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Sports physiotherapy is a specialized branch of physiotherapy that focuses on managing and preventing injuries obtained from sports and enhancing the performance of athletes. Any kind of sport that includes physical activity is prone to injuries. However, sports injuries can have different forms. Football, for instance, puts a lot of stress on the player’s Achilles Tendon, calves, groin and inner thigh. Hiking, on the other hand, targets the hamstrings, quadriceps and glutes. So, sports physiotherapists consider the type of sports and the level of your activity before providing you with proper healthcare and preventative training.
Sports injuries do not discriminate against anyone. Thus, whether you are a professional player or a recreational athlete, chances are you won’t escape injuries. The good news is sports physiotherapy can help you indulge in your favourite sports and stay fit at the same time.
A sports physiotherapist prepares an individual to participate in sports and recover from injuries successfully.
They specialize in sports rehabilitation. They use their extensive knowledge and experience to assess, prevent and manage various sports injuries. Athletes of all ages and abilities can seek advice and treatment from sports therapists.
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Injury assessment
They assess your injury through physical tests to ensure that nothing serious is going on. This also helps them understand and fix your problem.
The physical tests show the exact structure that’s damaged or causing the pain. The physiotherapist then asks you questions about the current injury, past injuries and medical history. They evaluate the findings and determine the other factors that may have contributed to the injury.
Sports therapists do not just treat the area of injury. They also make sure the pain doesn’t come back.
Injury prevention
Musculoskeletal injuries may happen over time. Thus, sports physiotherapists help identify potential problems in your body before they prevent you from playing. They evaluate your postures and gait patterns to understand if your body functions optimally as a whole or not.
Players also receive evidence-based advice on how to adjust their technique or equipment to prevent injuries in their sports. They can also acquire the strength and flexibility to move more efficiently and perform better.
Rehabilitation
Sports injuries can be unavoidable at times. In that case, sports physiotherapy helps you recover and return to pre-injury function as quickly as possible.
Let’s say you had to go through surgery for a torn knee ligament. The surgery was successful and now you wait for your body to recover. Sports therapists make this recovery process quicker and smoother. They engage you in your own healing process without any invasive procedures.
Performance booster
As professional athletes and players, you have to deliver your best on the court, track, field or pitch. But, what about the stress you put on your muscles and ligaments during the game?
This is where the role of sports therapy comes into play.
It strengthens your musculoskeletal system, thereby enabling you to function and perform better. Physical therapy also optimizes the movement in your spine, nerves and joints.
Thus, the players are recommended to see a sports physiotherapist at least a week before their big game.
Sports injuries are complicated. Hence, it takes an experienced professional to treat them. Sports therapists and doctors often work together to help the injured athlete get back to action healthily. They recommend treatments based on your, age, athletic ability, lifestyle physical exam results, medical history and health goals. Let’s check out the most common sports physiotherapy treatments below:
Soft tissue manipulation
Muscle tension and stiffness are quite a common scenario among athletes. Soft tissue manipulation helps the injured soft tissues restore their normal strength and flexibility. It reduces inflammation and boosts the blood circulation in that area, thereby healing the wound.
Mobilization
Joint injuries are common sports injuries. So, joint mobilization puts the injured joint into its proper alignment. The physical therapist puts measured amounts of force to manipulate the joint and help you move without pain.
Acupuncture
This one comes into play when the conventional rehabilitation methods do not work out. The procedure involves the insertion of fine needles in the injured muscle or tissue. This triggers a minor trauma to the skin thus stimulating the natural healing process of your body. The tissues start repairing and muscles restore their strength during the sessions.
Exercise prescription
Progressive exercise prescriptions help athletes treat their injuries and return to their favourite sports. The sports physiotherapists prescribe the exercises based on your muscle function, structure, movement and metabolism.
Kinesiology taping
Athletic tape or kinesio taping is the most effective when it comes to maintaining the fitness or enhancing the performance of athletes. This involves the use of a rigid yet stable tape around the injured areas such as ankles, hands and wrists. Once the tape is tightly applied, it keeps the bones and muscles in their right places. It also prevents the recurrence of injuries such as joint cracks or muscle sprains.
All in all, sports injury rehabilitation helps athlete relieve their pain and achieve maximum physical performance. The techniques, however, differ based on the athletic individual needs.
You should opt for sports physiotherapy to treat conditions such as:
If you have been injured while playing sports or want to enhance your performance, sports therapy can help you achieve it. It is also an effective treatment for rotator cuff tear, bursitis, chronic musculoskeletal injuries and ACL reconstruction.
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Sports physiotherapy diagnoses, treats and prevents a wide range of sports injuries. Whether you are a professional or recreational athlete, injuries are often unavoidable. But, that doesn’t mean you stop playing.
Sports therapy is a safe and non-invasive approach to treat all kinds of sports injuries. The therapists guide you through exercises and other techniques like stretching, manual therapy, vestibular therapy and more. These methods help athletes achieve their health goals and improve their performance at the games.
Physiotherapy is a broad field with its main focus on relieving musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiovascular injuries. Sports therapy, on the other hand, is a specialized field in physiotherapy that focuses on treating injuries resulting from sports that demand high levels of physical performance.
A physiotherapist helps relieve a wide range of health conditions that cause pain and discomfort. A sports therapist, however, assesses, diagnoses, treats and prevents sports injuries. The sports therapist focuses on restoring the optimal health of athletes so they can maximize their movement potential and perform better.
You can see a sports physiotherapist if you have been injured while playing a sport that demands high physical activity. It is also a great option if you want to enhance your athletic performance.