WHAT IS SPORTS THERAPY?
Sports Therapy is an aspect of healthcare that is specifically concerned with the prevention of injury and the rehabilitation of the patient back to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports specific fitness, regardless of age and ability.
It utilises the principles of sport and exercise sciences incorporating physiological and pathological processes to prepare the participant for training, competition and where applicable, work.
THE AIM
To restore function & Range of Movement (RoM) back to the damaged tissues and joints after an injury or trauma has taken place.
To prevent & manage pain, injury, dysfunction within the soft tissue, and give support and advice on exercise/training to help the rehabilitation of the problem.
To improve self-awareness by helping the client monitor their own condition and adjust things accordingly. To improve the performance of that person whether they are an athlete or a member of the general public.
THE BENEFITS
• Improve circulation
• Help in the removal of metabolic waste from tissues.
• Help to prevent injury.
• Help to recover after an injury.
• Improve performance/recovery.
• Improve self-awareness by monitoring your own condition.
• Increase muscle elasticity and joint RoM.
• Improve relaxation and stress relief.
• Reduce muscle cramps/spasms
• Relief from general aches & pains.
Minor injuries are the most common muscular-skeletal problem, and if they are not treated in a correct and proper way. In the early stages they can sometimes lead on to more serious complex matters in the long term and cause chronic pain.
WHO WOULD BENEFIT?
As a Sports Therapist I deal with a wide variety of clients from International Professional and amateur athletes, club sportsmen to people who just need relief from the riggers of their day to day lives.
There are tight/sore neck & shoulders which can be the result of long hours using a computer or driving. For older clients where years of bad posture or old injuries begin to catch them up or if you are about to start a fitness regime and you want to be able to recover more quickly or improve your performance.
Local businesses that are going through stressful times in the year can reward staff for their efforts by organising treatments to help with a there occupational health matters.
There are many types of injuries & conditions that sports/remedial therapy can help with, here are a few:-
• General aches & pains
• Muscle imbalances around joints
• Muscle strains
• Ligament sprains
• Ligament/tendon/muscle damage
• Tight/Sore lower back
• Tightness & lack of RoM in the neck/shoulders
• Inflammation around joints
• Pre/Post operative
• Formation of scar tissue
• Occupational pain
• Overuse injuries
• Postural issues
• Chronic pain