LEVEL 3 SPORTS MASSAGE COURSE

Full Course Syllabus

COURSE COMMITMENT

Course Commitment

  • 60 hours face-to-face training and assessment — 10 training/examination days.
  • 40 hours of case-study work, including 40 treatment reflections.
  • Online theory and assessment completed alongside the practical course — approximately 50–60 hours in total. Individual study time varies.
  • Suggested online study schedules: 12, 16 or 20 weeks.
THEORY & FOUNDATIONS

Anatomy & Physiology for Massage

  • Cells and tissues
  • Skin and skeletal system
  • Bone growth and repair
  • Joints and joint movement
  • Ligaments and tendons
  • Muscle tissue, actions and function
  • Nervous system
  • Endocrine system and stress hormones
  • Cardiovascular system, blood and blood pressure
  • Respiratory system
  • Lymphatic system
  • Digestive and urinary systems
  • Physiological effects of Sports Massage

Soft Tissue Healing

  • Muscle injury classification
  • Strains, sprains, overuse injuries and lacerations
  • Ligament injuries
  • Hyperalgesia
  • Stages of soft tissue repair
  • Factors affecting tissue healing
  • Inflammatory processes
  • Tendinopathy and the tendon continuum
  • Scope of practice and referral
PAIN & PRACTICE

Pain Science

  • Pain and threat
  • Tissue tolerance
  • Increased sensitivity/hyperalgesia
  • Biopsychosocial factors influencing symptoms
  • Principles involved in normalising sensitivity
  • Twin Peaks/Explain Pain video assessment
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

Professional Practice

  • Relevant legislation and legal responsibilities
  • Safeguarding and chaperones
  • Informed consent
  • Equality and diversity
  • Professional standards and ethics
  • Communication
  • Confidential record keeping
  • Complaints
  • Scope of practice
EXERCISE & ASSESSMENT

Principles of Exercise

  • Effects of exercise/training on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and blood pressure
  • Effects on bones, joints and muscle
  • DOMS
  • Health- and skill-related fitness
  • Principles of training
  • Progression and regression
  • Movement speed and levers
  • Exercise contraindications and special populations
  • Benefits of physical activity
  • Nutrition, hydration and energy balance
  • Professional boundaries and referral

Client Assessment & Treatment Planning

  • Client history
  • Informed consent
  • Contraindications and red-flag screening
  • Functional assessment
  • Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS)
  • General observation
  • Identification of asymmetry, bruising, swelling and skin-temperature changes
  • Recording areas of discomfort
  • Treatment planning
  • Reassessment
  • Appropriate self-help within scope
  • Treatment reflection and future planning
PRACTICAL CONTENT

Sports Massage & Treatment Techniques

  • Sports Massage techniques
  • Soft Tissue Release (STR)
  • Muscle Energy Techniques (METs)
  • Trigger Point Therapy
  • Introduction to Dermoneuromodulation (DNM)
  • Anatomical palpation
  • Client/practitioner positioning
  • Pressure and client-feedback management
  • Treatment selection and rationale

Event Sports Massage

  • Pre-event
  • Inter-event
  • Post-event Sports Massage
  • Event-work assessment

Case Studies & Treatment Experience

  • 40 treatment reflections
  • Client case-history documentation
  • Treatment planning and evaluation
  • Treatment reflection
ASSESSMENT

Assessments

Assessment includes:

  • Anatomy & Physiology worksheet
  • Soft Tissue Healing worksheet
  • Professional Practice worksheet
  • Principles of Exercise assessment
  • Pain Science/Twin Peaks video
  • Event Work assessment
  • Case studies/treatment reflections
  • Final practical assessment
FINAL ASSESSMENT

Final Practical Assessment

Part 1 — Subjective History & Assessment: 60 minutes

  • Client history
  • GDPR and informed consent
  • Review of systems/red-flag screening
  • Contraindications
  • Functional assessment
  • PSFS
  • General observation
  • Identification/recording of relevant areas of discomfort

Part 2 — Treatment & Palpation: 45 minutes

  • Consent before hands-on treatment
  • Appropriate Sports Massage treatment
  • Technique selection and rationale
  • Client dignity and safety
  • Pressure monitoring
  • Reassessment
  • Treatment records
  • Appropriate self-help
  • Reflection/future planning
  • Anatomical palpation

Practical assessments are graded Pass / Refer.