Learn what sports therapists do and how a person can become one.
Teaching Objectives:
- Students will be able to tell list the jobs that fall under the heading of sports therapist.
- Students will be able to describe what each type of sports therapist does.
- Students will be able to list places where a sports therapist might work.
- Students will be able to explain how a person can become a sports therapist.
Suggested Grade Level
5th – 8th Grade
Lesson Excerpt:
Athletes, especially professional athletes, need a special kind of strength. They also need special care when they are injured. A sports therapist is a person who works with athletes to help them recover from injuries or develop their bodies in order to play a particular sport. There are a few different jobs that fall under the title of sports therapist. Strength and conditioning coaches and group exercise instructors guide training and workout sessions that help get athletes into shape and improve their performance. A personal trainer works with one athlete at a time and may help him or her get into shape, choose what to eat and what not to eat, and give other lifestyle advice that helps the athlete perform well. Massage therapists work with athletes who have sore or tight muscles. They may work for sports teams or in gyms, hospitals, fitness centers or spas. Physical therapists are specialists who help injured athletes to recover from muscle, joint, nerve or bone injuries. Physical therapists work for sports teams, in private offices or in hospitals.
