About....

Sports Rehabilitation

The Sports Rehabilitation profession is relatively new, with the first graduates qualifying from St Mary's in 1997. The profession has grown considerably, with several other institutions in the UK and Ireland now offering a BASRaT accredited course.

So what is a Sports Rehabilitator? Well, the official answer is:

a graduate level autonomous healthcare practitioner specialising in musculoskeletal management, exercise based rehabilitation and fitness

What this means, is the treatment of musculoskeletal (muscle, tendon, ligament and joint) pain and injuries, with an emphasis on returning the individual back to their pre-injury state as quickly as possible and ideally, even fitter and stronger than before!

The Sports Rehabilitation course was first designed to bridge the gap between physiotherapy and the fitness industry and so a sports rehabilitator also has fitness and exercise knowledge. The profession itself is very similar to sports therapy, although is better regulated as all rehabilitators are degree educated. A sports therapist may not have such a high level of education.

Heidi

Heidi Mills BSc (Hons) GSR is a Graduate Sports Rehabilitator. She completed a three year degree at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, graduating in 2005 with an upper second class honours degree. She started working at Carrefour in Norwich in the summer of '05, initially in a full-time fitness consultant position, and now in a part-time role, running the sports injury clinic.

Heidi is a full member of the British Association of Sports Rehabilitator's and Trainers (BASRaT), which provides insurance up to £5 million (in line with that of the CSP for physiotherapy). She is also a level 3 advanced instructor with the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs).

As well as working part time at Carrefour, Heidi also works for the locally run businesses www.sportsinjuryclinic.net and www.return2fitness.co.uk, based in Wymondham. Here she manages the daily running of the 'Virtual Sports Injury Clinic' and offers advice to customers on their injuries and suitable products.

Heidi is also a keen sportswoman herself. She has played hockey for 10 years and is currently playing for a local team. She also enjoys running and has completed both the Great South Run (10 miles) and the 'Run to the beat' half marathon. This experience has led to a keen interest in running specific injuries and injury prevention.