Physio Collaroy – What To Expect From a Sports Physiotherapist
Many people make sports a career choice. However, with this demanding career choice comes the risk of injury. Moreover, you can also get injured even if you are not a professional athlete. That’s why it’s important to see a sports physiotherapist reduce the risk of injuries or aid in rehabilitation if you get injured.
A sports physiotherapist is a healthcare professional specialising in diagnosing and treating injuries and conditions related to physical activity. They work with patients of all ages, from young athletes to older adults, and use various techniques to help them recover from or prevent injuries.
So, how do sports physiotherapists evaluate or assess your condition? The first step is to conduct a thorough physical examination. This will help the physiotherapist determine the cause of your pain and identify any potential risk factors for injury. They will also ask about your medical history and symptoms.
If you have a sports injury, the physiotherapist will create a treatment plan specific to your needs. The goal of treatment is to reduce pain, improve range of motion and promote healing. Treatment may involve a combination of hands-on techniques, exercises and electrical stimulation.
Sports physiotherapy can help you stay active and healthy.
Here’s a list of what you can expect from a physiotherapist.
Assessment and Diagnosis of Injuries
This involves identifying the cause of your pain and setting up a treatment plan to address it. The assessment highly depends on the type of physical activity or sports you perform.
For instance, an athlete would be treated differently than a runner.
This will help determine why the injury occurred in the first place and allow for implementing an appropriate treatment strategy. A physio in Collaroy will constantly tailor a treatment program towards your individual needs and goals. Still, to do so, they’ll need to know about things like how much you train weekly and what competitions you have coming up.
Development of a Treatment Plan
The physiotherapist will create a treatment plan specific to your needs. The goal of treatment is to reduce pain, improve range of motion and promote healing. Patients will be serviced by a physiotherapist who may use exercises, hands-on therapies and electrical stimulation to treat their condition.
Treatment of Injuries
Sports injuries is difficult to diagnose, so a team approach is frequently required to get an athlete back on track. A medical professional such as a surgeon, sports doctor or GP must review the situation.
Everyone who is involved must communicate with each other frequently and effectively. Once the proper diagnosis is made, a physiotherapist will develop a treatment plan. The physiotherapist will use various techniques to help you recover from your injury. This may involve exercises, hands-on therapies and electrical stimulation.
The treatment goal is to
- Improve your strength, range of motion and function
- Reduce pain and stiffness through joint mobilisation and manipulation
- Relieve pain, reduce swelling, speed up healing, and improve movement and function
- Remove barriers to function
Rehabilitation
Hence. Once you have recovered from an injury, a rehabilitation program is essential to help you regain strength and flexibility. The physiotherapist will work with you to gradually return to your regular activities and reduce your risk of re-injury.
The focus of the rehabilitation process is to help you safely return to your desired level of activity. A physiotherapist will work with you to gradually increase your activity level whilst monitoring your progress.
Prevention of Injuries
What’s great about preventative physiotherapy is that it not only benefits physical active individuals and athletes. Many people who work in an office environment also suffer from poor posture and repetitive strain injuries. A physiotherapist can assess your individual needs and create a prevention program specifically for you.
A physiotherapist not only helps you recover from injuries but also prevents them by customising a prevention program specifically for you. Aside from the ones mentioned above, the training program will also include proper warm-up and cool-down techniques and how to use the equipment properly.
Evaluation of Movement and Biomechanics
The physiotherapist will check your movement and how your body moves when performing certain activities. This is important to identify any potential risk factors for injury.
Exercises
A common risk factor for various joint, tendon and muscle injuries is lack of strength. Therefore, strengthening programs are often key components in injury prevention and treatment plans. The physiotherapist will prescribe exercises to help you improve your strength, flexibility and range of motion.
Manual Therapy
This type of physical therapy uses hands-on techniques to reduce pain and improve function. For instance, physio Narrabeen uses manual joint mobilisation or manipulation to increase joint mobility and circulation whilst reducing pain, inflammation and stiffness. It also aids in the promotion of a pain-free range of motion and improved circulation throughout the joint.
Education
The goal in this stage is to educate the athlete about utilising the correct techniques to improve. Physiotherapists educate athletes about the significance of good posture, rest and physical activity. They not only try to prepare the athlete to perform as soon as possible mentally, but they also advise them on how to remain fit by making better choices.
Physiotherapy applied either in a preventative manner or treatment program has a significant impact on all people from all walks of life. Sports physiotherapists work closely with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors and athletic trainers, to ensure that their patients receive the best care.
So how do you choose your physiotherapist?
Make sure to ask around and get recommendations from family and friends. Always consider credentials, qualifications, professional developments and years of experience. Create a shortlist of potential physios in your area and book an initial consultation with each one. This will allow you to get to know the physio, ask questions, and determine if they are the right fit for you.
The physiotherapist will ask about your medical history and current symptoms at your initial consultation. This will allow you to meet the physiotherapist, discuss your goals and get a sense of their approach.
Want to prevent or treat sports injuries? Why not consider seeing a sports physio in Narrabeen? Seek professional help to prevent future injuries. Call us now.
