Sports Therapy is an aspect of healthcare that is specifically concerned with preventing injury and rehabilitating patients’ back to optimum functional, occupational and sports-specific fitness levels, 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 work.
A Sports Therapist is a healthcare 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 & competitive environment
Assess, treat and, where appropriate, refer on for specialist advice and intervention.
Provide appropriate sport and remedial massage in a sport & exercise context
Plan and implement appropriate rehabilitation programmes
As Graduate Sports Therapists, we are expected to possess a level of expertise around five key competencies related to injury and illness in the sport and exercise environment.
These are:
- Prevention
- Recognition & evaluation
- Management, treatment & referral
- Rehabilitation
- Education & professional practise issues
Graduating with a BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy from Teesside University, I am qualified as a member of the Sports Therapy Association, CNHC and Northern Association of Massage and Manipulative Therapists (NAMMT).
I work with a diverse range of sporting patients. Examples of the sports I have managed recently are running, Judo, swimming, cricket, orienteering and roller derby. Athletes range from Saturday runners to semi-professional American football players, each having different requirements, but the sports therapy principles applied being the same – to return the athlete to full functional fitness in the shortest possible time.
I need to emphasise that injuries must be treated as early as possible.
I pride myself on providing care that is unique and tailored to each individual’s needs. You will receive a bespoke rehabilitation exercise programme specific to your needs that is reviewed at each visit. I maintain close communication with your coach and referring consultant as required, especially pre and post-surgery, to monitor your progression.
Functional Gait Analysis and Running Technique Re-Education
Part of the assessment process for runners may include a functional running assessment. Video footage is taken and analysed to establish if a modification in running style may help to reduce injury risk or to generally improve running performance. Running assessments in the clinic are not to guide the runner to a specific brand of running shoe (as the supporting evidence indicates, find a comfortable shoe). They’re performed and analysed in conjunction with muscular strength testing and mobility assessments to give a broader analysis of gait/foot strike position, running posture and techniques.
Benefits of Sport Therapy
There are several benefits to sports therapy, especially when you’ll be putting your body under constant stress!
- Decreased muscle stiffness and soreness after exercise or physical activity
- Reduced recovery time post-injury
- Increased levels of relaxation and reduction in physical and psychological stress levels
- Aids sleep quantity and quality
Conclusion
Sports Therapy is an essential part of my treatment programme with active patients. I am able to offer a service that combines my knowledge and skills in the field of sports therapy with physiotherapy.
If you are suffering from any type of injury or want to prevent injury, please feel free to get in touch for an initial consultation.
