the student on where to go for support.

All students are allocated a personal tutor who will support them throughout the programme. Tutors are able to provide information and advice about services available to support learning or to cope with the stresses that study may bring.

Personal tutors can provide feedback and help on draft coursework essays but where the material lies outside their area of expertise the help will focus on presentation and writing style rather than on content.

Module leaders and the module teaching team provide support for students seeking help with understanding of detailed concepts being studied.

The Programme Leader provides support for the students from the time they enrol until they graduate. Advice is available on module choices and practical aspects undertaking part time study.

English language support is available for all students whose first language is not English.

Our School International Student Support Officer will help overseas students comply with legislation and support them to settle into the UK

The modules have been mapped against the Skills for Health competences. Clinicians will find this helpful in planning an educational programme that supports their career development and in negotiating their access to educational opportunities.

This information can be accessed at the Skills for Health website. To access the website Log on with user name UEL and password E154LZ