Sport Injury Rehabilitation
Full-time
Part-time
One year
Three year
September 2025
In a nutshell
This course will further the knowledge, skills, and abilities of sports rehabilitators, sports therapists, physiotherapists, and other allied health professionals currently working in the area of sports injury rehabilitation and prevention.
This was the first exercise rehabilitation master's in Europe to be recognised by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) through their recognition programme. The programme is delivered by some of the world's leading experts. The contact sessions on campus, including keynote sessions followed by practical and seminar sessions, are applicable immediately to professional practice and involve a high practical content.
Please note: Due to the structure of this programme, it is not available to applicants who require a Student Visa.
You will:
- Have the opportunity to take a lead role in sports injury rehabilitation.
- Access theoretical content online so you can study at a time convenient to you.
- Study high practical content, which means you'll develop the skills that will impress employers.
Course recognition
This is for you if...
You want to take a lead role in sports injury rehabilitation.
You are a strong communicator with great interpersonal skills.
You want to help improve the lives of others.
All about the course
The MSc programme is offered as either a full-time or part-time programme.
The full-time course runs over three academic semesters (October through to September the following year), whilst giving you the chance to exit with the following awards:
- Postgraduate Certificate: completion of one module
- Postgraduate Diploma: completion of two modules
- Masters: completion of two modules plus a dissertation
In order to achieve an award of MSc Sports Injury Rehabilitation, you must successfully complete the modules Rehabilitation of Musculoskeletal Injuries and Injury Prevention and Performance Measurement, along with producing a thesis for the dissertation module.
Injury Prevention and Performance Management
You will develop the ability to critically evaluate the scientific principles and theories of athletic screening and a clear understanding of the science behind performance measurement and appropriate interpretation of those measurements and learn to apply them in a real world context. You will experience carrying out a systematic and structured group/individual project. This will further develop your critical evaluation and research skills in relation to your own professional practice and includes dissemination of research and good practice.
Rehabilitation of Musculoskeletal Injury
You will develop an understanding of the biology of tissue loading and how this significantly influences exercise rehabilitation. Through a series of keynote lectures and online material, you will gain greater insight into assessment and management of musculoskeletal injuries, specifically aiming to improve management of acute injury, overuse injury and post-operative management of typical musculoskeletal injuries. This course also covers the integration of other non-exercise treatment modalities into the exercise rehabilitation programme for patients. This will include ‘real life’ practical application, in relation to optimising patient management in specific sports.
Dissertation
You will undertake an in-depth, evidence-based exploration of a key area relevant to your own practice. This is a substantial, independent, research project.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
The School of Health and Society
The School of Health and Society is a forward-thinking, dynamic school with a commitment to lifelong learning and real-world impact.
We live in a rapidly changing world, and we’re keen to leave a productive legacy of helping people at all stages of their lives, improving their physical, psychological and social wellbeing.
Staff Profiles
Dr Lee Herrington PhD MSc MCSP
Lee is a physiotherapist, senior lecturer in Sports Rehabilitation and programme leader for the MSc Sports Injury Rehabilitation at the University of Salford. Dr Herrington is also a consultant physiotherapist to Premiership & Championship Football and Rugby Union clubs, along with a number of Olympic sports. He worked as part of Team GB medical team at London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Lee has previously worked with British Swimming, Great Britain Basketball team, Wigan Warriors and Great Britain Rugby League teams along with England Table Tennis and Netball. He is the lead clinical researcher in the Knee Biomechanics and Injury at the University of Salford, with over 200 published research articles. His specific research interests are anterior knee pain and rehabilitation following knee surgery (principally Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction). Lee is also the Editor in Chief of Physical Therapy in Sport and on the editorial board of The Knee journal and Journal of Sports Rehabilitation. Dr Herrington leads the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation module on the MSc Sports Injury Rehabilitation.
Dr Paul A. Jones MSc, BSc (Hons), FBASES, BASES Accredited, CSCS*D, CSci
Paul is a Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics / Strength and Conditioning (S&C). Dr Jones earned a BSc (Hons) and MSc in Sports Science from Liverpool John Moores University and a PhD in Sports Biomechanics at the University of Salford. He has over 20 years’ experience in Biomechanics and S&C support to athletes and teams, primarily in athletics, football, and rugby and was a former sports science co-ordinator for UK disability athletics. Paul is a BASES Fellow, has been BASES Accredited for >17 years and is currently a member of the BASES accreditation committee. Paul has also been a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) with the NSCA for >18 years. He has authored / co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles mainly in change of direction biomechanics and strength diagnostics and has co-edited a book ‘Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning’ published by Routledge. Paul leads the Injury Prevention and Performance Measurement module which is shared by the MSc Strength and Conditioning, MSc Sports Injury Rehabilitation, and MSc Performance Analysis in Sports.
Dr Paul Comfort, CSCS*D, ASCC
Dr Comfort is a Reader in Strength and Conditioning and the programme leader for the MSc Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford. Paul is also an adjunct professor at Edith Cowan University (Western Australia), a founder member and accredited member of the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association, and board member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (July 2020-July 2023). Dr Comfort regularly consults with numerous professional sports teams in the UK and USA and has co-authored >150 peer-reviewed journal articles. Paul is also co-editor of the textbooks, ‘Advanced Strength and Conditioning: an evidence-based approach’ and ‘Performance Assessment for Strength and Conditioning.’
Facilities
You will have access to some of the best facilities in the UK, including our purpose-built Human Performance Lab, which contains almost every type of physiological and biomechanical equipment including:
- FT700 Ballistic Measurement System
- 9 AMTI Force Plates, 5 of which are situated in a 40m running track
- ProReflex 10 Camera real-time motion analysis system
- KinCom and Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometers for muscle strength testing
- Portable Kistler force plate
- EMG (electromyography) system used to measures the electrical activity of muscles and to gather information about the muscular and nervous systems
- Esaote AU5 Ultrasound used to study skeletal muscles, tendons, ligaments and blood flow
- We have a range of cycle and rowing ergometers, two treadmills, and two online gas analysis systems. We can perform blood analysis with our Analox GM7 Multi-Assay Blood Analyser to measure blood lactate, glucose and a range of other blood substrates
- There is also the Reflotron which another multi-use system that can measure blood cholesterol and haemoglobin as well as portable blood glucose and lactate analysers.
In addition, we have the usual equipment found in exercise physiology labs.
- Polar heart rate monitors
- Harpenden skinfold callipers
- Wingate tests
- Hand grip dynamometers
- Height, weight monitors
- Jump mats and timing gates
What about after uni?
Take a lead role in sports injury rehabilitation with this practice-based course and make a difference to your clients with higher-level skills. You’ll also learn how to conduct research and then apply it to the real world, with numerous students successfully publishing their research in peer-reviewed journals.
The skills developed within the programme are recognised within organisations such as the English Institute of Sport as critical to the development of key competencies to move through their competency-led career structure.
Upon successful completion of the course, it would be possible to progress to a PhD or a PhD via publication. We offer a range of research degrees relevant to your area of practice.
As a University, we are committed to your continuing professional development. We run short courses and study days throughout the year to keep you at the forefront of developments in Sports Injury Rehabilitation.
Career Links
This course has been developed to include the key competencies identified by the International Federation of Sports Physiotherapists in the domains of exercise rehabilitation. It is also recognised as providing key exercise rehabilitation skills by the English Institute of Sport.
What you need to know
APPLICANT PROFILE
This course is aimed at a wide range of sports professionals including physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, sports therapists, and sports rehabilitators and sport medical physicians.
You will need access to an athlete or group of athletes to use as case studies to apply the theory you have learnt to practice. You will need to be able to effectively evaluate their treatment and training, and implement appropriate interventions as this forms part of the assessments for some modules.
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
English language requirements
Overseas students must provide evidence of proficiency in English- IELTS 6.5 band score (with no element below 6.0) or above are proof of this.
Please note: Due to the structure of this programme, it is not available to applicants who require a Student Visa.
Undergraduate degree
BSc (Hons) graduates with an appropriate sports injury-related subject area (Physiotherapy, Sports Rehabilitation, Sports Therapy, Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Sports Medicine Physician). Prospective students will normally be required to have achieved a 2.1 Honours Degree, but consideration will be given to students with a 2.2 Honours Degree with appropriate experience and satisfactory references.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
APEL: Sports injury practitioners with lower formal academic qualification will be assessed on suitability to enrol on this programme based on experience and vocational qualifications and via interview.
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,100.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2025/26 | £17,000.00per year |
| Part-time | 2025/26 | Part-time costs will be calculated on a pro rata basis. |
Additional costs
You should consider additional costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for International Students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our international scholarships.
All Set? Let's Apply
Still have some questions? Register for one of our Open Days or contact us:
By email: enquiries@salford.ac.uk
By phone: +44 (0)161 295 4545