sports massage therapists

from my point of view, it is when SMP begin to take on cases they should really refer onto a more trained person.

You can't compare several workshops-which some SMP do-to high quality training.

And is there standardisation of sports massage? Not really, I could set up a school and produce therapists, they wouldnt be very good as I have no formal training in teaching or delivering, but they could still be called sports massage therapists.

I agree you do a sterling job, but for the one good SMP you find, there are 4 others who are terrible and tar the name with their ugly brush

from my point of view, it is when SMP begin to take on cases they should really refer onto a more trained person.

You can't compare several workshops-which some SMP do-to high quality training.

And is there standardisation of sports massage? Not really, I could set up a school and produce therapists, they wouldnt be very good as I have no formal training in teaching or delivering, but they could still be called sports massage therapists.

I agree you do a sterling job, but for the one good SMP you find, there are 4 others who are terrible and tar the name with their ugly brush

Hardlly worth a reply easier just to cut and paste

from my point of view, it is when ST begin to take on cases they should really refer onto a more trained person.

You can't compare several workshops-which some ST do-to high quality training.

And is there standardisation of sports therapy? Not really, I could set up a school and produce therapists, they wouldnt be very good as I have no formal training in teaching or delivering, but they could still be called sports therapists.

I agree you do a sterling job, but for the one good ST you find, there are 4 others who are terrible and tar the name with their ugly brush

Pot kettle black

for those SMP who are not trained well enough or who do take on cases that they should refer, and if they dont provide the clients with a quality service, well...the clients will not come back get a bad name for themselves and be out of work. we dont need to fear the poorly trained and just focus on ourselves.

plus i have dealing (as a client) with many physio's NHS & private and to be honest the service i got from them was useless and no worth the £40 for 30 minutes which i paid for. Even a top physio in Coventry who teach's students to become physio's miss-diagnosised me, i had a torn ACL and she never spotted it even after 3 treatments, my surgeon spent 2 minutes with me a told me what i had done.

so someone who had degree's from Uni been working in the industry for years and is also a lectureer for other physio's didnt do a good job for me.

its about the person, if they work hard within their profession and are passionate they will provide a good service. if they clients are happy thats what is important.

i for one have lost faith with physio's, and many of my clients are not happy with the service they get, they much prefer a hands on approach which is what they get with a sports massage therapist.

We all have our place in the industry, we should work together to improve the awearness of the benefits of SM & ST

I took a sports massage diploma and so im titled as a sports massage therapist and thats that. if you done a sports therapy course then you're a sports therapist, they is no problem.

i advertise my self as a Sports Massage Therapist with speciality in;

• ultrasound
• taping & strapping
• personal training
• nutritional advice
• sports coaching

plus a few other subjects which i have qualified in.

people just need to be made awear of what we do. the weak will fall away and those that have good enough skill will stay. lets stop fighting between each other and promote promote promote whats good about SM & ST

there will always be good & bad therapist regardless of their training

Hardlly worth a reply easier just to cut and paste

Pot kettle black

thanks for the enlightning post.

Just to mention-there will be standardisation of sport therapy-hence the HPC regs-refer to every post regarding it.

lets put it a simpler way. Would I refer any of my family to a diploma qualified therapist after the shambles I have seen produced? NO

Would I send them to a degree therapist, yes.

My personal opinion from personal and professional experience. Its a like it or lump it post.

@ total therapy

i have used many degree qualified therapist from sports therapy to physio's and some of them are not worth the paper their so called degree certificate is printed on.

there will always be good and bad therapists regardless of the training. perhaps you should take your issues about sports massage with the training providers, and not the therapist themselves. I agree with you that the industry perhaps does need better standards, and that a diploma in sports massage should contain the following..... so all course providers meet this standard of training. Yes a weekend course or a couple of work-shops arenot the way to give out diplomas.

but like i said earlier, spending 3 years at uni gaining a degree doesnt mean your a star therapist.

i know a top physio in my city who mis-diagnosised me, after 3 treatments she still didnt find that i had torn my ACL a waste of a £100 on my part.

we are a seperate profession (sports massage) from sports therapists, but we should still promote and work together

Hardlly worth a reply easier just to cut and paste

Pot kettle black

Oi, thats my line;)

thanks for the enlightning post.

Just to mention-there will be standardisation of sport therapy-hence the HPC regs-refer to every post regarding it.

Im not holding my breath

lets put it a simpler way. Would I refer any of my family to a diploma qualified therapist after the shambles I have seen produced? NO

pot kettle black

Would I send them to a degree therapist, yes.

no, especially not the ones I recently interviewed for a local post in an injury clinic, no hands on skills to speak of

My personal opinion from personal and professional experience. Its a like it or lump it post.

My personal opinion from personal and professional experience. Its a like it or lump it post.

just picking up on an earlier post, my NHS trust employ STs and have done for over a year, not a pilot scheme.


I am just so pleased the industry is pulling together as demonstrated on these fora:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p

@ total therapy

there will always be good and bad therapists regardless of the training. perhaps you should take your issues about sports massage with the training providers, and not the therapist themselves.

I have tried that and upset sssooooooooooooooo many people

I agree with you that the industry perhaps does need better standards, and that a diploma in sports massage should contain the following..... so all course providers meet this standard of training. Yes a weekend course or a couple of work-shops arenot the way to give out diplomas.

try telling the sports massage industry that ? they have a lead body, they also sit by and let weekend warriors join the associations that represent the industry

we are a seperate profession (sports massage):confused::confused::confused::confused: from sports therapists, but we should still promote and work together

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

I'm glad it is enlightening

A lot of 'sports therapists' do seem to have a rather uninformed misdirected, elitist 'holier than tho' attitude (not really suprising with the b*ll they are consistantly fed with from their PA the self appointed lead body for sports therapy in the UK (sic)

I'm glad you are not one of them

Other than the PS 'mantra' on what basis is this obsession for a 'Degree'?

I have mapped the SST Standards of Proficiency to existing QCF Level 4 Sports Massage courses and other than nutrition there is not much difference (other than some gratuitously embelished terminology)

Just because if it takes longer to complete, does it make it better?

So if the content is the same what is the difference bewteen an SST 'Degree' and a QCF Certificate (it doesn't even need to be a Diploma to match it)?

just picking up on an earlier post, my NHS trust employ STs and have done for over a year, not a pilot scheme.

Gary, out of interest what are they doing exactly for the NHS, what level of training do they have and which trust is it?

Dan

I'm glad it is enlightening

from their PA the self appointed lead body for sports therapy in the UK (sic) Aren't they all self appointed;);)

I'm glad you are not one of them

Other than the PS 'mantra' on what basis is this obsession for a 'Degree'?

I have mapped the SST Standards of Proficiency to existing QCF Level 4 Sports Massage courses ) Not another one:rolleyes:

Just because if it takes longer to complete, does it make it better?

So if the content is the same what is the difference bewteen an SST 'Degree' and a QCF Certificate (it doesn't even need to be a Diploma to match it)?

(other than some gratuitously embelished terminology)

Hi DFNU,

pot kettle black:p:p:p:p:p:p:p

Bullsh17 would have sufficed:rolleyes:

BGFL

@ DNFU here here

ive not found much difference either. i learnt about nutrition on my sports massage course, ive also gained several advanced exercise qualifications. & im nearing the end of a sports psychology course at Warwick Uni.

but all these diplomas, certificates, qualification still only tag me as a sports massage therapist. if SM is always put down as sub-standard treatments we will never get work from NHS or health care providers like bupa.

i do a hard days work providing an excellent service to my clients, and for these ST to keep put my profession down they are putting me down also.:mad:

SMP sould be used by the NHS, after an op on my leg i could of really done with a SM to help with my muscle development.

to be honest a degree, diploma, certificate or a pretty badge on your chest dont mean a thing, if your good at your job thats all that matters. what are the ST so scared of.

I know poeple who have a sports science degree, been to uni for years, and are no way near as good as me at what i do.

Gary, out of interest what are they doing exactly for the NHS, what level of training do they have and which trust is it?

Dan

Errrrrr Dan ? Sports therapy

East midlands

Gary, out of interest what are they doing exactly for the NHS, what level of training do they have and which trust is it?

Dan

Errrrrr Dan ? Sports therapy

East midlands

Yeah more specific on the trust. Details...details!

They have been employed as Physio assistants then?

I'm glad it is enlightening

from their PA the self appointed lead body for sports therapy in the UK (sic) Aren't they all self appointed;);)

I'm glad you are not one of them

Other than the PS 'mantra' on what basis is this obsession for a 'Degree'?

I have mapped the SST Standards of Proficiency to existing QCF Level 4 Sports Massage courses ) Not another one:rolleyes:

Just because if it takes longer to complete, does it make it better?

So if the content is the same what is the difference bewteen an SST 'Degree' and a QCF Certificate (it doesn't even need to be a Diploma to match it)?

Though not all proclaim themselves as the 'lead body' (judge, jury and executioner?) nor have the gaul to make this statement to a goverment representative with no evidence to support it

Other than to massage (:)) the ego no answer as to why a 'degree' is better then?

Other than to massage (:)) the ego no answer as to why a 'degree' is better then?

I suppose it all depends on what you want to achieve personally. I want to do a degree and hope to start one this year. Maybe you should ask the major sporting organisations in this country who employ graduates. Not sure how many employ diplomates at the top end of sport. Do you have a degree?

well its good to see we have stayed on track from the original post:rolleyes:

here to promote the good work us sports massage therapist do, that we should encourage the awearness of our profession, to be integrated with health care provider private and NHS

we do a valuable service that is needed out there.

I suppose it all depends on what you want to achieve personally. I want to do a degree and hope to start one this year. Maybe you should ask the major sporting organisations in this country who employ graduates. Not sure how many employ diplomates at the top end of sport. Do you have a degree?

how do you explain course providers that produce course on sports therapy levels 4 & 5 which are only a month or so long or bridging courses that are just a few weeks long, you are able to call yourselve a sports therapist after these courses and they are recognised within the industry

lets put it a simpler way. Would I refer any of my family to a diploma qualified therapist after the shambles I have seen produced? NO

Would I send them to a degree therapist, yes.

My personal opinion from personal and professional experience. Its a like it or lump it post.

In my own experience of employing many therapists over the years, both in my clinics and lecturing, I have only employed one fantastic BSc graduate, who actually did a diploma course before he did his degree, but regardless he was a great therapist and lecturer. I am in the process of employing another excellent BSc graduate.......but then she has also trained with me too....I have on the other hand given work experience (with a view to employment) to grad STs who I couldnt get rid of quickly enough, Ive also done the same with grad sports rehabbers, who were even worse.....

Would I refer any of my family to grad STs? Not unless they had done a good quality sports/remedial massage course as well.

I had a feeling that we would have the old degree v diploma argument back, but at the end of the day, we have our opinions and we are entitled to them.

how do you explain course providers that produce course on sports therapy levels 4 & 5 which are only a month or so long or bridging courses that are just a few weeks long, you are able to call yourselve a sports therapist after these courses and they are recognised within the industry

how do you explain a sports therapy course done in 10 days, and then 10 to 14 days attendance to gain a degree??

how do you explain course providers that produce course on sports therapy levels 4 & 5 which are only a month or so long or bridging courses that are just a few weeks long, you are able to call yourselve a sports therapist after these courses and they are recognised within the industry

Do a search. Apparently you can count on one finger the amount of Sports Therapies Diplomas that are suitable for CNHC regulation. I WANT to do a degree. To me to have attained that level of education, not neccessarily in sports therapy is a real achievement to be proud of

I suppose it all depends on what you want to achieve personally. I want to do a degree and hope to start one this year. Maybe you should ask the major sporting organisations in this country who employ graduates. Not sure how many employ diplomates at the top end of sport. Do you have a degree?

Hi Dan,
are you looking at doing the full time 3 year degree or the top-up degree?

Hi Dan,
are you looking at doing the full time 3 year degree or the top-up degree?

Neither. Part time.

Neither. Part time.

good because the top-up is not fit for purpose.

Do you have a degree?

When I started there was no recognisable sports therapy degree (yes I'm that old)

By the time any courses existed I was helping write them :p

Maybe you should ask the major sporting organisations in this country who employ graduates. Not sure how many employ diplomates at the top end of sport.

Which one would you like me ask
AAA, BOC, BCF, BTF, ATP, LTA, Chelsea FC?

I have worked with all of them and none asked me if I had a degree before 'employing' my services?

or maybe you think I should ask the
British Entertainment Industry
Elstree Studios
Wembley Area
NEC
Live Nation

Well you did ask! :rolleyes:

ps
I'm also treating a well known comic on tour next month (no names but its not for a Premier price 😎

His tour manager didn't ask but I'll let you know if he does

Good luck with your degree though

I sincerely hope it meets your expectations and helps you develop your knowledge and skills

wow i think all you guys could do with a nice massage to rid you of all that built up stress

i wonder where we could find a good therapist to provide such a massage:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

best check their degree before hiring them:p

wow i think all you guys could do with a nice massage to rid you of all that built up stress

i wonder where we could find a good therapist to provide such a massage:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

best check their degree before hiring them:p

as you started the threads thnat are contributing to the stress levels of so many, are you giving the massages,:confused: if so I just want to check,, where did you qualify, have you got a degree or diploma, and lastly do you warm your hands first:eek:

When I started there was no recognisable sports therapy degree (yes I'm that old)

By the time any courses existed I was helping write them :p

Maybe you should ask the major sporting organisations in this country who employ graduates. Not sure how many employ diplomates at the top end of sport.

Which one would you like me ask
AAA, BOC, BCF, BTF, ATP, LTA, Chelsea FC?

I have worked with all of them and none asked me if I had a degree before 'employing' my services?

or maybe you think I should ask the
British Entertainment Industry
Elstree Studios
Wembley Area
NEC
Live Nation

Well you did ask! :rolleyes:

ps
I'm also treating a well known comic on tour next month (no names but its not for a Premier price 😎

His tour manager didn't ask but I'll let you know if he does

Good luck with your degree though

I sincerely hope it meets your expectations and helps you develop your knowledge and skills

I think a lot of people forget the fact that the sports therapy diploma has been around for well over a quarter of a century, and long before the SST was established, and that some of us have been around long enough to know the politics of why certain organisations were established, and long enough to have heard everything more than once!

I know of many diplomates working at top level in sport, and as DFNU points out, in many other industries too, I know of many many diplomates who's earnings take them well over the 40% tax bracket.

One of the funny things I see is just how many graduate STs actually go on to do either physiotherapy BSc or MSc, now why would they do that if the BSc gave them enough credence to go out and work?

Im not knocking anyone for wanting to do a degree, but one simply does not need a BSc in sports therapy to become a good sports therapist, and as DFNU has pointed out on many occasions, on some of the ST degrees the amount of hands on therapy taught is negligible...my question would be how do these therapist treat injuries and imbalances effectively?