1. Introduction and Purpose of the Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics of the Israeli Association of Sport Rehabilitation & Athletic Therapy defines the principles, values, and rules of professional conduct expected of certified sports therapists and members of the Association. The purpose of the Code is to maintain the quality of professional practice, the safety of patients and athletes, human dignity, professional integrity, and public trust in the sports therapy profession. The Code serves as a framework for professional and ethical decision-making in daily work and sets the expected level of conduct for a sports therapist in therapy, rehabilitation, training, instruction, multi-professional work, research, and professional or public activity. This Code applies alongside the document defining the scope of practice and professional boundaries of a certified sports therapist in Israel, the Association’s membership and professional certification regulations, and the policies for maintaining professional qualification and competence.

2. Identity and Definition of the Profession

Sports therapy is an academic, therapeutic-rehabilitative profession based on academic and professional training in the fields of movement, the musculoskeletal system, physical activity, training, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Within the scope of their professional training, a certified sports therapist engages in areas including, among others:

• Clinical and functional evaluation.

• Professional clinical diagnosis.

• Prevention of injuries and functional decline.

• Treatment and rehabilitation.

• Training and development of physical and functional capacities.

• Return to function, physical activity, and sports.

• Accompanying athletes and teams.

• Initial emergency management. A certified sports therapist is permitted to work with individuals across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly population, as well as populations with unique functional or medical needs, according to their training and professional scope of practice.

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A certified sports therapist may work independently as well as part of a multi-professional team, and bears professional responsibility for their decisions and actions within their area of training.

The full definition of the scope of practice, target populations, competence, and professional boundaries appears in the Association's document "Scope of Practice and Professional Boundaries of a Certified Sports Therapist in Israel". The status of a certified sports therapist on behalf of the Association is granted solely to those who meet the educational and professional certification requirements established in the Association’s membership and certification regulations.

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3. Guiding Principles

3.1 Autonomy and Human Dignity — Autonomy The sports therapist shall respect every individual's right to dignity, privacy, information, choice, and decision-making regarding their treatment, rehabilitation, training, or any professional intervention concerning them. Patients or athletes must be enabled to take an active part in professional decisions concerning them, according to their age, capacity for understanding, and condition.

3.2 Beneficence — Beneficence The sports therapist shall act for the benefit of the patient or athlete, striving to promote their health, function, independence, safety, and quality of life. Professional decisions shall be made in accordance with the patient's needs, goals, evaluation findings, and professional judgment.

3.3 Non-Maleficence — Non-Maleficence The sports therapist shall avoid any action that may cause unreasonable harm to the patient or athlete. They must act by identifying risks, recognizing indications and contraindications, maintaining the boundaries of their training, and referring to an additional professional when necessary.

3.4 Justice and Equality — Justice The sports therapist shall provide professional service in an equal and fair manner and refrain from discrimination based on religion, race, sex, gender, nationality, origin, cultural background, sexual orientation, age, disability, socioeconomic status, or any other reason irrelevant to the provision of professional service.

3.5 Integrity — Integrity The sports therapist shall act with honesty, reliability, transparency, and fairness. They must accurately represent their education, training, experience, certifications, and professional status, and refrain from any misleading representation.

3.6 Professionalism — Professionalism The sports therapist is committed to acting at an appropriate professional level based on up-to-date professional knowledge, skill, clinical reasoning, and professional judgment. They must recognize the limits of their knowledge, training, and experience, and operate only in areas in which they are qualified and competent.

3.7 Professional and Social Responsibility The sports therapist bears responsibility for the impact of their work on the patient, the professional environment, and the status of the profession. They shall act in a manner that contributes to advancing the sports therapy profession, maintaining public trust, and developing a responsible, high-quality professional community.

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4. Rules of Ethical and Professional Conduct The sports therapist must:

• Act within the scope of practice and professional boundaries established by the Association.

• Accurately present their academic degree, training, and professional certifications.

• Use only titles and certifications they actually hold.

• Recognize the limits of their knowledge, experience, and skill.

• Refrain from performing any action they are not trained or competent to perform.

• Seek consultation, guidance, or referral to another professional when required.

• Bear responsibility for their professional decisions and interventions performed.

• Act in accordance with up-to-date professional knowledge and clinical judgment.

• Maintain professional competence throughout their years of practice.

• Maintain required professional certifications in effect, including medic/first-responder certification, per Association requirements.

• Hold appropriate professional liability insurance when the nature of their work requires it.

• Represent the profession and the Association in a professional, respectful, and responsible manner.

• Work within multi-professional collaborations when it serves the best interest of the patient.

• Respect the areas of responsibility and authority of other professionals.

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5. Structuring the Professional Relationship The sports therapist shall establish a professional relationship based on trust, mutual respect, transparency, accountability, and clear professional boundaries. They must:

• Define the purpose of the intervention and the professional goals.

• Base interventions on clinical and functional evaluation and the patient's needs.

• Involve the patient or athlete, as much as possible, in setting treatment, rehabilitation, or training goals.

• Explain the nature of the intervention and the expected process.

• Maintain clear communication adapted to the patient's age, language, and capacity for understanding.

• Maintain clear professional boundaries.

• Professionally document the evaluation, clinical diagnosis, interventions performed, patient progress, and future recommendations.

• Recognize situations requiring further investigation or treatment and refer to an appropriate party.

• Terminate or transfer care when continued intervention is inappropriate, unhelpful, or exceeds the scope of their training.

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6. Patient/Athlete Rights, Informed Consent, and Confidentiality The sports therapist must:

• Respect the patient's dignity, privacy, and autonomy.

• Provide the patient with clear, relevant professional information regarding the intervention.

• Obtain informed consent according to the nature of the intervention and circumstances.

• Respect the patient's right to refuse treatment, rehabilitation, training, or professional intervention.

• Ensure appropriate, safe, and respectful conditions for performing the intervention as much as possible.

• Maintain confidentiality of the information provided to them.

• Securely maintain professional records.

• Disclose information to an external party only when required and in accordance with appropriate authorization or legal obligation.

• Refrain from revealing personal information beyond what is required for professional purposes.

• Act in accordance with mandatory reporting duties when there is concern of harm, exploitation, or danger. When working with minors, conduct shall take into account the child's age, level of understanding, parent/guardian consent as required, and the minor's professional needs.

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7. Integrity, Justice, and Equality The sports therapist must:

• Act honestly and be truthful.

• Avoid professional deception.

• Provide equal and fair service.

• Refrain from exploiting their professional status.

• Refrain from accepting benefits that could create a conflict of interest.

• Advertise their services accurately, professionally, and in a non-misleading manner.

• Avoid relationships that could compromise professional boundaries or create a conflict of interest.

• Refrain from any sexual or romantic relationship with a patient within an active therapeutic relationship.

• Report, as necessary, significant professional failure that could endanger patients or the public.

• Refrain from working under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any other substance that may impair judgment or professional performance.

• Conduct themselves respectfully towards colleagues and other professionals.

• Refrain from slander, humiliation, or damage that is not professionally justified.

• Refrain from unauthorized use of the Association's name, logo, or misleading professional status.

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8. Education, Professional Competence, Instruction, and Research The sports therapist is obligated to maintain professional competence throughout their years of practice. They must:

• Regularly update their professional knowledge.

• Participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities according to Association policy.

• Complete courses, seminars, or professional training as required for their area of practice.

• Seek professional guidance/supervision when required.

• Undertake only interventions they are competent and trained to perform.

• Contribute, as much as possible, to the training of students and professionals.

• Act in accordance with appropriate ethical rules when participating in research.

• Protect the rights, privacy, and dignity of research participants.

• Refrain from presenting professional or scientific information in a misleading manner.

• Be involved, as much as possible, in professional, academic, community, or public activities that contribute to the development of the profession.