earticle

영어

Purpose: This study examined the current status of sports physical therapy in Korea and identified misalignment with international standards despite growing sports participation and injury-related rehabilitation needs. Korea lacks a clear legal framework, standardized curricula, and nationally recognized specialization routes for sports physical therapists, which limit professional autonomy and role-related clarity on the field. The purpose of this study was to analyze the structural limitations of Korean sports physical therapy in the legal, educational, and practice domains and to propose a comprehensive talent‑development strategy benchmarked against leading international systems. Methods: A literature review and comparative analysis were conducted on domestic regulations and training systems, alongside models from countries such as the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, focusing on degree structures, residency programs, specialization frameworks, and competency requirements. Results: Our findings revealed a persistent gap between the competencies required in real-world sports environments and the outcomes of current Korean undergraduate and graduate programs, combined with physician-dependent legal authorities, hospital-centered education, and non-official society-driven certifications. The deployment of sports physical therapists in professional, amateur, and community sports is limited, and their roles are often ambiguously defined. Conclusion: This study proposes a three-pillar reform strategy: establishing specialized graduate education and standardized post-professional residency or fellowship pathways; introducing a government-endorsed national specialty certification aligned with Sports Certified Specialist and Australian Physiotherapy Association models, linked to mandatory continuing education; and institutionalizing multidisciplinary collaboration with clearly defined scopes of practice and communication protocols. These reforms are expected to enhance the professional autonomy and international competitiveness of Korean sports physical therapists, while improving athlete safety, performance, and the quality of national sports and rehabilitation services.