4.1 Manager of the Patient/Client
Sports physiotherapists are involved in the day-to-day management of their
clients, involving a continuum of behaviours.
For the purposes of description, these behaviours are separated into four
competencies. The first two are injury prevention and acute intervention. The
third addresses the period between a physical activity or sport-related injury
and the safe return to function, participation, and optimal performance in
physical activity, exercise and sport. Lastly, performance enhancement
describes a sports physiotherapist’s contribution to the multidisciplinary team
in relation to enhancing conditions for maximal performance.
1 Injury Prevention
2 Acute Intervention
3 Rehabilitation
4 Performance Enhancement
All these competencies involve evidence-based practice: the location, critical
analysis, and synthesis of new information to allow judgements regarding the
appropriate application of findings to practice.