What is a Sports Physiotherapist?

What is a Sports Physiotherapist?

The Health Times website indicates that sports physiotherapy is a specialised branch of physiotherapy, and sports physios provide advice on how to avoid sports injuries, treat injuries and help recovery for those playing recreational sport right through to elite sport.  

A sports physio is a registered physiotherapist who has achieved further study after completing a physiotherapy degree - in which students achieve an understanding of the physical, structural and the physiological aspects of human form and movement.

To become a sports physio, one will first need to complete a four-year bachelor degree in physiotherapy.  Alternatively, students can complete an associated bachelor degree, such as in exercise physiology, followed by a postgraduate qualification in physiotherapy.

Physiotherapists can later choose to practice in sports physiotherapy but are unable to refer to themselves as a sports physio until they have achieved titled membership of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA).