LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Develop a systematic understanding of key aspects of sports therapy and rehabilitation, including professional roles, responsibilities and scope of practice within multidisciplinary teams, and demonstrate an informed appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limitations inherent in multidisciplinary working.
Knowledge and Understanding
Reflection
2. Locate, make use, and critically analyse scholarly reviews and primary sources to support psychological, nutritional, and environmental strategies in rehabilitation and human performance
Research Skills
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT DETAILS
Presentation: Based on an assigned case study, you will demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and application of biopsychosocial principles, the role of medical imaging in clinical assessment, and the integration of nutrition and psychological strategies in supporting rehabilitation and recovery.
Within this module, students will complete formative assessment tasks designed to support the development of professional knowledge and skills. These tasks will be structured to enable students to demonstrate their developing ability to meet the competencies required by the relevant Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB), while receiving feedback that supports progression towards the summative assessments and professional standards expected within the discipline.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
This module introduces you to the principles and practices underpinning multidisciplinary teams in sports therapy and rehabilitation. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of the role, scope, and professional responsibilities of a Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation practitioner, and learn how effective collaboration across healthcare and performance teams contributes to safe, coordinated, and patient-centred care.
You will begin by exploring the organisation, structure, and function of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) within both clinical and athletic environments. You will examine how practitioners from a variety of backgrounds, including physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, sports physicians, nutritionists, psychologists, and allied health professionals, contribute to integrated assessment, treatment planning, and performance optimisation.
A key component of the module is the application of the biopsychosocial model, supporting your understanding of how biological, psychological, and social factors interact to influence injury risk, recovery trajectories, and patient experience. You will explore psychological responses to injury, including stress, motivation, adherence, and identity-related challenges, and examine behavioural change strategies that support effective rehabilitation and long-term health.
Building on this, you will investigate the role of nutrition in injury prevention, recovery, and athletic performance. You will also consider the ethical, legal, and health implications of performance-enhancing substances, and the practitioner’s responsibility in providing accurate guidance, raising awareness, and promoting safe practice.
The module further introduces the use and interpretation of medical imaging, such as X-ray, MRI, CT, and musculoskeletal ultrasound, in the diagnosis and management of common neuromusculoskeletal conditions, while recognising the limitations and appropriate indications for referral.
You will also explore how environmental and situational factors, including travel demands, heat, altitude, fatigue, and competition schedules, influence injury risk, rehabilitation progress, and practitioner decision-making.
Professionalism and ethics are embedded throughout the module, ensuring you develop the communication, reflective practice, and ethical reasoning required to work effectively and responsibly within multidisciplinary healthcare and performance settings.
By the end of the module, you will understand the role of the Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation practitioner within an MDT, recognise the importance of collaborative practice, and be able to integrate biopsychosocial, psychological, nutritional, environmental, and ethical considerations into professional decision-making.
WEB DESCRIPTOR
How do sports therapists and rehabilitators work with others to support recovery and optimise performance?
In this module, you’ll explore the role of Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation practitioners within multidisciplinary teams. You’ll examine how professionals collaborate across clinical and athletic settings, applying biopsychosocial, psychological, nutritional, and ethical principles to support safe, effective, and patient-centred care. You’ll also develop your understanding of medical imaging, environmental factors, and professional responsibilities, preparing you for integrated practice in sport and health environments.
LEARNING STRATEGIES
We are committed to providing an engaging, inclusive, and supportive learning environment that develops students’ knowledge, clinical reasoning, and practical skills.
A central feature of our approach is simulation-based learning, which allows students to engage with realistic clinical scenarios in a safe and structured setting. Learning is carefully scaffolded: students begin with peer-to-peer role-play, exploring fundamental concepts, communication, and interpersonal skills; progress to case study simulations, applying evidence-based knowledge to increasingly complex injury scenarios; and ultimately integrate these skills into real-world practice within the University’s commercial clinics at Level 5 and 6. This structured progression ensures a seamless transition from theory to professional application while preparing students for graduate employability.
The module is delivered predominantly face-to-face, combining theoretical understanding with hands-on practical experience to support deeper learning and to develop practical competence. Students refine their manual and technical skills through guided practice, live demonstrations, and independent tasks, consolidating knowledge while building confidence in healthcare and sport settings.
To further support self-directed and reflective learning, students have access to our telehealth and greenscreen facilities, enabling the creation of digital learning resources for revision, skill development, and reflective practice. These activities encourage active engagement, critical thinking, and the integration of evidence-based knowledge into practical decision-making.
RESOURCES
Industry standard Teaching Clinic and Rehabilitation Zone
State-of-the-Art Telehealth Hub