Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy

YMCA Awards Level 4 Certificate  in Sports Massage Therapy

At Level 4, a Sports Massage Therapist practitioners role includes planning, providing and evaluating sports massage treatments to seek to correct common patterns of dysfunction, and/or pre-diagnosed injuries, using a range of basic and advanced assessment and massage and manual therapy techniques. 

Why Level 4?

This course will enable you to assess injuries more effectively. Through advanced assessment techniques, you will be able to find out what structures are involved and develop the most appropriate treatment plan.

This qualification is advanced of the Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy since it qualifies you to work with injured clients and supports access into degree programme in Sports Therapy and Sports Sciences. This qualification also awards 10 CIMSPA points and 20 REPs points.

Payment Plan

To make your qualification more affordable, we offer a payment plan where you pay a non-refundable £125 deposit and choose to repay the balance, interest-free over 3, 6, 9 or 12 months.

What will I learn on the Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy Diploma?

What topics are covered on this course?

During the course, you will cover;

• Anatomy and physiology of the major joints of the body,

• Bony structure​s,

• Soft tissue structures,

• Common postural types and deviations,

• Factors predisposing clients to injury and dysfunction,​

• Factors influencing the ability to recover from injury.

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• The pathophysiology of common injuries/ soft tissue patterns of dysfunction,​

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• The principles and practice of objective assessment techniques and the influences and effects which such information has on treatment planning,

• How subjective information influences treatment planning,​

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• How to conduct subjective and objective assessment,

• Methods and purpose for a range of objective assessment techniques,

• Asymmetry​

• Palpation

• Range of movement (active, passive, resisted)

• Postural analysis

• Functional Tests

• Special Tests

• Interpreting and evaluating findings for objective assessment techniques​

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• How heat and ice may be used to safely support the soft tissue repair process,

• Aims of treatment to support soft tissue repair during acute stage of injury,​

• Treatment protocols and aims of treatment for acute and chronic stage of injury.

• Physiological and neurological effects of using ice and heat during soft tissue repair,

• Methods and contraindications of cryotherapy and heat treatments.

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• Devising sports massage treatment plans to help correct identified areas of soft tissue dysfunction and/or support the soft tissue repair process of previously diagnosed injuries,

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• The purpose and use of a range of soft tissue mobilisation and neuromuscular techniques used within sports massage therapy,

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• Application of a range of soft tissue mobilisation and neuromuscular techniques,

• Soft tissue release

• Connective tissue/Myofascial release

• Corrective frictions

• Trigger points

• Muscle energy techniques (post-isometric relaxation and reciprocal inhibition)

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• Evaluation of sports massage treatments.

What are the course units and how are each assessed?

• Unit 1 - Conducting Subjective and Objective Assessment - assessed via completion of a written worksheet, short answer theory assessment, and observations.

• Unit 2 - Treatment Modalities To Support Soft Tissue Repair - assessed via completion of a written worksheet.

• Unit 3 - Provide Sports Massage Techniques To Prevent And Manage Injury - assessed via a short answer theory assessment and 5 observations (completed via video-submission within 5 months of last attendance date).

What is the entry requirements for this course?

A recognised Level 3 Sports Massage Therapy qualification along with a passion for helping people, good communication skills, IT skills, an interest in learning about the body and the motivation to learn and practice outside of course dates.

Study and Assessment Options

The Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage Therapy is a LIVE course, which involves both distance learning and attendance to course dates. The pre-course reading commences on the first date, of which no attendance is required. The further 6 course dates are mandatory and are followed by video submission within 5 months of last day.

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This course requires you to be practising alongside your studies in order to gain experience with real clients. This can be family members/friends as well as current clients.

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100% attendance is required in order to be entered for the final exams. If less than 100% attendance is achieved, then a transfer fee of £125 is payable in order to transfer to next course.

Next Course Dates

Six mandatory course dates: 21st June, 5th, 19th July, 6th, 20th September, 4th October 2023

Final video submission due date: February 2023

Venue: Fit4Training, Telford

Times: 9.30-2.30pm