The first batch of those studying for Carlow IT's new degree in human physiology and rehabilitation will graduate this year. Olivia Kelly reports

The number of third-level courses focusing on sports training and management has increased exponentially in the last two years - from the 2001 arrivals of the sports management degree in UCD and the diploma/cert in sport and recreation in Athlone IT, and the recent revamp of the sport and exercise sciences degree in UL, to the community sports leadership diploma/cert new to Dundalk IT this September.

One recent addition to the field, the BSc in human physiology and rehabilitation at Carlow IT, is aiming for a niche market in the sports-specialists field. Its first batch of graduates, due for release this year, has been trained as sports rehabilitators.

Sports rehabilitation can broadly be described as health care for the physically active, emphasising continuity of care. It's a discipline that merges aspects of physiotherapy, sports science and coaching and fills the gaps between these professions. Paula Rankin, course director at Carlow IT, says sports rehabilitation is like physiotherapy in some aspects, but it's very specialised towards the fitness and training of athletes and getting them back to their peak of fitness. Sports scientists are involved in enhancing the performance and training of athletes but may not have the skills to deal with the injured athlete.

Athletes may be cured of their injuries by the physiotherapist, but are not quite fit to return to to full training. They therefore require a period of specific rehabilitation to get them back to their competitive peak.

It's the first degree course of its kind in the State, Paula Rankin says, and was developed in response to the increasing professionalism of sport in Ireland, which places ever tougher demands on athletes. The participation in sport and exercise has increased so much in recent years - the playing seasons are longer, players are involved in more matches and so the risk of injury is increased.

The emphasis in sports rehabilitation is, Rankin says, on soft tissue injuries such as sprains and torn ligaments, which occur normally through training and participation in sport. Rehabilitators also work with sports people who have had more serious injuries such as fractures to help them regain their full abilities after the break has healed. Injuries are treated through an "exercise prescription". Rehabilitators use exercises to regain the maximum potential of the athlete. Students on the Carlow course are given both the academic and the practical training to devise and implement the most appropriate exercise treatments.

"Students get a very good grounding in science - chemistry, biology, physics and an extensive amount of physiology and anatomy. They also learn electro and manual therapies, kinesiology, gait analysis and biomechanics. Sports psychology and nutrition are also part of the course."

Students are also encouraged to push the boundaries of the field. "There is a big emphasis on research. Sports rehabilitation is an area that's developing all the time, with new techniques and methods of treating injuries." Students undertake 14 weeks' work placement in the final year of the course and have the opportunities to attend clinics in Australia and the US, as well as centres closer to home in Belfast, Galway, Dublin and in Britain.

Sports rehabilitation is a relatively new concept this side of the water. Its origins are in the US and it has only developed in Britain in the last six or seven years. However, Rankin says there is a rapidly developing demand for sports rehabilitators among Irish teams and sports groups. "There is a shortage of people with the necessary skills and some of our students already have jobs lined up."

Sports rehabilitators are employed by the national sports governing bodies such as the the IRFU, the GAA and the FAI. They also find work with teams from local level right up to national and international representative level. They could also find themselves working in clinics alongside other allied professionals such as physiotherapists.

The BSc in human physiology and rehabilitation at Carlow IT is a two-year add-on course to the certificate in physiology and health science at the college. Carlow IT hopes to launch an ab initio degree in 2003.