Journal article
The International Sports Physiotherapy Competencies and Standards 2025: The SportsComp Project on Higher Education to Improve Competency in Sports Physiotherapy
International journal of sports physical therapy, Vol.21(5), pp.575-581
01/05/2026
PMCID: PMC13135714
PMID: 42083630
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Abstract
Sports Physiotherapy is a specialised area of practice requiring specific competencies and standards to be met. The initial Sports Physiotherapy Competencies and Standards at the international level were first developed in 2005. With the sports physiotherapy landscape evolving, ensuring the currency and an update of the 2005 competencies was important. Through the SportsComp project (Higher Education to Improve Competency in Sports Physiotherapy) funded by an Erasmus+ grant, a consortium of five partners, including the International Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy Assocation, updated these competencies and standards. Using a three-phase process that incorporated perspectives from experienced sports physiotherapists including a Delphi study, a qualitative study of focus groups and interviews of stakeholders, and a consensus meeting of expert sports physiotherapy researchers and educators, the International Sports Physiotherapy Competencies and Standards (2025) (“the Competencies”) were finalized. The final competencies are at a Master’s level, and are contemporary and relevant to the current context of the practice of sports physiotherapy. The knowledge and behaviors to be demonstrated and standards to be achieved are able to be implemented in sports physiotherapy career pathways internationally. An overview of the key changes in the Competencies is presented and the full list of the Competencies are included as Supplementary Material.
Details
- Title
- The International Sports Physiotherapy Competencies and Standards 2025: The SportsComp Project on Higher Education to Improve Competency in Sports Physiotherapy
- Creators
- Maria Constantinou - Southern Cross UniversityCarlo Ramponi - Kinè Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Center (Italy, Treviso)Bruno Tassignon - Kinè Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Center (Italy, Treviso)Emilie Dick - Kinè Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Center (Italy, Treviso)Elke Lathouwers - Kinè Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Center (Italy, Treviso)Mati Arend - University of TartuLaura Lepasalu - University of TartuArmi Hirvonen - JAMK University of Applied SciencesSanna Sihvonen - JAMK University of Applied SciencesSanna Paasu-Hynynen - JAMK University of Applied SciencesEleni Kapreli - University of ThessalyAristi Tsokani - University of ThessalyNikolaos Strimpakos - University of ThessalyLuciana De Michelis Mendonça - Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisJo Verschueren - Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Publication Details
- International journal of sports physical therapy, Vol.21(5), pp.575-581
- Publisher
- North American Sports Medicine Institute
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- 2023-1-FI01-KA220-HED-000155843 / European Union; European Union (EU)
- Identifiers
- 991013376444402368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s)
- Academic Unit
- Allied Health and Midwifery; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article