Sports massage & Remedial soft tissue therapy COURSE
BTEC Level 5 Professional Diploma in Sports Massage and Remedial Soft Tissue Therapy
Our massage course is designed for anyone with a serious interest in pursuing corrective soft tissue therapy as a career.
NLSSM will take you from start to finish without having to do multiple massage courses at various levels or having done an anatomy and physiology module, this is a bespoke course that fulfills all the learning outcomes that are based on your future employers requirements, no prior massage learning necessary.
Our course offers the whole package, starting with assessment skills in posture and movement, including how to treat using advanced soft tissue massage techniques & how to implement a rehabilitation program. Be the ‘go to person’, the massage soft tissue specialist that can offer more.
Why train with us? Find out more about The NLSSM Difference.
NEXT COURSE: Diploma 21C, commencing 18th September 2021.
Full details and future course dates here.
WHO IS THIS MASSAGE COURSE FOR?
- Anyone wishing to change careers with a genuine interest in soft tissue remedial massage
- Anyone who is interested in "fixing" people using manual soft tissue skills
- Anyone who has completed the Beginners Massage Introduction course or has an equivalent qualification
- Anyone wanting to advance their massage soft tissue rehabilitative skills
- Anyone who strives to be the best in sports massage and remedial soft tissue therapy
- Anyone who wants to offer the whole massage package from assessment, delivery and rehabilitation
Have a question?
Check out our
FAQ'sPrerequisites: You are a qualified Level 3 practitioner or have completed the Beginners Massage Introduction course. This course is for those aged 18+ years.
Beginners Massage Introduction Course
If you do not have any massage background you will need to do the Beginners Massage Introduction course or an equivalent course. If you have a qualification already please check with our office as to whether it is suitable and will meet your needs.
Anatomy and Physiology
Prior learning in anatomy and physiology is a BTEC requirement. We understand that all our students are coming from a wide range of backgrounds and will have various levels of understanding. NLSSM has considered the options and now offers opportunities that will enable students to either be exempt from having to complete the coursework and/or offers opportunities to support your learning needs. More info here.
For further information please contact us if you want to have a chat or arrange to come in and see us.
Course STRUCTURE
It takes approximately 10-11 months to complete the course, during which time you will attend bi-weekly classes and undertake significant home study and hands-on practice. There is a mixture of in-class and online learning.
You will attend class (some are online) for 24 days, split across one day every two weeks. This is a part-time course, and most of our students are able to continue their work and other commitments around the course.
During the course
Throughout the course, you will need to complete 100 logbook hours of practical massage experience. This can be on friends and family at the start, and members of the general public once you pass your first general assessment. We also offer the above choices of work or clinical experience to help support your learning.
You will have 3 written coursework assignments to complete throughout the course at home, as well as 3 in-class practical assessments.
A final written and practical exam, including a final comprehensive case study are to be completed at the end of the course.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS MASSAGE COURSE?
- Online tuition and course lectures
- Comprehensive lecture notes
- Detailed schedule of work
- Online review quizzes for all 24 days
- Online - extra bonus videos reviewing practical work
- Access to schools' textbook library
- Access to practical sports massage rooms for additional practice sessions
- A supportive tutor mentoring system
- Student office hours - online tutorial
STUDENT DISCOUNTS
NLSSM students have access to the following discounts (click each for more info).
Suppliers of sports injury, sports massage, first aid for sport, foam roller rehabilitation products to therapists, sports teams, patients, and the public. 10% off for NLSSM students. Find out more about Physique here.
Massage Warehouse is the UK’s largest supplier of therapy equipment for Professional Therapists and our extensive ranges will suit every budget. 10% off for NLSSM students.
React First runs a lively program of public first aid courses in Central London and in-house first aid training across London and the South East. 10% discount for NLSSM students
TOTUM, previously known as NUS extra, is the #1 student discount card, brings you over 200 UK student discounts.
KenHub is an online anatomy learning tool that includes detailed drawings, videos and more. 10% discount for NLSSM students
Handspring Publishing specialises in books that focuses on bodywork and movement. NLSSM students will receive a 15% discount on purchases
- A high ratio of teacher to student instruction
- BTEC Registration
- Final exam fees
- Free membership to Exercise Lab rehabilitation site
- Private NLSSM Facebook group with job listings and support (ongoing after graduation)
- Student clinic (optional)
- Work placements, in elite sport, health clinics, office environments (optional)
- Event opportunities such as the London Marathon
MEMBERSHIPS
NLSSM graduates are able to become members of the following associations (click each for more info).
An SMA membership now includes a subscription to co-kinetics (limited time only). Co-kinetics includes valuable time saving resources specifically designed for physical and manual therapists.
LCSP is the Register of Remedial Masseurs & Manipulative Therapists, established in 1919. More info here.
You will be eligible to register with the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council, which were set up by the government to protect the public. They do this by providing an independent UK register of complementary healthcare practitioners.
Course Syllabus
- Musculoskletal System
- Cardiovascular System
- Reproductive System
- Central Nervous System
- Lymphatic System
- Skin
- Urinary System
- Respiratory System
- Digestive System
- Endocrine System
- Skeletal System Joints/Muscles
- Functional Anatomy
- Range of Motion Testing
- Biomechanics vs Biotensegrity
- Exercise & Physiology
- Lymphatic Drainage
- Neurological Examination
- Effleurage
- Tapotement
- Compression & Vibration
- Petrissage
- Pre & Post Event
- Inter & Intra Event
- Soft Tissue Release – Active Passive, Resisted & Transverse
- Muscle Energy Technqiue – Reciprocal Inhibition & Post Isometric Relaxation
- Friction / Deep tissue techniques
- Neuromuscular Techniques
- Triggers points
- Positional Release
- Myofascial Release Introduction
- Rehabilitation processes
- Introduction to pathology
- Stretching and corrective exercises
- Injury scenarios
- Prevention Soft Tissue Therapy
- Re-education methods
- Homecare
- Remedial Massage
- History taking & notation
- Static & movemnet based postural assessment
- Contraindications
- Palpation skills
- Pain assessment skills
- Muscle ROM testing
- Biomechanics vs biotensegrity
- Neurological testing
- Business Mastery
- Legalities
- Sports Psychology
- Nutrition
- Ethics & Professionalism
- Communication
- Role of Practitioner
- Safety
- Onward Referral
- Environment
Want to know more about our diploma course?
Check out a day in the life at NLSSM, and hear from the students and teachers themselves!
DATES & LOCATION
Our Professional Level 5 Diploma in Sports Massage and Remedial Soft Tissue Therapy takes place at The Annexe, in North London. Please find full location details here.
Upcoming Course Dates
We have the following details available for enrolment (click each course for more info):
This is a Saturday course, running from 9am – 4pm. Please find exact course dates here
This is a Sunday course, running from 10am – 5pm. Please find exact course dates here
This is a Tuesday course, running from 10am – 5pm. Please find exact course dates here
cost
The full cost of this BTEC Level 5 Diploma in Sports Massage and Remedial Soft Tissue Therapy is £2875 + VAT £575 = £3450.
You will be required to pay a deposit of £500 when you submit your application.
Payment Options
- Payment in full
You can choose to pay your course fees in full, after you submit your application and pay the deposit. This must be received a minimum of two weeks prior to the course start date.
- Payment via standing order
We offer a monthly payment scheme where the course costs (minus the deposit) are split over 11 months via a standing order. You will need to advise us of this after you submit your application, and send evidence that this standing order has been set up. Please note: there is a fee of £100 for this option.
Details of how to pay for either option will be in the welcome letter of the course, which you will have access to upon registration.
Please see our full Terms and Conditions here.
Availability & registration
All courses in 2021 will be taking place at:
The Annexe, NLSSM, The Old Fire Station, Town Hall Approach Road, Tottenham, London, N15 4RX.
To enroll on a course, please click the button below:
FAQ's
No! This course takes you from start to finish, no prior learning necessary! Find out more in our blog.
At NLSSM we are passionate about helping our students to be their very best.
Time and again, research has shown that people remember things best when they learn by doing. Not just once or twice, but repeatedly and regularly. Intensive courses, by their nature, do not create the best environment for learning. They may seem convenient but that convenience comes at a high price – your standard of education.
We take our lessons from athletes who consistently train using repetition over a longer period of time, this allows for the muscles to adapt in the same way that our practical massage skills need to develop. To run a marathon requires more than 3 weeks training to be top in the field.
We also choose to offer single days rather than 2 day weekend courses to our students. Our experience has shown us that students are able to retain a greater amount of information as well as it better develops their hands on skills through regular contact. This atmosphere of encouragement helps our students to keep on an even keel and remain highly motivated.
BTEC Level 5 is a professional massage qualification, so it’s only fitting that we teach them professionally, and that’s why we will never offer our soft tissue massage courses as an intensive option.
This Professional Level 5 Diploma is accredited by BTEC/Edexcel.
Both are awarding bodies, and aspire to ensure the massage course you are enrolling onto meets their educational standards. We chose BTEC because it has a good reputation in ensuring a high standard of education as well as we could customize the massage course to meet the demands of the jobs that employers are looking for. We also have greater freedom in how we deliver our sports and remedial massage course, increasing your ability to develop the massage skills that are top in the manual therapy profession.
The NLSSM massage course is the best foundation you can get, it will open up many different opportunities in manual therapy. Our graduates have chosen a variety of directions, demonstrating you are not limited.
Please refer to our Graduates Stories page, wherein you can see there is a wide range of job descriptions from working in elite sport, being part of a clinical health care team, to establishing their own massage clinic.
We have developed a set of robust procedures to minimise the risk of COVID-19. Please find out more in our policy here.
At NLSSM, we are happy to support our students with any specific learning requirements they may have, where possible. If you have any concerns then please give us a call on 0208 885 6062 to discuss your needs.
We understand that this is a year long commitment, and there may be a course date that you cannot make due to an emergency or pre-planned event. This is why we allow you to swap up to two days of the course and attend with an alternative diploma date instead.
Whilst we make this allowance, it is not something we encourage, as completing your course dates in the correct order and with your own class is recommended.
We use a number of different massage creams, lotions, oils and waxes, including the following:
COVID 19
We have carried out a full risk assessment to ensure that the highest standards of safety are in place for everyone coming in to the school, the decisions were based on the location, the layout and how we could modify the interior set up so that it meets the new health and safety requirements.
