User:Ccarter90/The Society of Sports Therapists

The Society of Sports Therapists (SOST) is the leading governing body of the Sports Therapy profession, practitioners are refered to as Sports Therapists, currently, membership to The Society of Sports Therapists is voluntary and the professional title is unprotected. hey maintain Standards of Proficiency, Standards of Conduct,Performance and Ethics and Disciplinary and appeals Procedures.

Formation
The SOST was established in 1990, in response to the then current governments White Paper on public health and to an increase in sports participation. The founder and chair, Professor Graham Smith, published an article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine outlining the societies intended aims and membership prerequisites. However this was quickly responded to by Amanda Johnson, at the time the Physiotherapist for Bury F.C. with concerns that introducing another medical professional for athletic care may be confusing, she then went on to blame physiotherapists lack of musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation and prevention training for the need for such an organisation. Her main concern was that the diploma course required for membership was a short 24 day course. She asserted that this apparent 'gap' in athletic care could simply be plugged via improved multidisplinary communication. She pointed out a major similarity between the Sports Therapy Diploma course and the Football Associaton Diploma course, noting that they were both set up by Graham Smith. The article was concluded with a statement of concern of new less knowledgeable groups attempting to exceed thier competence. Sports Therapy in its humble begginings offered little help to plug the 'gap' in athletic care, but grew quickly.

Health Professions Council Regulation
On the 1st and 11th of May 2006 the SOST met with and gave a presentation to the Health Professions Council (HPC). The Council noted that the society could not declare definite figures regarding how many individuals claimed to be Sports Therapists, membership was voluntary, entry level for the SOST was degree level but those at degree level represented only a minority of the membership, neverless that number was growing, this raised concerns that should regulation be made offical only a small number of partictioners would be transfered to the proposed register. The Council also noted that the study of diet is a portion of many degree programmes for Sports Therapists, However Sports Therapists would refer specific and advanced dietary needs to Dieticians or General Practitioners. They also noted that a Sports Therapist scope of practice was vastly different for that of a Physiotherapist. Some overlap was noted, but thier knowledge was applied in a very different and specific way. Sports Therapists had very specific competencies and these should be shown in the Standards of Proficiency. They were commended for using a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) model similar to that in use by the HPC. The evidence base for the profession was likely to develop as more research was undertaken. Concerns were raised about those who were not qualified Sports Therapists posing a danger to the public. The Council concluded that recommendation to the Secretary of State for Health regarding SOST regulation was vital to protect the public. More recently in February 2011 the HPC agreed to make another formal reccomendation of regulation to the Secretary of State for Health and to Scottish Ministers under Article 3 (17)(a) of the Health Professions Order 2001.

Places of Work
Without HPC regulation Sports Therapists are limited to private employement with, Sports Organisations, Sports Teams, Priviate Clinics, Self Employment, Related Teaching or similar athletic employment. Recently Sports Therapists have established themselves within the Association Football Clubs.

Sports Therapists
Sports Therapists are practitioners regulated by SOST, they assess and treat many common neuro-musculoskeletal complaints such as acute and chronic back pain, mobility problems, postural problems, traumatic injurys and work related overuse conditions. They also consult with other medical professionals, to prevent possible injuries from occuring due to training issue.

Examples of Treatments Performed by Sports Therapists

 * 1) First aid
 * 2) Joint manipulation
 * 3) Joint mobilization
 * 4) Spinal manipulation
 * 5) Spinal mobilization
 * 6) Massage therapy
 * 7) Manual lymphatic drainage
 * 8) Myofascial release
 * 9) Traction
 * 10) Preventative management
 * 11) Physical medicine and rehabilitation
 * 12) Assisted static stretching
 * 13) Assisted PNF stretching
 * 14) Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
 * 15) Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
 * 16) Trigger point therapy
 * 17) Taping (Strapping)
 * 18) Muscle strengthening
 * 19) Core stability training
 * 20) Proprioception training

This list is by no means exhaustive as some practitioners wish to learn alternative techniques such as Acupuncture.