Sports have moved to the forefront of pop culture. Advancements in technology mean we are exposed to more sports than ever before. Athletes now make as much money off their Instagram posts as they do off winning the biggest competitions.
The amount of money in sport can turn off some traditionalists but it’s also opening up opportunities at every level.
Having a Sports Therapy degree will open up your options at every level of sports. We’ve reached a point where local GAA teams are employing therapists, paying good money to do so, just so they can hope to win their county championship.
Amateur athletes are seeking out the kind of support network that didn’t even exist for elite athletes until recently. That has created a need for not only more qualified professionals but also qualified professionals who are adaptable with varied skill sets.
Elite athletes and elite sports institutions are expanding their teams and including new roles, seeking out properly qualified professionals who can elevate their status.
The BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy degree at Portobello Institute opens opportunities to fill different roles. Mike Walden of Sports Injury Clinic put together this helpful list of different therapy roles.
Let’s look at the ones that apply to our graduates:
- Athletic Therapist
An athletic therapist uses a variety of physical techniques and therapies in the rehabilitation and treatment of athletes and the general public.
Certified athletic therapists specialize in the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries/pain related to physical activities.
Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI) is the professional organization responsible for the promotion, regulation and continued education of certified athletic therapists in Ireland. It is in its relative infancy in Ireland as a career path but opportunities exist around the world, especially in America and Canada.
Graduates of Athletic Therapy degrees in Ireland (requirements here) can apply to the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy, through which they can become eligible to work in the USA and the UK.
- Hydrotherapist
Hydrotherapy is the use of water in the treatment of different conditions. It is particularly valuable for arthritis patients or patients who can't fully weight-bare because of their injury.
The use of hydrotherapy is growing. It is currently primarily executed by a qualified physiotherapist who has specialist training in the area.
Aoife Fleming is a current Sports Therapy student at Portobello who is following her dream of using hydrotherapy to improve the lives of children.
- Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapy assists patients in their daily lives, helping them overcome disabilities such as injuries and medical conditions. They use activities to prevent disability and enable daily living while also providing and teaching patients how to use adaptive aids which make daily living easier.
The Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland is the professional body serving, promoting and representing occupational therapists in Ireland.
- Physical Therapist
Physical therapists help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They treat a wide range of patients from athletes to people who have suffered from an accident or illness.
The Irish Association of Physical Therapists is the professional body ensuring excellence in the field of musculoskeletal health.
- Physiotherapist
Physiotherapists help patients recover from injury and illness. A physiotherapist is a health care professional who specializes in maximizing human movement, function and potential. They may work with someone after injury, accident or surgery. They also work to prevent injury.
Qualified physiotherapists can work in a wide range of settings from nursing homes to hospitals to gyms.
The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists is the professional body for physiotherapists in Ireland.
Read this article to see how Sports Therapy can serve as an alternative route into Physiotherapy.
- Sports Massage Therapist
A sports massage therapist is responsible for the manipulation of soft tissue to treat patients. They primarily work with athletes to loosen muscles, improve blood flow, reduce unnecessary stress and otherwise improve performance.
The Irish Sports Massage Association is the professional body for sports massage therapists in Ireland.
- Sports Rehabilitator
Sports rehabilitators help people suffering from pain, injury or illness involving the musculoskeletal system. They help people of all ages to maintain their health and fitness, recover from and prevent injury and reduce pain. They use exercise, movement and manual-based therapeutic interventions.
Their focus is on designing and implementing effective rehabilitation plans that allow people to return to work, sport or their daily activities with ease.
- Sports Therapist
Sports Therapy is an aspect of healthcare that is specifically concerned with the prevention of injury and the rehabilitation of the patient back to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports-specific fitness regardless of age and ability.
It utilises the principles of sport and exercises science incorporating physiological and pathological processes to prepare the participant for training, competition and where applicable, work.
The Society of Sports Therapists is the professional body for sports therapists in Ireland. Graduates of Portobello Institute’s BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy degree are accredited by this society upon completion of their course.
If you'd like to read more about the sports degrees and qualifications we carry, you can visit the department page here.
If you are interested in any of our sports courses or have any questions you can book a consultation call with our expert sports advisor Sharde Sebastian here, email sharde.sebastian@portobelloinstitute.com or call 01 892 0029.
Featured in this article:
Johanna Shaw has a 2:1 in BSc (Hons) in Sports and Exercise Science from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. She completed an MPhil Studentship in Physical Activity for Health alongside an Exercise Development role. She then went onto a Tackling Inactivity in Students role funded by Sport England within a Further Education College in London before moving back to Dublin to Portobello Institute.
Get Insider Updates: Join Now!
Join our mailing list to receive the latest insights and exclusive content from your chosen department of interest
