5 Benefits of Sports Physiotherapy for Athletes

What is sports therapy? Also known as sports physiotherapy, it is an aspect of healthcare primarily dealing with preventing injury and rehabilitating patients and athletes who participate in sports activities.

Sports therapy uses various techniques including manual therapy, heat/ice, stretching, electrotherapy, acupuncture, ultrasound, and vestibular therapy to maintain top function and fitness.

Why are such treatments worth considering though, aside from the usual pain relief? Here are five great benefits that athletes, whatever their level may be, should know about.

1. Enhance Physical Strength

With each blow an athlete takes during their activity, it takes a toll on their body, straining the muscles, joints, bones, and ligaments. A sports physiotherapist will be able to help increase the strength in your body. You may be able to handle a higher level of physical pressure sports involve.

2. Help Your Body to Relax

After intense workouts or playing the field, so to speak, it can be hard for some to relax and unwind afterward. You may be so psyched up to keep going that you push your limits a little too far. If this sounds like your problem, it’s worth looking into a session with a sports physiotherapist as your body stretch helper and healer. Sports therapy can help your body regain the energy it needs for the following day.

3. Improve Joint and Muscle Flexibility

Whichever sport you’re involved with will depend on what level of flexibility you need to achieve. A sports therapist can help you work on your flexibility for the goals you are trying to obtain, whether it’s to get fitter and healthier or you’re training for an elite championship tournament.

4. Prevent Injuries

When the body is strengthened, it is less susceptible to camps, muscle strain, torn ligaments, and other sports related injuries. Your physiotherapist will help you come up with a plan for your body. Various exercises will be included to help strengthen and condition your body so that it’s tailored to your sports activities.

5. Treat Injuries

Even in the best of circumstances, accidents and sports injuries can still happen. Your sports therapist will help you recover as fast as possible and prevent further complications from any injuries that may happen in the future.

Common Sports Injuries Physiotherapists Can Treat

This list includes, but is certainly not limited to:

• Ankle sprains and ligament tears

• Plantar fasciitis

• Knee Sprains

• MCL, ACL, and PCL tears

• Anterior and Posterior Ligament Dysfunction

• Medial and Lateral Ligament Dysfunction

• Patellofemoral Syndrome

• Osgood Schlatters Disease

• Meniscal/cartilage tears

• Capsule sprains

• Shoulder dislocation

• Rotator cuff tears

• Muscle tears

• Herniated discs

• Neck and back compressions

• Concussion and whiplash

• Hip compressions

• Wrist sprains

What to Expect When You See a Sports Physiotherapist

Before any treatment, you will have an assessment (consultation) session. This will include answering questions about your medical history, lifestyle, what sport(s) you take part in, and any other relevant information. This is all in order to help your physiotherapist assess your situation and you’ll get to know each other better. Feel free to ask them questions as well.

Once they gather the necessary information, they will assess your injury (if you are seeing them for the first time with an injury). This session may involve functional movement, posture, and ligament stability.

If you are seeing the physiotherapist for an injury, they will discuss a treatment plan with you. Feel free to raise any questions or concerns with them at this time.

Creative Commons Attribution: Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to Triumph Physio and Wellness and a clickable link back to this page.

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