Sports Therapy is an aspect of healthcare that is concerned with the prevention of injury and the rehabilitation of the patient back to a functional level of fitness. Leading on from this, a sports therapist can be defined as a health care professional who has the knowledge, skills and ability to; provide immediate care to injuries, assess and treat injuries appropriately and plan and implement efficient rehabilitation plans to optimise recovery. Due to the professional manor of the role of a sports therapist, employment is often contested by numerous applicants, with employers often checking for a certain skill set. This short essay will assess the key skills required to obtain employment as a sports therapist.
As a sports therapist, there are key skills that are sought after by employers within the industry. The most highly sought attribute is confidence, or self-efficacy. Confidence, and more particularly trait confidence is defined as a generalised belief of an individual about the extent to which their ability will bring success (Sampla, 2014). Self-efficacy is defined as ones perceived capabilities for learning or performing actions at designated levels (Schunk & Dibenedetto, 2016). These 2 traits relate to one another as they are both an indicator of a therapists’ ability to relay information to patients and speaking to clients in general. Having high levels of confidence and self-efficacy is appealing to employers as it suggests that you are sure of your own ability and this will relay into other aspects such as decision making. Confidence and self-efficacy are often attributed to extroverts; extraverted individuals tend to be sociable, thus enabling them to develop social networks more easily, which may result in stronger partnerships with clients. Being extraverted includes being assertive, seeking leadership and developing networks; all traits that develop entrepreneurship. Individuals who score highly on extraversion have a higher probability of becoming employed and surviving in their industry (Caliendo et al. 2014). A more practical skill that is highly regarded by employers is an individuals’ ability to manage their time. As a sports therapist, optimising your time to ensure you can get the most work done to the highest standard is very important. The average sports therapist can see upwards of 35 clients a week, and following every client, you have to update notes, ensure a proper cleanse of the work area, and make sure you are ready for the next client. This can be a very time-consuming process if not done efficiently so the ability to manage your time is very important. This also relates to an individuals’ work-life balance. Work-life balance is defined as a state of equilibrium in which the demands of both a person’s job and personal life are equal (Lockwood, 2003). It is important to ensure a healthy work-life balance to remain motivated. Results shown that maintaining this balance can increase productivity in the workplace.
As well as attributes and personality traits, there are other essential/desirable skills needed in the employment process of a sports therapist. The best way to assess these skills is to look at current vacancies and the skills they state they require. A vacancy for a graduate sports therapist was recently posted (https://www.indeed.co.uk/jobs?q=Sports%20Therapist&l&vjk=367dac80d677d72d). At the top of the job description is a list of qualifications and experience that is essential for applicants. Firstly, it states that applicants must have a Bsc (Hons) in Physiotherapy or must be a graduate sports therapist. Applicants with these qualifications will have undertaken the relevant training and passed all exams, showing they have a good knowledge base. Next, potential applicants must be either HCPC or MSST registered. HCPC is the health and care professions council. MSST is the Society of sports therapist. Both are regulating bodies which hold records of therapists, set standards, and investigate complaints etc. This is essential in potential applicants, as for employers it means their employees are accounted for by official regulating bodies. Another accrediting body that is sought after by employers is the Sports Therapy Organisation (STO). Lastly, it says that 1-year experience working in a clinic environment is essential. Applicants with this experience will have a greater understanding of the job roles, its implications and the overall working of a sports therapist. This is desirable for employers as it means they often require less training and will have a better knowledge and practical skill base than applicants without this experience. Furthermore, this job vacancy explains a variety of skills that are desirable for the job role. These skills include; high level of injury management, high level of skill in sports massage, knowledgeable in taping techniques, electrotherapy and rehabilitation, and self-motivated and driven. Sports massage is a key aspect of a sports therapist role; massage can be used for the general relaxation of the musculoskeletal system, as well as being directed into local problem areas, thereby improving recovery and ensuring it happens thoroughly (Ylinen & Cash, 2011). A sports massage, or soft tissue therapist requires a wide range of knowledge and practical skills, covering; anatomy and physiology, the effects of exercise on the human body, the physiological effects of massage and how to assess dysfunction (Paine, 2015).
These skills can be applied into various situations, with sports therapists being applicable in different contexts. The first, and most common context for sports therapists is in the self-employed sector. A lot of sports therapists graduate with the dream of owning their own clinic and being self-employed. While this is viable, it is common practice to get more experience in the industry before making this step, via working in a clinic that already has a reoccurring client base. In order to aid their employability in the short term, as well as give them the knowledge for the future, graduate sports therapists often look into the business and legal aspects of sports therapy, such as insurance and the cost of a workspace, and materials. Research into this area shows professionalism and willingness for further learning. Another route which therapists often look to take is working with a sports club. This can be with any sport, and includes providing players with pre-game massages, treatment of acute injuries and rehabilitation of long term-injuries. For therapists looking to work in this field, sport-specific knowledge and interest can help your employability and shows employers your interest in their work.
From this essay, and the assessment of the skills required to obtain employment as a sports therapist, I can conclude that applicant sports therapist need a wide knowledge base and skill set, including, but not limited to; communication skills and personality traits, great knowledge surrounding anatomy and physiology, injury treatment and assessment skills, and relevant degrees/qualifications accompanied with professional accreditation and relevant clinic base experienced. Each of these individually are sought after by employers, and obtaining these skills highly increases your employability. All of these skills can be developed and acquired through further training and work, even the more innate aspects such as personality traits. Relating to the context of work, other skills and knowledge can also be enhanced to maximise your employability within a field, such as working with a clinic, learning business and admin skills, or working with a sports team, learning sports specific knowledge and skills. With the correct training, work ethic and motivation, young graduate therapists can obtain all the essential and desirable skills and knowledge in order to maximise their employability and give them the best chance of being successful in the field of sports therapy.
References:
Caliendo, M., Fossen, F., & Kritikos, A. S. (2014). Personality characteristics and the decisions to become and stay self-employed. Small Business Economics, 42(4), 787-814.
Lockwood, N. R. (2003). Work/life balance. Challenges and Solutions, SHRM Research, USA.
Paine, T. (2015). The complete guide to sports massage. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Sampla, S. (2014). Sports confidence theory – BelievePerform – The UK’s leading Sports Psychology Website. BelievePerform – The UK’s leading Sports Psychology Website. Retrieved 28 May 2020, from https://believeperform.com/sports-confidence-theory-2/.
Schunk, D. H., & Dibenedetto, M. K. (2016). Self-efficacy theory in education. Handbook of motivation at school, 2, 34-54.
Ylinen, J., & Cash, M. (2011). Sports massage. Random House.