AT A GLANCE
| Level | Movement Therapy Diploma (Level 4/5) |
| Total guided learning hours | 40 hours |
| Typical pacing | 8 weeks at ~5 hours per week (also runs as 12 weeks at ~3.5 hours per week (part-time)) |
| Delivery | Online Part A (recorded/live-stream) + face-to-face Part B practical day + self-directed assessment |
| Assessment | Tendinopathies worksheet + end-of-chapter MCQs + critical-analysis essay (Part 2, ~2,000 words, 50%) + practical + reflective log |
| Submission portal | MTE Thinkific Portal — Phase 4, Module 22 |
| Lecturer / contact | Mike Grice — mike.grice@MTE.Education |
| Pre-requisite | Enrolment on the Movement Therapy Diploma; Part A videos viewed before the face-to-face day |
About this module
Module 22 teaches the electrophysical-agents toolkit — with shockwave therapy for tendinopathy as its practical centrepiece — and, importantly, how to choose and justify a modality on the evidence rather than treating everything as equally proven.
Across 40 guided learning hours you will study the family of electrophysical agents, learn shockwave application and dosing, use validated outcome measures, and write a critical analysis comparing two modalities and justifying a treatment decision.
What you'll learn
Across the 40 guided learning hours this module covers:
- The electrophysical-agents landscape — shockwave, therapeutic ultrasound, TENS, NMES, interferential, laser/photobiomodulation and PEMF — organised by energy and clinical intent
- The governing principle: the right modality, in the right place, at the right time, for the right reason (Watson & Nussbaum), as an adjunct to active rehabilitation
- Focused vs radial shockwave, the four pillars of success, and dosing in frequency (Hz) and pressure (bar)
- Evidence-based management of tendinopathy and region-by-region application
- Validated outcome measures (VISA-A, VISA-P, VISA-G, DASH)
- Critically analysing and comparing the evidence for two modalities
- Harvard-style referencing of peer-reviewed sources
Aims & objectives
On successful completion of this module learners will be able to:
- Describe the electrophysical agents a UK sports therapist meets and organise them by energy and intent.
- Apply shockwave therapy safely, with appropriate device selection and dosing.
- Manage tendinopathy using evidence-based loading alongside modality choice.
- Use validated outcome measures to monitor progress.
- Critically analyse and compare the evidence for two modalities and justify a treatment decision.
- Reference contemporary peer-reviewed evidence in Harvard style.
National Occupational Standards (NOS) coverage
This module is mapped to the UK National Occupational Standards and professional frameworks applicable to Level 4 and Level 5 Sports Therapy practice (Skills for Health CNH suite; CIMSPA Sports Therapist Professional Standard; Society of Sports Therapists framework; and, for exercise modules, the SkillsActive/CIMSPA SKAPC and SKAEG suites). The full mapping is published in the Assignment Remit.
Level 3 foundations
- A334.1 — Apply accepted standards of practice (consent, safety, scope)
Level 4 coverage
- CNH21 — Plan, apply and evaluate methods to prevent and manage injury
- CNH22 — Plan, apply and evaluate complex methods
Level 5 coverage
- CNH28 — Provide complex remedial techniques
- CIMSPA P3 — Treatment, manual therapy and therapeutic intervention
- SST-C — Therapeutic Modalities
Assessment
This module is assessed by the Introduction to Tendinopathies worksheet, end-of-chapter MCQs, a practical component, and a critical-analysis essay (Part 2, up to ~2,000 words, 50% of the module) comparing two modalities.
Tendinopathies Worksheet & Chapter MCQs
| Format | Online worksheet and end-of-chapter quizzes on the MTE Thinkific Portal, Harvard-referenced |
| What it covers | Tendinopathy pathology and management, shockwave principles, dosing and region-specific anatomy |
| Length | All sections answered thoroughly |
| Submission window | 6 weeks from the face-to-face day |
Critical-Analysis Essay (Part 2 — 50%)
| Format | Written essay of up to ~2,000 words on the MTE Thinkific Portal, Harvard-referenced |
| What it covers | A critical analysis comparing two modalities (e.g. PEMF vs shockwave) and a reasoned treatment recommendation — appraising the evidence, not describing the devices |
| Weighting | 50% of the module |
| Submission window | 6 weeks from the face-to-face day |
Grading
Assessed work is marked against University-style criteria — 1st-class, 2:1, 2:2 and 3rd (or, where noted, pass/fail against a published threshold). Markschemes set out exactly what each band looks like and are available on the MTE Thinkific Portal. Learners are expected to self-check their work against the descriptors before submission.
Plagiarism & late submission
All assessments must be the learner's own work and, where written, fully Harvard-referenced using Cite This For Me or equivalent. Failure to reference, or copying from another source, will result in a fail for that piece of work and the MTE plagiarism policy (see the course handbook) will apply. Late submissions are capped at a 3rd-class mark.
Guided learning hours (40 hours)
The 40 guided learning hours combine self-directed study, live or recorded teaching, assessed work and ongoing reflective practice. The recommended pace is 8 weeks at ~5 hours per week, with a longer 12 weeks at ~3.5 hours per week (part-time) pathway available.
| Activity category | Hours | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Part A reading & lessons | 8 | Recorded lessons, key readings and preparation on the MTE Thinkific Portal |
| Part A attendance | 4 | Live-stream / recorded Part A teaching with lecturer Q&A |
| Part B face-to-face practical day | 6 | Hands-on practical training with peers and tutors at Movement Therapy Ludlow |
| Assessment preparation & completion | 16 | Prepare, record and submit the assessed components on the MTE Thinkific Portal |
| Reflective practice & portfolio entry | 6 | Apply the module to a real-world case in the 200-hour reflective log |
| TOTAL | 40 |
A week-by-week study plan is available as a separate download in the Guided Learning Hours folder of the MTE Thinkific Portal.
Resources & support
- All module materials (handouts, PowerPoints, lecturer videos and worksheets) are hosted on the MTE Thinkific Portal under Phase 4, Module 22.
- Markschemes are published alongside each assessment in the portal.
- Lecturer contact is shown in the At-a-glance panel above; learners are encouraged to reach out with questions during the submission window.
- Reasonable adjustments for learners with disabilities or specific learning differences are available — please contact the lecturer or the course administrator before submission.
Next steps
Considering enrolling? Visit mte.academy or email mike.grice@MTE.Education to discuss the next intake, payment options and entry requirements.
Already enrolled? Log in to the MTE Thinkific Portal and open Phase 4, Module 22 to access the teaching materials, worksheets, markscheme and assessments. Your reflective clinical log should be updated at least weekly.
© Movement Therapy Education · Module 22 · Module Information Sheet · v2026
