5/16/23

Developing a
Master of Sports Physiotherapy
DegreeIFSPT Networking session
16/05/2023

Associate Professor Maria Constantinou
Maria.Constantinou@acu.edu.au

1

Master of Sports and Exercise
Physiotherapy
Master of Sports and Exercise
Physiotherapy/Master of High
Performance Sport
Associate Professor Maria Constantinou
PhD MPhtySt(Sports) BPhty GradCertEd
APA Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist, FASMF
IFSPT International Registered Sports Physical Therapist
Australian Catholic University
Information on the Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy and Master of Sports
and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport programs
https://online.acu.edu.au/course/master-of-sports-and-exercise-physiotherapy-online
https://online.acu.edu.au/course/master-of-sports-and-exercise-physiotherapymaster-ofhigh-performance-sport-online

IFSPT Networking session

16/05/2023

2

1

5/16/23

OutlineHow courses are linked
and designed based on
the IFSPT competencies

How the courses link to
our organisation’s
pathway and recognition
on completion of thecourse

The type of students
and intake

Teaching Methods |Online and ClinicalHours

Modules within thecourses

Assessment types
employed

Advice and Challenges

4

How is the course linked anddesigned with the IFSPT
competencies in mind?
When designing a course….

What is the end product?
What skills do you want the graduate to have?

A Sports Physiotherapist

52

5/16/23

Masters course
development

International Federation of Sports Physical
Therapy (IFSPT)• Course developed and mapped against theInternational Federation of Sports Physical
Therapy recommended 11 competencies
of a sports physical therapist(http://ifspt.org/competencies/)• Provides an opportunity forphysiotherapists registered and working incountries that are Member Organisationsof the International Federation of Sports
Physical Therapy (IFSPT) to meet the
IFSPT competencies for a Sports
Physiotherapist
66What is a sports
physiotherapist?
A sports physiotherapist demonstrates advanced
competencies in providing “services to people andathletes of all ages and abilities for safe participationin sport and physical activity, through excellence ineducation, research, practice, and clinicalspecialization”. (www.ifspt.org)

73

5/16/23

How do you become asports physiotherapist?
Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

8Phillips, N., & Paterson, C. (2020). Growing
sports physiotherapy experts takes a village technical, creative and contextual learning
doesn’t happen in a vacuum. British Journal ofSports Medicine, bjsports-2019-101333.
doi:10.1136/bjsports-2019-101333

Developing
Expertise inSportsPhysiotherapy

Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

94

5/16/23

Postgraduate study in Sports and Exercise
Physiotherapy
Seek postgraduate study inSports and Exercise
Physiotherapy (Culvenor,
2016)

To “gain depth of academic knowledge, clinicalskills and experience”, and acquire “excellencein professional practice and service
development, the core elements of a clinicalspecialist role.”

Develop technical, creativeand contextual learning(Phillips & Paterson, 2020)“to make complex clinical decisions in a sports
context under significant time andenvironmental constraints.”

Phillips, N., & Paterson, C. (2020). Growing sports
physiotherapy experts takes a village - technical, creativeand contextual learning doesn’t happen in a vacuum. British
Journal of Sports Medicine, bjsports-2019-101333.
doi:10.1136/bjsports-2019-101333

Postgraduate Masters
courses in Sports
Physiotherapy

E.g. Australian Catholic University Master ofSports and Exercise Physiotherapy

https://www.acu.edu.au/aboutacu/events/2021/august/sport-and-exercise-physiotherapy

Culvenor, A. G. (2016). Professional pathways towards
excellence in sports physiotherapy: opportunities andbarriers. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-096221

Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

10

The International Olympic Committee(IOC) and Physiotherapists

The International
Olympic Committee
recognises the
Physiotherapist as a
key member of theSports Medicine Team

After Doctors,
Physiotherapists are
the most medicallytrained members of
the sports medicine
team that can assist
injured athletes

Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

115

5/16/23

The International Olympic Committee(IOC) Medical Commission andPhysiotherapists“On account of the importance of sports physiotherapy inthe supervision of elite athletes and sport in general, thegeneral medical training of sports physiotherapists, thelong tradition of physiotherapists’ involvement in sports
medicine, and their ability to offer treatment as part of amultidisciplinary team, physiotherapy was included in theremit of the IOC Medical Commission.
ØA physiotherapist has been a member of the “Games Group”
of the IOC Medical Commission since 1997.”
Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

https://library.olympics.com/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/177032

12

The International Olympic Committee (IOC):
Medical Services and Physiotherapists

The International Olympic Committee Technical
Manual on Medical Services states that for Olympic
events “experienced sports physiotherapists are
essential” to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal
problems, manage trauma, prescribe therapeutic
exercises and assist with return to sport.
(IOC Technical Manual on Medical Services 2005, page 59)

Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

13

6

5/16/23

Emergency sports medicine
and Physiotherapists“The physiotherapist has several
functions at major sports events,
in addition to treatment andprevention of injuries;
physiotherapists should consider
their role in relation to
emergency situations”.

The International Olympic
Committee recognises Doctors,
Paramedics and Physiotherapists
as health professionals who maylead the management of athletes
in medical emergencies in sport.

The IOC Manual of Emergency Sports Medicine, 2015, page 253
Brown, M., Kenihan, M., & Grant, M. E. (2015). The Role of the Physiotherapist
on the Field of Play. In D. Z. McDonagh, D. (Ed.), IOC MANUAL OF EMERGENCY
SPORTS MEDICINE (pp. 253-260). WILEYBLACKWELL. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118914717
Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

14

What competencies does a Sports
Physical Therapist need to have:

Subgroup of World Confederationof Physical Therapy (WCPT)

1. Injury prevention
2. Acute intervention
3. Rehabilitation
4. Performance enhancement
5. Promotion of a safe, active lifestyle
6. Lifelong learning
7. Professionalism and management
8. Research involvement
9. Dissemination of best practice
10. Extending practice through innovation
11. Promotion of Fair Play and Anti-Doping Practices
Bulley, C. and M. Donaghy (2005). "Sports physiotherapy competencies: the first step towards a common platform for specialist professional recognition." Physical therapy
in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine 6(2): 103-108.

www.ifspt.org

15

7

5/16/23

The competencies of a Sports
Physical Therapist within the
Master’s Competency Model:

Subgroup of World Confederationof Physical Therapy (WCPT)

Bulley, C. and M. Donaghy (2005). "Sports physiotherapy competencies: the first step towards a common platform for specialist professional recognition." Physical therapy
in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine 6(2): 103-108.

www.ifspt.org

16

Units and course structure
MASTER OF SPORTS AND EXERCISE PHYSIOTHERAPYCOURSE MAP (120 CP 1.5 –Years Full-time, 3-Years Part-time)
ACUO
Term 1
Term 2
Year 1 PHTY614 Advanced Principles EXSC651 Sports injury preventionof Human Movement for(10 cp)Exercise & Sports
Performance(10 cp)
EXSC510 Strength andConditioning for Performanceand Rehabilitation (10 cp)

Year 2 PHTY618 Leadership,
Management & Advocacy forSports and Exercise
Physiotherapists (10 cp)

HLSC641 Introduction to healthsciences research (10 cp)

Term 3
Term 4
PHTY616 Sports Medicine & PHTY615 Clinical Exercise for
Musculoskeletal Clinical
Health and Performance across
Practice for Physiotherapists the Lifespan (10 cp)(10 cp)PHTY617 Physiotherapists
working in sport (10 cp)

HLSC646 Qualitative researchmethods [HLSC641(P)] (10 cp)
OR
HLSC642 Biostatistics in Health
Sciences [HLSC641(P)] (10 cp)

EXSC669 Exercise Rehabilitation
for Return to Sports Performance(10 cp)PHTY606 Research Project A
PHTY607 Research Project B[HLSC640/642 (P)] (10 cp) (?
[HLSC646/642 AND PHTY606 (P)]undertaken Summer Semester to (10 cp)
allow more time for the
research study)
18 Faculty of Health Sciences | School of Allied Health1885/16/23

Units and course structure
MASTER OF SPORTS AND EXERCISE PHYSIOTHERAPY/ MASTER OF HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORTCOURSE MAP (160 CP 2-Years Full-time, 4-Years Part-time)
ACUO
Year 1

Year 2

Term 1PHTY614 Advanced Principles of
Human Movement for Exercise &Sports Performance(10 cp)Term 2EXSC651 Sports injury
prevention (10 cp)

Term 3
PHTY616 Sports
Medicine &Musculoskeletal Clinical
Practice forPhysiotherapists (10 cp)

Term 4
PHTY615 Clinical Exercise for
Health and Performance acrossthe Lifespan (10 cp)

EXSC510 Strength and Conditioning
PHTY617
for Performance and Rehabilitation HLSC641 Introduction to health Physiotherapists working(10 cp)sciences research (10 cp)
in sport (10 cp)

HLSC646 Qualitative researchmethods [HLSC641(P)] (10 cp)
OR
HLSC642 Biostatistics in Health
Sciences [HLSC641(P)] (10 cp)

PHTY618 Leadership, Management& Advocacy for Sports and Exercise
Physiotherapists(10 cp)

EXSC669 Exercise
Rehabilitation for Return toSports Performance(10 cp)

EXSC674 Contemporary EXSC650 Fatigue, Recovery,
Practice in Strength and Adaptation and Performance
Conditioning (10 cp)(10 cp)[EXSC510]

PHTY606 Research Project A
PHTY606 (P)] (10 cp)

2 x High Performance Sport electives (10 cp)
ORElective EXSC657 Industry Internship (20 cp) (in High
Performance Sport) [EXSC510]

PHTY607 Research Project B[HLSC641 (P)] (10 cp) (This may
be undertaken in Summer
Semester to allow more time forthe research study)

19 Faculty of Health Sciences | School of Allied Health

19

IFSPT Competency
1. Injury prevention
Sports Physiotherapist actions/interventions:
Screening• Musculoskeletal• Injury risk profile

Managing intrinsic and extrinsic injury risk factors e.g.
• Monitoring training loads• Neuromuscular training programs• Physical fitness• Taping/bracing• Reviewing Equipment• Warm up/stretching• Recovery

EXSC651 Sports injury prevention (10 cp)
26

9

5/16/23

IFSPT Competency
2. Acute injury intervention
Sports Physiotherapist actions/interventions:First responder - CPR and first aid
Quick decision making process regarding returnto sport and referral
Both on-field and sideline

PHTY617 Physiotherapists working in sport (10 cp)
Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

27

IFSPT Competency
3. Rehabilitation
Sports Physiotherapist’s Actions/Interventions
Based on a clinical reasoning approach to assess & manage injuries,
provide an individualised rehabilitation program for:• Pain management• Range of motion and flexibility• Strength and endurance• Neuromuscular control• Sports specific skill acquisition• Maintenance of fitness and function during recovery

Advise the athlete/team regarding progress and appropriate timingof return to sport and exercise

PHTY616 Sports Medicine & Musculoskeletal Clinical Practicefor Physiotherapists (10 cp)
Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

28

10

5/16/23

IFSPT Competency
4. Performance enhancement
Sports Physiotherapist’s Actions/Interventions
Work with Sports coaches and other athlete support
personnel to optimise performance by:• Identifying and correcting musculoskeletal factors that affect performance• Providing exercise strategies that improve neuromuscular control and sports specificskills• Understanding psychological factors contributing to injury management, return tosport and performance• Advising the athlete and other professionals regarding safe and evidence-based useof equipment and training strategies

EXSC510 Strength and Conditioning for Performance andRehabilitation (10 cp)
EXSC669 Exercise Rehabilitation for Return to Sports Performance(10 cp)
Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

29

IFSPT Competency
5. Promotion of safe active lifestyle
Sports Physiotherapist’s Actions/Interventions
Determine an appropriate level of participation in physical activity or exercise
Analyse and estimate an individual’s strengths, weaknesses, and preferences in relation to
movement and physical activity
Estimate safe and optimal progression of participation in different types of activity
Provide effective advice and encouragement to promote safe and healthy participation inphysical activity, exercise and sport
Take actions that aim to influence the promotion of safe and healthy participation inphysical activity, exercise and sport, at service delivery and policy development levels

PHTY615 Clinical Exercise for Health and Performance across theLifespan (10 cp)
Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

30

11

5/16/23

IFSPT Competencies 6 - 11
6. Life-long learning• All units

7. Professionalism and management• PHTY618 Leadership, Management & Advocacy for Sports and Exercise Physiotherapists (10 cp)
8. Research involvement•HLSC641 Introduction to health sciences research (10 cp)•HLSC646 Qualitative research methods [HLSC641(P)] (10 cp)/ HLSC642 Biostatistics in Health Sciences [HLSC641(P)] (10 cp)•PHTY606 Research Project A [HLSC640/642 (P)] (10 cp) (? undertaken Summer Semester to allow more time for the research study)•PHTY607 Research Project B [HLSC646/642 AND PHTY606 (P)] (10 cp)
9. Dissemination of best practice•PHTY618 Leadership, Management & Advocacy for Sports and Exercise Physiotherapists (10 cp)
10. Extending practice through innovation•PHTY618 Leadership, Management & Advocacy for Sports and Exercise Physiotherapists (10 cp)•PHTY616 Sports Medicine & Musculoskeletal Clinical Practice for Physiotherapists (10 cp)
11. Promotion of Fair Play and Anti-Doping Practices•PHTY617 Physiotherapists working in sport

Associate Professor Maria Constantinou

31

How the courses link to ourorganisation’s pathway andrecognition on completion of thecourse32

12

5/16/23

Australian Physiotherapy
Association• The APA Physiotherapy Competence Framework (Competence Framework) is based, withpermission of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, on the Canadian Medical
Education Directions (CanMEDS) Physician Competency framework1 (Frank, Snell & Sherbino,2015).
https://australian.physio/sites/default/files/APA_COMPETENCE_FRAMEWORK_v7.1_FINAL.pdf

The seven roles are based on the CANMEDs Competence Framework model but have been adapted for the
Physiotherapy profession:
1. Physiotherapy Practitioner (replaces Medical Expert)
2. Communicator
3. Collaborator
4. Leader
5. Health Advocate
6. Scholar
7. Professional

33

APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist Career Pathway
Fellow of Australian College of Physiotherapy (FACP)
Exams

2 year training

IFSPT Sports Physical Therapist
APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist
4 years

Application (plus other competencies e.g. sports coverage hours )Portfolio

OPTION 1: Masters Course(1 yr F/T or 2 yrs P/T)

2 years
with 1 year
musculoskeletal/
sports experience

Accreditation
IFSPT Competencies
1: Injury Prevention
2: Acute Intervention
3: Rehabilitation
4: Performance Enhancement
5: Promotion of a Safe, Active
Lifestyle
6: Life-Long Learning
7: Professionalism &Management
8 Research Involvement
9: Dissemination of Best
Practice
10: Extending PracticeThrough Innovation
11: Promotion of Fair Playand Anti-Doping Practices

Option 2: Experiential Pathway (currently under review)
Assessment
Pre-Titling
Course2 years + ≥ 50
hours Sports
coverage

External
Requirements

Level 2
2 years + ≥50
hours Sports
coverage

0 years

Titling Exams

Competency
check list
Quiz
External
Requirements

Level
1

Competency
check list
Quiz

Portfolio

CoursesPrior
toApplication
forTitling-

As pernext slide

Level 1
Pre-Req

New Graduate Physiotherapist

34

13

5/16/23

Professional recognition
Australian Physiotherapy Association(APA)

Our course is mapped against the APA Physiotherapy Competence Framework Milestone 3 ‘Highly
Developed’ for the sports and exercise career pathway which states“A Physiotherapy practitioner at this level delivers safe and effective management in all but themost complex or critical client presentations in their area of practice and will be expected to be
involved in mentoring/ supervision, teaching, and/or research. Performance at this level is
expected for a physiotherapy practitioner who has achieved at least a post entry-level
qualification Masters-level degree in their area of practice or has demonstrated competence
equivalence. Performance at this level is expected of an APA Titled Physiotherapist”.
(https://australian.physio/pd/career-pathway)
Provides an opportunity for physiotherapists to apply for APA Titled Membership in Sports andExercise Physiotherapy and become members of the Australian College of Physiotherapists.
35

35

The type ofstudents andintake3714

5/16/23

To be eligible for admission to the course, anapplicant must have completed the following
prerequisites:

What are theadmissions
criteria?

• Bachelor or higher degree in physiotherapy, and• Hold current registration to practice physiotherapy with the• Australian Health Professions Regulating Authority(AHPRA) in Australia, or• Professional registration/accreditation authority in the
country of your current residence or practice• Have a minimum of two years clinical experience as aphysiotherapist post-graduation (including a minimum one
year in musculoskeletal or sports areas).

Note: International applicants must also meet the
English Language Proficiency requirements as
defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs
Policy.

38

38Australian Catholic University Online Terms – 2023 and 2024
Part-time 1 unit per Term, Full-time 2 units per Term
Study period

Code

Commencing - Finishing Dates

Census Date

ACU
Online Term
3
202356Australian
Catholic
University

Mon 17 Jul 2023 to Sun 24 Sep 2023

Mon 31 Jul 2023

ACU Online Term 4202376

Mon 9 Oct 2023 to Sun 17 Dec 2023

Mon 23 Oct 2023

ACU Online Term 1

202416

Mon 29 Jan 2024 to Sun 7 Apr 2024

Mon 12 Feb 2024

ACU Online Term 2202436

Mon 22 Apr to Sun 30 Jun 2024

Mon 6 May 2024

ACU Online Term 3202456

Mon 15 Jul to Sun 22 Sep 2024

Mon 29 Jul 2024

ACU Online Term 4202476

Mon 7 Oct to Sun 15 Dec 2024

Mon 21 Oct 2024

https://staff.acu.edu.au/our_university/calendars/academic_year_calendar/study-periods-2024
39 Faculty of Health Sciences | School of Allied Healthhttps://online.acu.edu.au/

39

15

5/16/23

Sports and exercise physiotherapy units• PHTY614 Advanced Principles of Human Movement for Exercise & Sports Performance• PHTY615 Clinical Exercise for Health and Performance across the Lifespan• PHTY616 Sports Medicine & Musculoskeletal Clinical Practice for Physiotherapists• PHTY617 Physiotherapists Working in Sport• PHTY618 Leadership, Management & Advocacy for Sports and Exercise Physiotherapists

Streams/Modules
within the course

High performance sport units• EXSC510 Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Rehabilitation• EXSC651 Sports Injury Prevention• EXSC669 Exercise Rehabilitation for Return to Sports PerformanceHigh performance sport additional units• EXSC650 Fatigue, Recovery, Adaptation and Performance• EXSC674 Contemporary Practice in Strength and Conditioning• 2 Units of High Performance Sport electives or EXSC657 Industry Internship (in High
Performance Sport)

Research units• HLSC640 Interpreting health research OR HLSC641 Introduction to health sciences research• HLSC646 Qualitative research methods OR HLSC642 Biostatistics in Health Sciences• PHTY606 Research Project A• PHTY607 Research Project B

40

Teaching Methods |Online and Clinical Hours
Taught as blended learning, mainly online• Lectures, Readings, Activities, Case studies, Discussion forums, live Q & A sessions

Professional Practice Experience hours• Work as physiotherapists with patients in a Sports and Musculoskeletal setting. Students need to source thiswork themselves. Can be undertaken within their existing work.
• Term 4, PHTY615 –~ 40 hours - 5 hours per week, from Weeks 1 to 8 (as part of the clinical component)• Term 3, PHTY616 – ~ 70 hours - 8-9 hours per week, from Weeks 1 to 8 (as part of the clinical component)• Term 3, PHTY617 - ~80 hours (as part of the sports specific component) - requires students to work as
physiotherapists with a sports team or for a sports event and to have current CPR and First Aid
Certificates.

Short Face-to-face intensives on campus• Term 3 units - PHTY616 includes 4-5 days and PHTY617 includes 3 days face-to-face intensive
component on the Brisbane (Banyo) campus in 2023

41

16

5/16/23

Teaching Methods |Online and Clinical Hours
Professional Practice Experience supervision

Supervisor assigned to meet 1 hour per week for PHTY615 and 2 hours per week for
PHTY616, for 8 weeks• an APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist is assigned to each student as a supervisor• view video recordings of student and patient, discuss clinical reasoning forms onpatients, student reflections, present case studies and observe student undertake Ax
and Rx of patients.
• Follow a sample schedule42

ACU Online & Canvas

43
Faculty of Health Sciences | School of Allied Healthhttps://vimeo.com/749908998/b149fab3b2

43

17

5/16/23

Infographic to educate patients on chronic disease – PHTY615

Assessment types
employed

Instructional exercise video for patients – PHTY615
Oral presentation to a multidisciplinary group• PHTY614 – Analysis of a sporting skill• PHTY615 – Performance considerations for a specific sporting population• PHTY618 – pitching a business case for funding

Short answer written task (exam) – PHTY614, PHTY617
2000 -2500 word assignments• PHTY614 – in depth analysis of a sporting skill• PHTY617- report on sports coverage, injuries and basic stats, to go to the sporting team management• PHTY618 - a business proposal

Professional Practice Experience• PHTY616, PHTY615, PHTY617• logbooks of hours completed

Viva• PHTY617 - onfield scenario• PHTY616 - patient viva

Competency Assessment• PHTY616 - practical skills

Manuscript – capstone, from research units

44

Australian Catholic
University, Brisbane Campus

4518

5/16/23

Brisbane City

46

Advice and Challenges

47

19