What is a Graduate Sport Rehabilitator?
Graduate Sport Rehabilitators (GSRs) are degree trained healthcare professionals who specialise in musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and injuries. They provide a spectrum of services aimed at rehabilitation, injury prevention and performance enhancement. A GSR has completed a British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT) accredited 3-year BSc honours degree or an accredited master’s degree with more than 400 Hours in placements ranging from professional and high level sports teams, Military events, Prisons, Private and NHS clinics amongst others.
Along with passing the course, BASRaT registrants must pass an independent national registration exam.
The role of a Graduate Sport Rehabilitator
Sport rehabilitators can play a pivotal role in assessment and diagnosis of injuries, by utilising knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics they can conduct thorough initial assessments to determine the nature and severity of the injury. This process involves a combination of gathering information from the patient, clinical assessments and functional tests.
Once diagnosed a GSR will work with the patient to design a bespoke rehabilitation plan aimed at restoring function, strength and mobility through targeted exercises and interventions. The focus is on active rehabilitation and empowering patients to improve their own health. Utilising their manual therapy skills such as soft tissue massage or other modalities like ultrasound to enhance the exercise rehabilitation.
Who can see a Sports Rehabilitator?
GSR’s help people of all ages and backgrounds by treating sports injuries as well as everyday occupational injuries, pain, MSK and health conditions. GSRs can also help you start on your fitness journey.
Conditions can include;
- Back pain
- Pains and sprains in ankles, knees, shoulder, groin, hip etc
- Pre and Post-operative rehabilitation – spinal, shoulder, knee surgery and joint replacements
- Lower limbs – Total knee replacement, Achilles tendinopathy, cruciate ligament rehabilitation
- Upper limbs -tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic pain
- Arthritis
Bursitis - Repetitive strain injuries
- Help with exercise and activity to manage health conditions including; cardiovascular conditions, respiratory conditions, obesity, diabetes.
What sets Sports Rehabilitators apart?
Sports Rehabilitators have a strong focus on biomechanics, exercise rehabilitation and returning patients to high levels of function. The overall skill set, and focus is why the Ministry of Defence chooses BASRaT registrants for their most demanding exercise rehabilitation roles.
What is BASRaT?
The British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers is the UK regulator and professional association for Sports Rehabilitators. They are responsible for monitoring the professional standards of their members and the continued professional development. GSRs registrants appear on the searchable BASRaT register. BASRaT’s register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) which is the UKs top medical regulator. Being a member of BASRat signifies the adherence to rigorous standards of education, training and professional conduct, ensuring that GSRs possess the necessary competencies to deliver high-quality care. By choosing BASRaT registered sport rehabilitators you can trust in the expertise, professionalism and ethical standards upheld by their practitioners.
What can a Sport Rehabilitator bring to the clinic?
Sport rehabilitation goes hand in hand with physiotherapy and sports therapy, increasing the capacity of care within our multidisciplinary team and Macfarlane Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic. You may transition between clinicians throughout the rehabilitation process to provide you with full holistic treatment. A GSR can help support you on your health journey by helping improve your mobility, flexibility and strength and improving your fitness level whatever that may be. We have an excellent personal gym and selection of equipment within the clinic to enable you to reach your goals. For Longer term goals, a GSR can help with programming for events and goal setting.
