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Sports physiotherapy: injury prevention and management
Sports physiotherapy is essential for those who exercise daily, and especially for those who engage in high-intensity sporting activity, allowing them to improve their performance and, above all, reduce their risk of injury.
Aware of how important this is for both professional and amateur athletes, Telic Fisio&Sport offers a wide range of solutions for sports physiotherapy professionals, backed by our more than 40 years of experience in the health field and developed by us following strict quality controls, to help them offer complete professional treatments.
What is sports physiotherapy and what is it for? Keep reading because we will tell you everything you need to know.
What is sports physiotherapy?
Sports physiotherapy is a speciality within physiotherapy that involves injury prevention and recovery for athletes. It also involves providing a series of guidelines to promote safe physical activity.
Although everyone may have their own methods, generally, a sports physiotherapist will begin by conducting an initial assessment of the patient. This allows them to identify and diagnose the issue, meaning that they can then design the most appropriate prevention or rehabilitation treatment plan. This plan will involve a series of exercises and sports massages to help the athlete recover (in the case of injury) or retain (in the case of prevention) their performance level.
The main aim of a sports physiotherapy treatment is to ensure that the athlete is not in pain, whether that means preventing pain or stopping it, and always performs at their best.
And, as we have mentioned, sports physiotherapy is divided into two areas: preventive work and injury recovery.
Preventive work
Preventive work, as the name suggests, involves preventing the athlete from suffering an injury, by working to improve the condition of the muscles, avoid strain and correct bad habits that could increase the risk of injury.
Recovery
The other side of sports physiotherapy is aimed at recovery from injury, which begins with a preliminary diagnosis that must be carried out by a professional physiotherapist.
After the diagnosis, the physiotherapist will come up with a good plan covering both training and exercises, allowing the athlete to recover from the injury as quickly as possible and get back to being fully functional.
When athletes are injured, they cannot expect to immediately get back to playing the full amount of sport. Instead, they need to return to it gradually, respecting the recovery times. The work of the physiotherapist is key here and they will use the following techniques:
Signs that you need a sports physiotherapist
Although this treatment is beneficial for all athletes, below are some of the symptoms that suggest you need sports physiotherapy, whether to prevent an injury or recover from one.
- Weakened joints.
- Needing painkillers.
- Persistent pain.
- Recurring pain.
- Numbness.
- Swelling and pain.
- Reduced mobility.
Main benefits of sports physiotherapy
Now that we have seen what it entails, we can take a look at the main benefits of sports physiotherapy:
1. Preventing injuries
The prevention of injuries is one of the most important tasks for a sports physiotherapist. Overuse injuries are common among athletes due to the frequent strain placed on their muscles, joints, and bones.
Professional advice from a physiotherapist can significantly reduce the risk of injury, meaning that athletes can maintain their performance and enjoy their sport without the risk or fear of recurring injuries.
2. Shortening injury recovery time
One of the greatest benefits of sports physiotherapy is the ability to shorten the recovery time from injuries. To do this, physiotherapists need to identify the type of injury the patient has suffered, as well as considering their physiological limitations and the joints and structures around the injured area.
While tissue needs a minimum period in which to regenerate, a professional sports physiotherapist can help speed up this process, allowing the athlete to return to physical activity more quickly.
3. Preparing the body for training
When playing any type of sport, our musculoskeletal system must be in good condition if we are going to perform well, maximise the benefits of training and reduce the risk of injury.
Sports physiotherapy helps prepare the body for training, reducing the common risks and symptoms involved in potential injuries.
4. Improving joint and muscle flexibility
The exercises suggested in sports physiotherapy are aimed at improving muscle and joint flexibility, which reduces the risk of recurring injuries.
Additionally, they are designed to improve muscle strength, helping athletes to cope with the high level of physical exertion involved in playing sport.
5. Relieving pain
Sports physiotherapy can provide instant pain relief. Depending on the nature of the injury, methods such as manual massage or dry needling can significantly reduce muscle tension and alleviate pain, allowing athletes to continue training and competing without discomfort.
6. Relaxation
Even when the body is exhausted, it is often hard to relax and switch off. Sports physiotherapy not only supports your physical recovery, but it also promotes relaxation and helps you to sleep better, which is essential for athletes if they are to recover and recharge. This boosts their performance and well-being.
7. Improving the athlete's quality of life
The role of the sports physiotherapist is crucial in improving the patient's quality of life, especially in middle-aged people who regularly engage in sports.
In summary, sports physiotherapy is an indispensable tool for any athlete and can shorten recovery times and prevent injuries, as well as improve flexibility, relieve pain and boost relaxation.
SOURCES:
https://www.egr.es/fisioterapia-deportiva-caracteristicas/
https://www.fisiofocus.com/es/articulo/que-es-la-fisioterapia-deportiva
https://www.fisioforce.io/especialidades/fisioterapia-deportiva
