Physical Therapy for Sports Rehab

If you enjoy sports and you're also interested in the human body, a career in physical therapy for sports rehabilitation might be your calling. Sports physical therapists find employment with sports teams and rehabilitation clinics specializing in athlete treatment. Besides offering one-on-one intervention and treatment to athletic patients, some physical therapists conduct research to improve screening, prevention and treatment procedures.

General Requirements

• To get started with a career in physical therapy, you need to earn a master's or doctoral degree approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education. Expect to study two to three years to earn your credentials. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, interpersonal skills are important for physical therapists so that they can explain patients' conditions. All states regulate physical therapy practice, and you'll need to investigate state-specific licensing requirements after you complete your education. Finally, after you've earned your basic credentials, you can seek sports-specific training and certification through the Sports Physical Therapy Association. Practitioners interested in a career in sports rehabilitation can also take continuing education credits.

Accreditation

• Licensed physical therapists can obtain a Physical Therapy Specialist Certification in Sports from the Sports Physical Therapy Section (SPTS) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Although earning this certification isn't mandatory, you're more likely to land jobs with a higher sports-related caseload once you have your certification. Besides a physical therapy license, you need to have a number of hours working as a sports therapist. According to SPTS, 2,000 hours of practice in sports rehabilitation within the last 10 years or completion of an APTA-certified residency program that includes sports therapy meet the practical work requirements.

Working Hands-On With Patients

• According to the SPTS, hands-on sports physical therapy with patients can be divided into five areas: prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation and performance enhancement. Professional athletes put more strain on their joints and muscles than the average person, so sports physical therapists evaluate athletes for potential areas of weakness and offer equipment and exercise recommendations to prevent injury. If injury does occur, sports therapy professionals evaluate the extent of the damage to muscles and joints. Based on prevention goals and problems identified during evaluations, therapists design programs to manage and treat injuries with the goal of getting a patient back in the game quickly and safely. Sports therapists often work with doctors to make recommendations. Physical therapists also help athletes improve performance by evaluating cardiovascular health, muscular strength and muscular endurance and designing training programs to improve weak areas.

Educating Others

• Educating patients, parents and coaches is an important part of a sports therapist's job responsibilities so that everyone involved in an athlete's support system knows how to work together to realize athletic improvement and recovery. Explaining treatment methods to doctors and other health practitioners is also important, especially when the therapist works on a team of professionals responsible for a patient's care. Some sports physical therapists advocate for their profession in the public eye.

Research

• Although research ideas usually come directly from clinical practice, sports physical therapists often do work off the field, conducting studies and publishing articles to improve evaluation and treatment methods. SPTS maintains a Sports Health Journal published twice a month, as well as the North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (NAJSPT), released three times a year. The NAJSPT calls for articles from clinical practitioners of sports physical therapy. Therapists submit critical commentary, original studies and unique screening or treatment techniques.