Introduction Sports Physiotherapy
Sports participation is a huge aspect of many people’s lives in the world we live in.
The Australian Department of Health reports that more than 90% of individuals are interested in sports and that 3 million children and 11 million adults participate in sports annually.
Sports physiotherapy is an essential component of a successful sporting journey or career because participating in sports puts a lot of physical and mental demands on your body.
Many individuals have the misconception that the only time they should visit a sports physiotherapist is when they are hurt. Well, that’s false.
The following list of benefits of sports physiotherapy is provided below:
1. Aid in Technique Correction and Improvement
Physiotherapists assist you with your technique whether you play CrossFit, weightlifting, hurdles, swimming, soccer, or any other sport.
A good technique can help you move more quickly, leap higher, and lift more weight while also reducing the risk of injury.
The technique is another aspect that might be challenging to assess on your own because watching a film or even gazing in the mirror may not be able to reveal all of the necessary improvements.
You’d be surprised at how even the smallest modification in technique can have a significant impact on an athlete’s performance.
2. Personalized training for you
In their capacity as sports physiotherapists, they view you as a distinct individual with special qualities.
Your biomechanics, technique, strength, range of motion, coordination, balance, and proprioception are all thoroughly evaluated. This makes it easier to determine precisely how they can assist you in achieving your potential.
For instance, you or your coach might not be aware of your diminished ankle proprioception, which could have an effect on your performance, but therapists will follow an examination. You will next be given activities specifically designed to help you enhance your proprioception.
The outcome? improved performance, a lower risk of injury, and content athletes and coaches.
3. Restoration
Everyone has experienced peak season when it seems like they are training more than sleeping and their bodies are tired out sore, and stiff. You have trouble lifting your coffee mug or getting into your vehicle.
Even if you are not injured, sports physiotherapy can assist you with general recuperation. This comprises exercises to preserve mobility and reduce stiffness, soft tissue release, dry needling, taping, manipulation techniques, and so on.
Additionally, this will keep you healthy for all of that training and help you avoid any accidents.
4. Injury Prevention
A sports physiotherapist is equipped to evaluate and assess the particular sport you’re participating in, as well as the frequency, intensity, and setting of your training sessions. This identifies different harm risks.
They can provide you with workouts to counteract those hazards based on the evaluation to help you avoid being hurt.
This entails a personalized warm-up exercise program to help you get ready for the session and a cool-down exercise program to aid in your body’s recovery.
5. Acute/ Immediate On-Site Treatment
Athletes frequently have sports physiotherapists present during games, competitions, and training sessions since they are trained to diagnose and treat acute injuries.
This guarantees that therapists are present and ready to provide guidance and injury management from the moment an injury arises during a practice session or competition.
Acute on-site therapy is critical because how you respond to the injury in the crucial moments after it occurs will either impede your healing or aid your recovery in the long term.
6. Rehabilitation
The word “rehab” is seldom popular with athletes or sportspeople in general, but many of these people have actually liked their rehab and emerged from it stronger.
This is because therapists thoroughly evaluate your injuries and any potential secondary causes.
They devise a structured rehabilitation program that prioritizes not just your injury’s recovery but also your continued fitness and treating any movement flaws that might have led to your injury (strength, balance, stabilization, proprioception, etc.).
Physiotherapists employ a variety of methods, such as joint manipulations, soft tissue releases, myofascial releases, and dry needling.
7. Return to play and maintenance
Your readiness for return to play will be evaluated as a key component of the rehabilitation program. These are tests that therapists do to determine whether you are prepared to compete once more on the field, in the water, or in the gym for that powerlifting tournament.
They assess your strength, technique, balance, proprioception, speed, agility, cutting techniques, and any other skills you would need to get back out there. In order to help you develop your confidence and make you mentally ready to perform at your best, they may talk with you about how you feel about returning to play at this time. They may also suggest that you speak with a sports psychologist.
