都柏林城市大学

Physical activity is a necessary part of daily life, but this same activity be it in sport, leisure or work can also lead to injury in any person, regardless of their fitness. An Athletic Therapist and Trainer (ATT) focuses specifically on musculoskeletal injuries and their prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.

The Athletic Therapy and Training programme will equip you with the medical knowledge, clinical abilities, problem-solving skills, confidence, and practical experience you need to become an ATT. The course’s graduates are also recognised as ATT’s who can communicate and work professionally with patients.

Why do this course?

• Specialism in management of musculoskeletal injury in sporting and non-sporting groups
• Emphasis on pitch-side skills including initial injury assessment, emergency care and end stage sport-specific rehabilitation
• Cardiac and Emergency First Response certification with the Prehospital Emergency Care Council of Ireland
• Intensive training in the development of consultation, interpersonal and clinical skills
• Extensive practical experience through placement with sports teams, supervised and student-led musculoskeletal clinics
• Opportunity to gain experience in MedEx, DCU’s community-based chronic illness rehabilitation programme
• Opportunity to complete an international placement
• Accredited degree with Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI)

About the course

Year One begins with anatomy and the basic sciences, giving you an understanding the anatomy of the body and of the pathophysiology of injury. You’ll also study the theory and practice that underpin physical conditioning to prevent and rehabilitate injury, and enhance health and performance.

In Year Two, you’ll start to learn how to assess, treat and rehabilitate injuries and further develop the theory and practice of training. You’ll also undertake First Aid and Emergency Care in order to prepare you to provide pitch-side assistance in various sports. In addition, you’ll start the clinic modules that will continue each semester for the remainder of the course. These modules will provide you with clinical field experience, as well as allow you to assist in the student-led sports injury clinic based within the school.

You’ll spend Year Three expanding your knowledge and learning in-depth principles of rehabilitation, therapeutic modalities and soft tissue therapies.

In the first half of Year Four, you’ll gain three to five months experience working full-time in a clinical setting in Ireland or abroad (including athletic therapy and training facilities in American universities). The latter half of the fourth year includes a major research project.

Careers

The course equips you with the skills to pursue a career in looking after the health of both athletes and the general public. Future careers include:

• Athletic Therapist and Trainer

In these areas

• Health and Fitness Centres
• National Governing Bodies of Sports Associations
• Self-Employed
• Sports Club
• Sports Injury Clinic