Sports therapy is a profession that takes on a “whole person” approach to an individual’s health and wellbeing, including the general lifestyle of the patient. At the core of Sports Therapy is the individual’s own involvement in caring for their own treatment, through the means of education, awareness and participation in their own treatment. It is something that someone can benefit from at any point in life and can help with things such as ongoing pain or sudden injuries.
At The Nantwich Clinic, we provide Sports Therapy specializing in the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular system. Muscular and skeletal pain can cause problems in all areas of the body, and finding the right solution comes down to being able to correctly identify the exact source of the problem. This is where a Sports Therapist comes in and can help you to lead a pain-free life.
How does Sports Therapy work?
As with the vast majority of injury-based treatments, the first step to a musculoskeletal appointment is to identify exactly what the cause of the pain is. By determining more information about the pain and how it is actually affecting the individual, we can build a clear diagnosis and once the diagnosis is made, we can develop a treatment plan.
Although most treatment plans will be different, the majority of them include;
Manual therapy – Manual therapy, or manipulative therapy, refers to the physical manipulation of parts of the body to help to treat pain. This could mean the use of massage therapy, joint mobilization and movement or even other techniques to move the joints and connective tissues to reduce pain.
Exercise – Exercise is a good way to help reduce pain, when performed in the right way and the right amount. These exercises can include simple work like stretches to improve flexibility in the treated area or work to strengthen the muscles and lighten any load on the area.
Education – Education is the final step, and during a musculoskeletal treatment you will be provided with information on different exercise types, nutrition and different ways to manage strains and stresses in the injured area.
What are the benefits of Sports Therapy?
Sports Therapy is incredibly good at helping to deal with chronic pain. If you’ve been struggling with pain then there is a very good chance that it can help, with the main goal being to help in reducing pain and improving the quality of life.
Another benefit is that unlike other therapy options, Sports Therapy actually promotes and relies on the natural ability within the body to be able to heal it. By using the existing healing powers within the body and developing them, it helps with further injury prevention and recovery in future.
It can also be performed in conjunction with a wider treatment plan, including options like medication or surgery to help to provide a true resolution to the issue.
What are the limitations?
Well, firstly it can take some time for it to work and to see results. Just like with any other therapy, it is fairly difficult to predict exactly when you will notice a reduced amount of pain after going through musculoskeletal therapy. It’s possible that it will be more noticeably effective in those who have been suffering with chronic pain for a while, but because it differs on a person to person basis it is difficult to tell.
It also helps to have a good support system in place from the start, and while our Sports Therapist are able to help with a lot of things related to your injury, they won’t be able to fix everything. It’s important to have a solid support system to rely on to help you deal with pain during treatment.
Finally, not everyone is able to benefit from this form of therapy. While for some people it is definitely the best option due to the exact nature or location of their injury, it isn’t perfect for everything.
If you’ve been struggling to deal with pain in your muscles or skeletal system, it’s very important to get a consultation booked with our therapy team as soon as possible. Sports Therapy can assist with reducing pain and improving your quality of life in every aspect of your normal daily routine, whether that’s walking the dog or being able to sit comfortably whilst working. It’s important to note that as a treatment method, it may take some time to see some real results and that they will be best if you have a solid support system in place to help you, especially when dealing with chronic pain. Book your appointment with us today and take your first steps towards a pain-free life!