WHAT IS SPORTS THERAPY | sportstherapy

WHAT IS SPORTS THERAPY?

Sport therapy is a healthcare profession that specifically focuses on the maintenance of performance levels, injury prevention and rehabilitation for individuals involved in sport/ exercise. Additionally it comprises a combination of certain

skills/ techniques (massage, stretching and strengthening) that can be used for all ages and abilities. It is a form of healthcare that can be used whether you have sustained an injury or not. An in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology is applied to help assess, treat and rehabilitate injuries that a person/ athlete sustain. Sport therapists are also able to provide pitch side emergency trauma first aid for sport teams.

At times the feeling of temporarily not being able to reach your goals and full potential can be demotivating and frustrating, therefore I aim to help return clients back to full functional fitness with my knowledge and skills.

Sport therapy often gets mistaken for physiotherapy however it is a separate profession. Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession which helps to restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability. Similar skills and techniques are used by both professions, however sport therapists focus on using them within a sports and exercise environment instead of the traditional healthcare setting.

DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE

Although it is called a sport massage which suggests that it is only for active

individuals/athletes, anyone can benefit from this type of treatment (injury or not). A deep and firm pressure is applied to specific muscles in order to reduce tightness, increase flexibility, prevent injuries and to relieve any chronic pain. Post injury the body naturally begins to heal itself. This causes lack of movement at a joint and loss of flexibility due to a defence mechanism. This type of massage allows fresh blood to flow into the area and it can promote relaxation of the muscles.

Deep tissue massage is a popular tool that athletes use as part of their training programme, as it helps to maintain their performance to a maximum level and prolong their sporting career. Additionally it is received by many others due to leading very busy, stressful lifestyles which can also lead muscle tension. It is important to look after your body lead a good quality of life.

Pre/Post Event Massage

Pre event massage is to prepare the body for the high intensity activity it is about to undertake. It is used for athletes who are in the final stage of preparation for their competition. Fast rhythmic massage strokes are applied to awaken the muscles by quickly supplying them with fresh blood. It helps to prepare the athletes psychologically, without causing significant changes to their bodies. Pre-event is a type of massage which is best received as part of a warm up as it enhances its benefits. This massage only lasts approximately 10-20 minutes.

Post- event massage is typically given up to around 24 hours after intense training sessions/ competition. However, it is most effective when it is received as soon as possible. The aim of this massage is to remove waste products which have built up over-time, restore flexibility in muscles and joints, promote recovery (reducing muscle soreness and fatigue) and make the athlete feel relaxed. Slow, deep and rhythmic strokes are used for this.

Taping

Taping is a very useful method that health care professionals like to use, in order to help professional or recreational sport individuals maintain performance. Kinesiology taping is the latest taping technique. Unlike ordinary athletic tape which restricts movement to prevent any unwanted movement occurring, it has been designed to provide the opposite. The elasticity of the

tape allows for full range of movement. Other benefits include pain reduction, promotion of healing, increased muscle activation, reduction of swelling, postural correction and so on. For more information and reading follow on to this link (An excellent explanation of how it works):-

http://science.howstuffworks.com/kinesiology-tape.htm

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