Focus Awards
Level 4
QN: 610/6703/9
Curriculum Active
Focus Awards Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage Therapy (RQF)
Official qualification regulated by Ofqual, awarded by Focus Awards. Classified as a Vocationally-Related Qualification. Total guided learning hours: 205 hours.
Qualification Level
Level 4
Awarding Body
Focus Awards
Syllabus Units
5 Units
Guided Hours
205 hrs
Instant access to interactive lessons, quizzes, and spaced revision.
Course Syllabus & Study Modules
Complete breakdown of verified curriculum topics and learning objectives.
1
Anatomy and Physiology
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the anatomy, physiology, and pathology relevant to the assessment, application, and effects of sports massage techniques
- Understand the musculoskeletal system and its interaction with the nervous system
- Understand the principles of biomechanics to inform assessment, treatment and aftercare
- Understand the clinical signs of human disease and dysfunction in order to recognise contra-indications, red flags, injury, and underlying pathology
2
Application of Ice and Heat
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the physiological effects of the application of ice and heat
- Understand the methods, indications, and contra-indications related to the application of ice and heat
3
Post-Treatment Aftercare
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the information required when communicating with other health care professionals
- Understand how to provide aftercare advice
- Understand how to evaluate the effectiveness of sports massage treatment to support future actions
- Evaluate with the client the outcomes and effectiveness of the treatment to support future plans and actionsProvide the client with information and aftercare advice specific to their condition
4
Providing Sports Massage Treatments
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to review any previous treatment notes, where applicable, and confirm there have been no changes since any previous treatment
- Understand how to select the correct techniques to meet the desired outcomes for pre-event, inter-event, post-event, maintenance, and injury treatments
- Understand how to apply a range of sports massage methods with particular reference to contour of hands, mode of application, position, stance, posture, depth of pressure, direction and rhythm of movement
- Understand the importance of client position and sequence of treatment for the treatment of oedema relating to injuryObserve, palpate
- assess and move the pertinent body parts in ways that are appropriate to the client and their needsDevise and as required, update a current sports massage treatment strategy appropriate to the desired treatment outcome, the client’s needs, and within scope of practice
- Adapt the treatment in response to the presented pre-existing conditions and disease processes
- Determine and record subjective and / or objective measurable outcomes
- Ensure the client is correctly positioned, safe, and comfortable throughout the sports massage treatment
- Apply massage methods correctly and consistently to meet the client’s needs
5
Treatment Planning
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand sport specific issues which may influence treatment
- Understand the importance of obtaining information
- Understand the possible influence of yellow flags on treatment outcome
- Understand how to recognise when the presenting condition could be of neurological origin and requires referral to another health care professional
- Understand how to analyse the signs of postural defect, injury, asymmetry, and biomechanical dysfunction
- Understand the palpatory characteristics of normal and abnormal body tissues
- Understand the normal range of movement measurements available at each joint
- Understand the normal and possible abnormal end feel at each joint when performing passive range of movement
- Understand the method and measurement scales of strength testing methods
- Understand problem solving skills in order to plan and justify treatment
- Understand the indications and contra-indications for sports massage techniques
Regulatory & Verification Details
- Qualification Number (QN)
- 610/6703/9
- Regulated Status
- Available to learners
- Awarding Body
- Focus Awards
- Qualification Type
- Vocationally-Related Qualification
- Operational Start
- Nov 2025