Course Syllabus

Unit iUSP151: Conducting Subjective and Objective Assessment

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• Conduct Subjective and Objective Assessments, covering all joints of the body.
• Understand the anatomy and physiology of the major joints of the body.
• Identify bony structures associated with the major joints.
• Develop how to devise a treatment plan based on assessment of client and how to record and log findings.
• Learn Range of Motion testing. (ROM) and Special Tests as used by physiotherapists and osteopaths.
• Develop and grow your palpation skills.
• Develop your ability to deal with and prevent soft tissue injuries.

Assignment: Unit iUSP193 Treatment Modalities to Support Soft Tissue Repair

View iUSP193 Assignment Guidelines Here

Research and critically evaluate a variety of modalities to support soft tissue repair.

To include:

• Treatment options to support soft tissue repair during the acute, sub-acute and chronic stages of injury including aims and protocols
• The use of cryotherapy during soft tissue repair, including physiological and neurological effects of ice, methods of application, contraindications, adverse reactions to cryotherapy and actions to be taken in the event of an adverse reaction.
• The use of heat treatments during soft tissue repair, including physiological and neurological effects of using heat, methods of application, contraindications, adverse reactions to heat treatments and actions to be taken in the event of an adverse reaction

Unit iUSP157: Provide Sports Massage Techniques to Prevent and Manage Injury

View the full ITEC syllabus here

• Understand the principles of soft tissue techniques used in sports massage.
• Explain the protocols to follow for each soft tissue technique ; Soft tissue release; Connective tissue massage; Corrective frictions (transverse)
• Learn Muscle Energy Techniques (MET)
• Critically evaluate the effects of each soft tissue technique

Unit UIP4: Infection Prevention (COVID-19) for complementary therapies and sports massage

The aim of this unit is to develop the learner’s knowledge and understanding of how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and how to work safely. Learners will develop knowledge on the importance of social responsibility, the causes, transmission and effects of COVID-19, and the methods used to control transmission, such as correct hand hygiene and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). They will also gain an understanding of the safe working practices required to protect themselves and their clients.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit, learners will:

• LO1 Understand the causes, transmission and effects of COVID-19
• LO2 Understand social responsibility for the complementary therapy and sports massage sectors in relation to COVID-19
• LO3 Understand the controls necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19
• LO4 Understand the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Hand Hygiene and Personal Hygiene in the prevention of COVID-19
• LO5 Understand potential hazards and risks and the workplace procedures necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the complementary therapy/sports massage environment
• LO6 Understand decontamination and waste management processes relevant to complementary therapies and sports massage

Course Overview

Professional sports massage qualifications with a blend of interactive online home study and class attendance

The iTEC Level 4 certificate in sports massage further develops your understanding of fascial imbalances within the body, giving you specialised techniques of stretching tight muscle groups (Muscle Energy Techniques & Soft Tissue release) and orthapedic special tests to identify joint and fascial defects. Level 4 will take your postural assessment techniques to the next level, allowing you to understand postural imbalances and develop your skills to correct these. 

Once you have chosen your coures dates for classroom attendance, you will have access immediately to the online home study that you can work through at your own pace. This will be delivered to you via videos, interactive presentations and written materials. You'll have scheduled video calls with your tutor to track your progress and ask questions throughout your online learning. The online content will include an introduction to MET, STR and special tests as well as developing your assessment techniques. When you join us in the classroom for your 6 days attendance, you will review this and further explore and develop your assessment and hand skills.

What's included: 

• Online home study via interactive presentations, videos and written materials
• Online learning material for ITEC Level 2 Award in Infection Prevention for complementary and sports massage therapists
• 6 days classroom tuition
• One-to-one video calls with your tutor on request
• Bi-weekly group scheduled video calls for online learning support

You can view a sample of one of our course videos in the Videos tab

This qualification also includes the ITEC Level 2 Award in Infection Prevention for complementary and sports massage therapists which is now a pre-requisite for all ITEC courses. Details of the unit can be found on the course syllabus tab.

If you are new to the industry, take a look at our Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage.

Assessment Criteria

You will be required to complete a number of treatments/case studies at home after/during your course and supply the evidences of these. You can use family, friends, friends of frients etc to complete these. You will then return to the Academy to sit your final exams usually 3-4 months after your course contact days. 

We recommend around 5-10 hours of home study a week to complete your case studies, theory study and assignments.

Folder work/Evidences

After your contact days, you will complete: 

• 15 Case Studies (5 people x 3 times)
• Plus 20 treatments logged in consultation forms
• 1 x assignment (Unit iUSP193) - 2500 word minimum essays (this can be started during the home study element of your course)

Examinations:

You will then return to the Academy to sit your exams (usually 3-4 months after your course):

• "Mock" Practical Exam (usually 2-3 weeks before the “real” practical exam. This is to allow you a practice run, and for your tutor to give you feedback on areas to work on.)
• Practical Exam, externally invigilated by ITEC (usually 3-4 months after the course contact days).
• Multiple choice question paper (sat remotely) on Infection Prevention (COVID-19) for complementary therapies and sports massage

Entry Requirements

Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage Required

If you do not already hold a Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage, you will need to complete this prior to joining the Level 4 course. You can enrol onto the both the Level 3 and Level 4 course, or start with the Level 3, and join the Level 4 course at a later date. Find out more information about the ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage here

Books for Study

Soft Tissue Release - Mary Sanderson

ISBN: 978-1-905367-37-5

Muscle Energy Techniques: A Practical Handbook for Physical Therapists - John Gibbons

ISBN: 978-1-905367-238

Why Train with Us

Here at the Academy, we are passionate about delivering quality training in Complementary Therapies to ensure each student gains a professional qualification of the highest level. We believe the combination of expertly trained, passionate tutors,  quality assured certification, and our on-going support for students, helps grow our students into highly successful therapists.

What set's us apart from the rest...?

• iTEC Accredited 
• Guaranteed small group tuition (max 10 per 1 tutor) for maximum individual support
• Passionate, experienced tutors committed to the highest standards in the industry
• Free Thursday evening support - available throughout your training and when you are qualified
• A fun, friendly environment to study and meet like minded people
• All our courses are eligible to apply for an NUS Extra card, giving you savings on lots of retailers.
• We continue to support you as you make your way into the industry as a qualified therapist, with free talks on setting up a business, Facebook groups with job opportunities and continued contact with your Tutor

About Your Tutor(s)

Chris Phillips

Principal-Director-Tutor

The Academy has a proud history as a private training provider in the complementary health sector for the last twenty five years.

One of my core beliefs at The Academy concerns training standards. I believe there is a real need to further raise and develop credibility in our industry, so that more clients can benefit from high professional standards. We can contribute to this by sharing our knowledge and working experiences with each other. This is the main drive behind my weekly evening groups; Thursday Evenings.

I trained as a Massage and Sports Therapist in 2000 and have been developing my private practice from my home just outside Northleach in the Cotswolds ever since. In 2006 I completed my Certificate in Further Education Teaching (CFET1) and I have been teaching Sports and Remedial Massage ITEC Level 3 & 4 here at the Academy since. I have a background of working with young troubled people and their families in a therapeutic setting, both as key worker and as a manager and supervising and training staff.

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Testimonials

I have loved this course. Fascinating subject delivered by a tutor who is passionate and in an environment which is homely and supportive. We had a great group, with everyone contributing well and bringing really interesting knowledge and experience into the room

- Student wished to be anonymous | L4 Sports Massage | June 2019 

The environment is homely, welcoming, clean and light. The staff are extremely welcoming. There is a lot of support available on the course. I would recommend anyone wanting to attend a course such as ones provided at this facility to come here.

 -  Student wished to be anonymous | L3 Sports Massage | June 2019 

Doing the level 4 course over 4 weeks enabled me to practice in between sessions. The instruction was very good and informative and given in a professional way. Good interaction and practice with other students

- Patricia | L4 Sports Massage | February 2019

Course was absolutely excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and teaching was to a very high standard. Chris clearly knows the profession extremely well and is able to communicate and explain things effectively and clearly. Chris is very patient, outgoing and approachable and I would recommend the course to anyone interested in sports massage. 

- Samuel | L4 Sports Massage | September 2018 

Course was absolutely excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and teaching was to a very high standard. Chris clearly knows the profession extremely well and is able to communicate and explain things effectively and clearly. Chris is very patient, outgoing and approachable, I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in Sports Massage

— Chris Heffernon - Sports Masage | May 2017

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