Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine (ACPSM)

Overview:

Profession(s): Physiotherapy
Member Type(s): Charterd Physiotherapists
Scope: National - United Kingdom
Formed: 1972
Address: 58 Rathmore Rd, London, SE7 7QN, UK
Website: www.acpsm.org

Description:

The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine (ACPSM) is the clinical interest group recognised by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) as representing those physiotherapists who have a professional interest in sport and sports physiotherapy. It is a national association for all chartered physiotherapists in the United Kingdom, which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The CSP is the professional organisation that governs and regulates all chartered physiotherapists in the UK. It is the CSP who makes recommendations to the Health Proffession Council (HPC) which is a government controlled body that consists of elected members and awards health care professionals their licence to practice in the UK.

The HPC takes advice from the CSP with regard to the academic content and professional standards of the various physiotherapy courses within the UK and then considers the suitability of graduates from those individual courses with regard to their eligibility for chartered status.

In turn the CSP takes advice from the ACPSM committee on issues related to sports physiotherapy.

Mission/Aims:

To improve the techniques and facilities available for the prevention and treatment of sports injuries.

To inform all interested individuals and bodies of the existence, skills and availability of chartered and HPC registered physiotherapists.

To provide a specialist service to meet the needs of athletes, coaches, officials and parents.

To encourage the development and publication of research in the field of sports physiotherapy in the UK and abroad.

To provide and encourage continuing specialist education of the membership.

Principal Activities:

The ACPSM is respected as a major player within the sports medicine scene with representation on the board of the International Federation of Sports Therapists (IFSP)and World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy (WFATT) plus involvement with the National Coaching Foundation (NCF), British Olympic Association (BOA), British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM), British Assocaition of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) and the National Governing Bodies of Olympic and professional sports.

ACPSM has been working with the BOA and UK Sport to produce a national education framework that is appropriate for the range of the membership. The framework allows the member a graduated pathway for career developement as a Sports Physiotherapist. To facilitate this pathway specialised courses and a mentoring network are being developed.

ACPSM has been working with the IFSP on a European Union Leonardo Da Vinci Funded Project to develop Sports Physiotherapy Competencies. These will be adopted world wide as a Gold Standard for Sports Physiotherapy.

ACPSM has also had involvement in the development of various MSc courses that are now being run from universities throughout the country.

The ACPSM has been responsible for modifying the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s ‘Standards of Physiotherapy Practice in Sports Medicine’ so that they apply more specifically to working in the sporting environment.

The ACPSM has developed clinical guidelines for the PRICE regimen in the early management of soft tissue injuries. An extensive review of the literature and an analysis of current practice resulted in the production of ‘Guidelines for the management of soft tissue (musculoskeletal) injury with Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (PRICE) during the first 72 hours’. This is a 66 page reference manual in the form of guideline statements that are supported by the available evidence.

Member Benefits:

Quarterly peer reviewed journal – Physical Therapy in Sport.

ACPSM website – providing educational and social networking opportunities with other professionals, job availability and an opportunity to promote business.

ACPSM newsletter – keeping members abreast of the every-changing world of sports medicine providing links with the WFATT/IFSP and general information relevant to the members region.

Reduced fees on ACPSM run courses and conferences.

Regional network of members providing networking, CPD and mentoring opportunities.

Certified educational career structure towards specialisation in sports physiotherapy.

Free membership of WFATT and IFSP with reduced rates to the annual conference.

Access to joining ACPSM sub groups including football and rugby.

Reduced fees to BASEM and BASES run conferences and courses.

Training/Licensing/Certification:

Career development and educational framework leading to certified Sports Physiotherapy specialism.
Mentoring framework based regionally.
ACPSM developed courses.

Affiliations:

Associations to which we are a member:
International Federation of Sports Therapists (IFSP)
World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy (WFATT)

Partner Associations:
Britsh Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM)
British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES)

Verification Criteria:

In the UK all Chartered Physiotherapists should be members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the Health Proffessions Council (HPC). Initials after the name to look for are MCSP, HPC.