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The SST has been invited to support an international research project led by Dr Margo Mountjoy and colleagues at McMaster University. The study aims to better understand the mental health, workplace experiences, and potential exposure to harassment or abuse among clinicians working with athletes. Sports Therapists and Sports Massage Therapists are encouraged to complete a 10-minute anonymous survey. Your input will help address a major gap in current research and inform future strategies to support those working in sport. About the StudyThe research team is examining the mental health status and professional experiences of those providing athlete care—regardless of whether participants have faced challenges themselves. All responses are anonymous, stored securely, and the project has received ethics approval (Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board #19104). Take Part and SharePlease consider completing the survey and sharing it with colleagues across your professional networks. Click here for the survey link

We can finally share the news! Behind the scenes, The Society of Sports Therapists has been proudly supporting BBC Children in Need’s Thousand Mile Challenge — part of the Challenge Yourself campaign helping to Make Life Lighter for children and young people across the UK. The Thousand Mile Challenge is no ordinary walk. Teams from BBC radio stations nationwide will take on the ultimate test of teamwork — covering a combined 1,000 miles, three-legged! From quick warm-ups to steady strides, it’s a long way from the 50 metres of a school sports day, and every step is helping to raise vital funds. Our expert members have been working closely with organisers and participants, offering specialist advice on training, recovery, and safe partner coordination. By ensuring everyone is prepared both physically and mentally, we’ve helped to make this uplifting challenge safe, effective, and inspiring. 💛 It’s been hard keeping this under wraps, but we’re thrilled to finally celebrate our role in supporting such an amazing initiative — one that truly embodies the spirit of movement, teamwork, and hope. You can support the challenge and make a donation here Together, with Pudsey leading the way, we’re helping to Make Life Lighter for children and young people who need it most.

Our partners at the Football Medicine and Performance Association (FMPA) have released a new podcast hosted by Dr Dan Fitzpatrick, exploring the crucial topic of Exertional Heat Illness in football. The discussion sheds light on the risks, prevention strategies, and management of heat-related conditions in the sport — an increasingly relevant issue as temperatures rise and player welfare remains a top priority. Members can access the podcast now via our FMPA partnership page.

Bone and Joint Week (12–20 October) is an annual opportunity to highlight the impact of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and the importance of maintaining bone and joint health. This year, we’ll be joining the national social media campaign to raise awareness of key issues such as arthritis, MSK inequalities, mental health, and osteoporosis. Look out for our posts on LinkedIn and X throughout the week — we encourage all Members to like, share, and join the conversation to help spread these important messages. Together, we can make a difference in supporting better bone and joint health for everyone.

We’re proud to celebrate Travelling Scholarship winners Bridget Daly and Zara Tangi, who represented The Society of Sports Therapists (The SST), as part of Team GB’s Therapy team at the 2025 World Transplant Games, in Dresden, Germany. The Games, the largest organ donation awareness event in the world, brought together 2,500 athletes from 51 nations, with Team GB’s 300-strong delegation competing across 17 sports, celebrating the “Gift of Life”. Bridget and Zara provided essential treatment, recovery strategies, and pitch-side support throughout the seven-day event. They worked alongside a multi-disciplinary team of therapists including SST Member and Board Director Thomas Hames, SST Member Louise Anderson and Honorary Member Sheila Leddington Wright. Bridget reflected: “Every interaction was a learning opportunity—not only in understanding transplant athletes’ needs but also in appreciating the profound impact of organ donation. “I spoke to many athletes and listened to their stories which was heart-warming. I really felt their appreciation for what we did to help them and it was nice getting to know some of them more.” Zara added: “This scholarship advanced my learning and confidence and has been an incredible opportunity to develop professionally. Witnessing the ‘Gift of Life’ on a global scale was truly unforgettable. “A massive thank you to The Society of Sports Therapists and Transplant Sport UK for a truly unforgettable and inspirational opportunity.” Sheila Leddington Wright, former Senior Lecturer on the Sports Therapy degree course at Coventry University, pictured here with the President of World Transplant Games Federation Liz Schick, has said: “Bridget and Zara were brilliant and a credit to The Society of Sports Therapists. They both worked extremely hard and contributed to a very successful British team.” The Travelling Scholarship embodies The SST’s mission to equip sports therapists with world-class experience while supporting life-changing events. The 16,312 gifted years of life recorded at the Games highlights both the power of organ donation and the vital role sports therapy can play in helping athletes perform at their best. NB  Both Bridget and Zara also attended the British Transplant Games held in Oxford along with other SST Members and Students. The event was led by Therapy Team Lead Alison Bloxham who is also an Honorary member of The SST. You can read all about that event HERE

We’re pleased to share several new research publications from our Members. Among the contributors is Dr Dale Forsdyke, Sport and Exercise Therapy Programme Lead at York St John University and a member of our University and College Liaison Task Team. He has co-authored several recent studies exploring athlete health, performance, and rehabilitation. Dr Forsdyke’s latest publication in the Aspetar Sports Medicine Journal discusses a holistic, psychosocial pathway for managing injured soccer players’ return to performance. We also highlight the work of Zoe Dawson, who, alongside Dr Forsdyke,  has co-authored multiple studies examining youth athletic performance, strength and sprint metrics, and responses to training load in female athletes. We’re proud to see our Members contributing high-quality research that continues to advance knowledge and practice within the Sports Therapy profession. You can read the full research articles and learn more about their contributions in the Members’ Research Articles area. If you’ve recently completed research or published a paper and would like it featured on our website, please contact Head Office at admin@thesst.org — we’re always keen to showcase the excellent work being carried out by our Members.

Jess’s Law, also known as Jess’s Rule, is a new patient safety initiative introduced by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care in response to the tragic death of 27-year-old Jessica Brady, who died of undiagnosed cancer after 20 GP consultations (NHS England » Jess’s Rule: Three strikes and we rethink) The rule urges clinicians to “reflect, review and rethink” if a patient presents three times with the same or worsening symptoms. It formalises good clinical practice, encouraging GPs to reassess diagnoses, consult peers, and escalate care when necessary. For GPs, Jess’s Rule reinforces the importance of continuity, face-to-face assessments, and collaborative decision-making. It doesn’t impose new legal obligations but strengthens existing standards around clinical judgment and record-keeping. But what does this mean for Graduate Sports Therapists and members of The Society of Sports Therapists (SST)? SST members are expected to uphold high standards of care. Jess’s Law serves as a powerful reminder that we must continually evaluate our clinical reasoning. After each patient/client contact, we should ask: Is the patient/client improving? If not, we must revisit our tissue hypothesis, reassess our anatomical understanding, and refine our working hypothesis and differential diagnoses. Objective assessments must be robust enough to rule in or out these key hypotheses. If uncertainty remains, we must lean on our professional networks—consulting peers at all levels of experience—or refer to another clinician. There is no shame in asking for help. In fact, timely referral may be the most ethical and effective action we can take. Ultimately, Jess’s Law challenges us to prioritise patient/client outcomes over professional pride. In doing so, it aligns with the SST’s mission to protect the public and elevate the profession. For Graduate Sports Therapists, this is not just a legal shift—it’s a call to clinical excellence. Hear from our insurance brokers Howden, on their advice to GPs.

Blenheim Palace, Oxford provided the historic setting for the start of the Westfield Health British Transplant Games, where SST Graduate Members and Students joined the British Transplant Sport Therapy Team in providing support for the transplant athletes taking part. Seven graduates and 6 student Sports Therapists, together with a group of physiotherapists and their students, gave up their time to help the Therapy Team, led by SST Honorary Members Alison Bloxham and Sheila Leddington Wright. It proved to be a busy weekend. Just under 100 therapy consultations were carried out for injuries or pre-existing conditions, out of an overall total of 557 treatment sessions. The remainder fell into the categories of massage therapy, ice therapy and strapping and taping. Athletics, the mini marathon, donor run, cycling, football and the race walk took the top spots for needing most interventions with shoulders, knees and lower back clocking up the highest number of issues. Despite a hectic schedule, the therapists also managed to fit in an educational seminar, ‘Sharing Journeys and Shaping Therapists’ led by SST member Michelle Evans. As part of the Games, a Society of Sports Therapists (The SST) /Transplant Sport award is made highlighting one Therapist’s Outstanding contribution to Therapy made during the event. The award is open to all of the therapists taking part and is voted on by the therapists themselves.   Congratulations to Saffron Betts, who carried off the award this year. Saffron is an SST graduate member from the University of East London and currently works with Cora Health (formerly Connect Health). Alison Bloxham, Therapy Team Lead said: ‘Saffron was a worthy winner. This was her third year of attending the Games and she showed great qualities of leadership as well as helping to support and mentor the students and those new to the Games.’ Alison added: ‘We were so proud of all the volunteer therapists, working in unison as a multidisciplinary team. They were so committed and extremely professional.’   Bridget Daly and Zara Higgs, winners of the 2025 Travelling Scholarship to the World Games in Dresden, also took part, as did Paddy Gaffey a former winner of the scholarship. SST CEO, Simon Bowen said: ‘This is an important partnership for The SST.  Alison and her team have opened up a special opportunity for our Graduate members and students; recognising them for their skills and knowledge. It provides a unique learning experience for them, helping to understand the needs of the transplantee. It also gives us the chance to shine a spotlight on the importance of organ donation and the inspiring work of Transplant Sport and its volunteer Therapy Team.’ Register your decision – NHS Organ Donation Organ donation law in England – NHS Organ Donation