The purpose of a residency in Sports Physical Therapy is to provide the physical therapist with an opportunity to develop advanced competencies in sports physical therapy.  This includes the development of a theoretical rationale for evaluation and treatment skills as well as the attainment of clinical reasoning processes necessary to prevent, treat and rehabilitate injuries in an active population.  The sports physical therapy residency program will provide the resident with clinical experience under the mentorship of a recognized clinical expert.  The residency will also provide interaction with other health professionals interested in sports medicine including, but not limited to, physicians and athletic trainers.  Experiences outside the physical therapy clinic will include providing coverage at athletic venues and observing physicians during office hours and surgery.  The residency will include a variety of learning opportunities that may include case review, didactic classroom instruction, chat room, problem solving sessions, clinical rounds, journal clubs and review of radiological or lab studies.

 

 

The scope of the sports physical therapy residency will be based upon the most recent practice profile for sports physical therapists as described in the latest Description of Specialty Practice.  The current content areas for a sports physical therapy residency program will include:

 

 

The sports physical therapy residency will be structured to provide the resident with a wide range of experiences to develop advanced clinical skills in sports physical therapy.  The residents will be expected to work 40 -50 hours per week.  Experiences will include the following:

 

Patient Care- The resident will evaluate and treat patients with a variety of musculoskeletal pathologies that are commonly found in the sports physical therapy setting.  This will include management of patients with pathology of the knee, shoulder, foot, ankle or spine with at least 40% of the patient load being a sports physical therapy caseload.  Approximately 40 – 60% of the resident’s time will be spent in providing patient care.  Designated time will be provided for one-on-one clinical instruction between the resident and mentor.  Clinical practice under the supervision of a mentor will allow the resident to develop psychomotor skills and clinical reasoning processes necessary to effectively evaluate and treat individuals with sports related injuries.

On-Field Management of Athletic Injuries – The resident will assist in providing coverage of athletic events under the guidance of a board certified sports physical therapist or certified athletic trainer.  This will allow the resident to develop skills to prevent, recognize, evaluate and treat acute sports injuries.  Approximately 5 – 10% of the resident’s time will be dedicated to providing coverage at athletic events.

 

Observation of Physician Office Hours and Surgery – The resident will observe physicians during office hours to gain an appreciation for the diagnosis and medical management of common sports-related injuries.  The resident will also have the opportunity to observe surgery to gain an understanding of current surgical techniques to manage sports related injuries.  The resident will spend approximately 5 – 10% of his/her time working with and observing physicians.

 

Critical Inquiry – The resident will be required to participate in activities to develop critical inquiry skills that may include journal clubs, development of practice guidelines, case reporting, and a research project.  The resident will spend approximately 10% of his/her time with critical inquiry projects.

 

Educational Activities – The resident will participate in numerous educational activities to develop a theoretical rationale required for the prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries in an active, athletic patient population.  This may include participation in in-services, journal clubs, rounds and conferences.  The resident may also have the opportunity to enroll in coursework at a college or university related to the management of athletic injuries and improvement in human performance.  Additionally, the resident may be required to provide in-services for staff members at the host institution.  The resident will spend 10 – 20% of his/her time in educational activities.

 

Evaluation of the Resident

 

To demonstrate their knowledge and skills, residents will be expected to satisfactorily complete written, practical and live patient examinations.  Written examinations will be used to assess the resident’s knowledge of theoretical rationales and decision-making processes necessary to practice as a sports physical therapist.  Practical examinations will be performed on normal subjects and patients to demonstrate competency with psychomotor skills necessary to evaluate and treat an active patient population.

 

Length of the Residency Program

 

The residency program will range from a 9- to a 24-month period, with the typical length of time being 12 months.  This will allow adequate time for the resident to develop theoretical rationales as well as psychomotor and clinical reasoning skills necessary to be proficient as a sports physical therapist.  The length of the residency program does vary with individual sites and goals.

 

Compensation of Resident

 

The Sports Physical Therapy resident will be compensated by the facility at which the residency program is housed.  Compensation will include salary and benefits to be determined by the individual residency sites.  The total compensation package, including salary and benefits, will be comparable between residencies. 

 

Application Process

Prior to the initiation of any sports residency program, candidates must possess:

·  A current physical therapy licensure in the state of the residency.

·  One of the following: a current ATC designation, a current license as an EMT, or certification as an Emergency Responder.

Applicants for the Sports Physical Therapy Residency program must submit a current copy of their curriculum vitae and a self-evaluation that states their goals and objectives for the residency experience.  Letters of recommendations are usually required and the number varies with the individual residency sites.  It is recommended that at least one of the letters be from a previous employer of the physical therapist and the remaining letters include an instructor from physical therapy school and/or a physician that the physical therapist has worked with in the past.  The completed application should be forwarded directly to the residency director at the site(s) that the applicant is interested.  The Sports Physical Therapy residency candidate will be interviewed and selected by individual residency sites.