- sensitivity and understanding
- to enjoy working with other people
- customer service skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- analytical thinking skills
- counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
- to be flexible and open to change
- knowledge of psychology
- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
As part of your day-to-day duties, you could:
- examine and diagnose injuries
- plan treatment programmes
- use methods like manipulation, massage and electrotherapy
- give advice on how to avoid sports injuries
- keep records of patient's treatment and progress
- give accurate timescales for when players may be able to play again
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, on a sports field, at a fitness centre or in a therapy clinic.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time, you'll travel often and physically demanding.
With experience, you could teach physiotherapy to university students, or set up your own sports physiotherapy clinic.
You can find out more about working in sports physiotherapy from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and Physios in Sport.
