Physiotherapy is a holistic approach to healing and restoration. Due to it’s all-encompassing nature, this discipline casts a pretty wide net when it comes to finding the right treatment for you. Sports physiotherapy is the perfect practice if you lead an active lifestyle that you’re looking to maximise, you’ve suffered an exercise or sports-related injury or if you’re a professional athlete who needs to be in peak condition at all times. That being said, putting the word “sport” in front of physiotherapy doesn’t exactly tell us what it is. Read on for a full break down of the sports physio practice…
Definition of sports physiotherapy
Sports physiotherapy is the prevention and management of injury or any kind of pain and discomfort that has resulted from sports, physical activity or exercise – no matter the ability of the patient. During a sports physio session, you’ll receive treatment, advice, take home exercises, maintenance stretches and tips that ensure your lifestyle or sports performance is enhanced, improved and as mobile as possible. Quality of life, recreational and professional physical activity are all accommodated in this practice. Whatever your age, ability, injury, physicality or fitness, if you want to lead a maximised and healthy active lifestyle then sports physiotherapy is for you.
Treatments used in sports physio
As noted above, by nature physiotherapy is fluid and all-encompassing. A multitude of treatment methods are used to create an effective, holistic healing process for the patient. During your sports physio sessions, your therapist might well use…
Exercise therapy: This includes strength, balance and posture retraining as well as stretching and core stability exercises.
Acupuncture: Also known as dry needling, this can relax a spasming muscle by releasing tension and cell trauma.
Ice and heat therapy: Ice and heat therapy encourage speedier muscle recovery, flexibility and relaxation following stress.
Massage: This can release tension and tightness.
Pilates: Pilates retrains the body, builds strength, mobility and flexibility.
Stretching: Elongating muscles and improving flexibility is very important for exercise and sports, neutral stretching and regular stretching exercises are a cornerstone of all physiotherapy.
Who is it for?
Sports physiotherapy is for absolutely everyone who’s looking to better their physical activity and their lifestyle in general! As mentioned above, there really isn’t a particular group that’s targeted when it comes to physio. Contrary to popular opinion, you also don’t need to have suffered an injury to seek help or support from a physio – prevention is a cure in itself.
How to find the right sports physiotherapy for you
Finding the right physiotherapist takes a little research, it’s no good wandering down the road to your nearest practitioner when you don’t really know what it is you expect from your sessions. Look into services, customer reviews and ask around to see if anyone in your social circle has some good recommendations. Next, location. Are you looking for somewhere that you can visit during your lunch break? Or perhaps you’d like to book in for longer sessions on a weekend morning? Look into the operating hours and travel times of your possible frontrunners. Lastly, availability – this one is key. Chances are, you’re not wanting to pay this new physio just one visit. This treatment tends to take at least a few sessions to be effective, so be sure to ask about your chosen practitioner’s availability over the next few weeks or months.
By now, you should be feeling completely ready to book in with a sports physio! Check out your options for the best sports physiotherapy in Sydney today.
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