Sports Therapy Career Facts
Sports Therapy Career Basics
According to the Society of Sports Therapists, 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.” The field of Sports Massage Therapy offers many positives, including an above-average median salary of $82,000 as of 2014. In addition to a great salary, projected job growth for this field is up to 13 percent by 2022. In addition, there are an array of varying job opportunities across the globe. Much of a career in sports therapy closely resembles that of a physical therapist, simply applied expressly to athletes. As a Sports Therapist, you will focus on physiological aid, or tending to the athlete’s needs within the muscular and skeletal systems without the use of drugs or medicine.
Some common job activities include:
- Administering sports massages
- Formulating rehabilitation strategies to enable long-term performance in the athlete’s sport of choice
- Directing first-aid for injuries
- Providing compassion and empathy to discouraged athletes
- Referring athletes to other medical professionals for specialized treatment
How to Become a Sports Therapist
If your passions include sports and helping people reach their full potential, Sports Therapy may be the right career for you. In order to become a Sports Therapist, it is recommended that enroll in a sports massage therapy certification. There are some options for bachelor’s degrees that will put you on the right path to becoming a Sports Therapist .
After completing your program, it is a good idea to move forward you will have an opportunity to complete additional education. A degree with a higher level of education will prepare you to climb the professional ladder of this career, and will also enable your admittance to the Society of Sports Therapists, which will increase your credibility and experience in this field.
Classes to Take
As a Sports Therapy student, you will enroll in many classes that will build your experience and knowledge, and will promote your abilities for further pursuit of a career. Some of these courses include:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Message Therapy Techniques
- Somatic Tissues and Biomechanics
- Therapeutic Exercise and Procedures
- Advanced Biomechanics and Assessment
- Personal Training
- Business, Ethics, and MBLEx Prep
- Swedish Massage Techniques
- Deep Tissue and Neuromuscular Therapy
- Sports and Specialized Massage
- Eastern Theory and Practice
- Applications of Sports Therapy
These courses are designed to equip you to pursue a career in Sports Therapy, and will guide your next steps while fostering personal and professional development.
How Fremont Can Help
If you like sports and enjoy helping people, a career in sports therapy could be right for you. To become a Sports Therapist, you’ll need a minimum of an associate’s degree in sports therapy or a related field. Fremont University is well-known for a handful of credible and reputable degrees, one of which is a Sports Therapy degree. In order to begin your journey to becoming a Sports Therapist, Fremont University offers an Associate’s Degree which can be earned in only 15 months. This is the perfect start to get you well on your way in the field of Sports Therapy, and will be an excellent foundation as you step into even higher levels of education. With an Associates degree from Fremont University in this field, you will be able to pursue specialized jobs as a Rehabilitation Therapist, Medical Massage Therapist, Team Sports Therapist, Health Club Trainer, or Physical Therapist Aide. Once you have your degree from Fremont, you may begin to enter the exciting field of Sports Therapy and gain experience and hands-on practice with a variety of sports message techniques. Contact the experts at Fremont University for more information today!
