Overview

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By the end of this course, you will (1) assess common athletic injuries with confidence and precision and (2) apply evidence-informed manual therapy protocols to improve function, reduce pain, and support recovery. Led by Stuart Hinds, soft-tissue therapist to four Australian Olympic teams, this course distills decades of elite-level sports medicine experience into clear, practical instruction. You’ll learn targeted treatment approaches for ITB Syndrome, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Lateral Elbow Strains, Shin Splints, and Biceps/Pec Minor Strains, supported by demonstrations of deep stroking massage, trigger point therapy, cupping, taping, and dry needling. Through step-by-step techniques and professional reasoning, this course empowers clinicians to address sports injuries effectively and elevate their therapeutic outcomes in both clinical and performance settings.

Syllabus

Introduction to Common Sports Injuries

Treating Common Sports Injuries provides a practical and insight-driven framework for understanding how soft-tissue injuries develop and how to manage them effectively in clinical practice. Drawing on extensive real-world experience, the course explains the key classifications of sports injuries—direct versus indirect, sprains versus strains, and the full spectrum of muscle-tear grades—while highlighting the clinical uncertainty that often surrounds mild injuries and “pseudo tears.” Learners are guided through the concept of irritability, one of the most important determinants of treatment choice and intensity, and shown how to recognise mild, moderate, and severe presentations. The course also explores the biomechanics of overload and overuse injuries, tendon reactivity, chronic tendinopathy, neural adaptation, and how changes in training frequency, intensity, and type contribute to injury risk. By the end, therapists will be able to assess injuries more accurately, plan safer interventions, and support athletes through evidence-based recovery and performance progression.

Therapeutic Treatment

This module focuses on assessment-driven sports massage interventions for common soft-tissue injuries. You will observe real clinical demonstrations for conditions such as ITB syndrome, medial tibial stress syndrome, lateral elbow pain, thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, and biceps/pec minor strain. The emphasis is on selecting appropriate manual therapy techniques based on tissue irritability, client presentation, and functional demands — ensuring treatment supports both short-term relief and long-term recovery.

Reflective Learning

This module provides an opportunity to consolidate and apply what you’ve learned throughout the course. You will review key concepts, reflect on clinical relevance, and complete a short practice assignment and/or course reflection quiz. The goal is to reinforce understanding and strengthen your ability to integrate these skills into real-world client care.

Course Exam

This final exam is designed to assess your understanding of the key concepts presented throughout the course. Please review all video lessons and written materials before beginning. A passing score of 70% or higher is required to successfully complete the course and earn your CE certificate. You may reference your notes during the exam. Once you pass, your certificate will be available for immediate download.