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Sports Therapy

What Is A Sports Therapist?

A Sports Therapist is an allied health professional who has the knowledge, skills and ability to:

  • Utilise sports and exercise principles to optimise performance, preparation and injury prevention programmes
  • Provide the immediate care of injuries and basic life support in a recreational, training, occupational & competitive environment
  • Assess, treat, rehabilitate and, where and if appropriate, refer on for specialist advice and intervention.
  • Provide appropriate soft tissue interventions in a sport & exercise context
  • Plan and implement appropriate rehabilitation and return to training/work programmes

(Society Of Sports Therapists Definition).

What is Sports Therapy Treatment?

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 science incorporating physiological and pathological processes to prepare the participant for training, competition and where applicable, work (Society Of Sports Therapists).

Practically, Sports Therapy is the application of soft tissue (massage) techniques aimed at improving intramuscular blood flow, muscular elasticity, and reducing restrictions/deficits in movement. Sports Therapy techniques can also reduce scar tissue which accumulates post injury, and release adhesions in fascia which contribute to a variety of issues.

Sports Therapy also involves the use of joint mobilisations (Graded 1-4) which improve joint mobility and function without 'manipulation' (Grade 5). Another crucial element is the rehab programmes given by qualified Sports Therapists, which allow a return to sport, work, or other activities by addressing muscular weakness, stiffness, and other issues.

The Benefits of Sports Therapy Treatment

Skillset

To prescribe custom exercise and rehab programmes that allow return to sport, work, and daily life post injury.

Skillset

To utilise taping techniques that either completely reinforce, stabilise, and partially immobilise an injured structure,

Or to use them to promote limited and supported mobility while preventing stresses and strains.

Skillset

To utilise a range of soft tissue (massage) and joint (mobilisation) techniques to not only promote recovery from musculoskeletal injuries, but to also normalise and optimise function.

What's Involved?

During a Sports Therapy session, a full medical history is taken. This identifies the patient's activities, limitations, the mechanisms and contributing factors to their injury/problem, and allows a diagnosis to be reached.

Once it is, therapy begins. This will involve any and (sometimes) all of the aspects of the treatment skills available to the therapist. Massage, Mobilisation, Taping, Cryotherapy, Electrotherapeutic Modalities (Tens, Ultrasound, Interferrential), and so forth.

The Initial stages of treatment are focussed soley on reducing pain levels and functional limitations following injury. Once the symptoms reside and some meaningful healing takes place, the rehabilitation process can begin. This is often a mistaken step, in that rehab programmes begin too early, have poor compliance (due to discomfort and limitation) and in turn fail.

You Synergy Sports Therapist has years of experience ad administering successful rehab protocols, prescribed at the RIGHT time.

Once rehab is complete, there may be at times mobility exercises prescribed in order to maintain a baseline of flexibility throughout, to prevent the likelihood of recurrence.


Frequently Asked Questions

What information do I need to bring?

Be prepared to provide your previous medical or surgical history, by providing any relevant notes. If you have them and if they are relevant, also bring scans CT/X-ray/Ultrasound/MRI reports, and list of medication.

What should I wear to an appointment?

You may wish to bring shorts and t-shirt, but regular clothing is fine.

During therapy the use of gowns and towels preserves modesty, while at the same time, allowing access to the injured areas to allow treatment to take place.

In essence, whatever you are comfortable with!

Will the therapy hurt or will I be sore afterwards?

It is very common, and completely normal, to feel some discomfort during and after most massage treatments. Muscles are exceptional at generating 'achey' signals, that are communicated to your central nervous system.

After each treatment however, you should be noticing improvement.

It is usually the case that the next 24/48hrs after your treatment, your body may generate some slight discomfort, as your therapist may caused some physiological/biochemical changes to take place.

To minimise the intensity and likelihood of post treatment symptoms, we advise to keep your self adequately hydrated and to avoid things that exacerbate your condition.

But above all, know that the aches will pass!

What should I look for in a Sports Therapist?

Sports Therapy is currently unregulated in the UK, and although certain membership organisations formerly applied to The Health Professions Council (HPC) for a 'protected title' and a minimum of University Undergraduate Level to practise, HPC will not be considering Sports Therapy for state regulation in the for-seeable future (reporting as of 2019)

The remit of sports therapists may be described as having the requisite knowledge and skills to help individuals and teams progress from being able to perform normal daily physical functions to more complex activities involved in sport.

This will involve practitioners having a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, musculoskeletal injuries and other conditions, healing, exercise, rehabilitation, the effects of exercise, and being able to form an appropriate treatment plan utilising a range of interventions for the promotion of healing and/or athletic performance.

Practitioners claiming to be sports therapists should therefore be well-trained and experienced in the above areas, and for quality assurance purposes, be qualified to at least undergraduate degree level.

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