The Sporting Lower Limb Course

Learning objectives

By the end of this course you will be able to:

1. Recognise sport-specific demands and their potential effects on healing and pain processes.
2. Obtain a client history and select and apply the most appropriate clinical and performance-related tests to the individual, the injury, and the sport, (for example, tests of strength, functional performance, range of motion and flexibility).
3. Recognise the relevance of medical investigations and of information collected by other professionals in the multidisciplinary team.
4. Recognise and act on indications for urgent or non-urgent referral of an athlete for further investigations or intervention by other members of the multidisciplinary team (for example, MRI, ultrasound imaging, X-ray, surgery).
5. Design and implement evidence-based conditioning, strengthening and stretching exercise programmes, including programmes to increase neuromuscular control, incorporating skill acquisition principles (for example, static, dynamic, reactive or preparatory techniques) specifically related to a specific individual, injury, and sporting role.
6. Design training methods to maintain fitness and function of uninjured parts of the body during the recovery period, e.g. metabolic training, visual imaging techniques.
7. Modify the use of clinical and performance-related testing to provide the most appropriate information at different stages in the rehabilitation process (for example, progressing from tests of functional movements to complex field testing that relates directly to the sporting demands).
8. Sensitively advise the athlete and other professionals regarding progress and appropriate timing of return to sporting and exercise activities.
9. Communicate effectively and respectfully in the multidisciplinary team, to ensure a coordinated and effective multidisciplinary approach in collaboration with the athlete.
10. Integrate strategies to ensure privacy and confidentiality for the athlete and sports team, in all communications.