What Are the Benefits of Physiotherapy for Athletes?

What Are the Benefits of Physiotherapy for Athletes?

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Physiotherapy is a treatment modality that promotes, restores and maintains your physical, psychological and emotional well-being. Athletes and other individuals utilize physiotherapy after injury and surgery to help regain function and strength in injured limbs. Physiotherapists also can keep elite, amateur and disabled athletes in optimal condition by developing specific training regimens and providing manual therapies -- like massage -- to keep muscles and joints in prime condition.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiotherapy encompasses a wide array of treatments and aims to impact your physical and mental well-being. According to the Vancouver Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic, physiotherapists can address orthopedic, neurological, cardiopulmonary and cardiac problems among infants, children, adults and geriatric populations. Physiotherapists use therapeutic exercises to improve strength and coordination, and potentially retrain damaged neural pathways to help victims of stroke, brain or spinal cord injuries.

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SPORTS INJURIES

Participation in sports increases your likelihood of injury. Though your body can heal on its own, your bones, muscles and other tissues may be weaker after injury. Scar tissue can form, leading to decreased range of motion and lingering pain. Physiotherapy provides specific exercises designed to safely promote blood flow to the injured area; blood carries vital nutrients to damaged cells and tissues. Protecting your injury -- refraining from activity to avoid pain -- is common. However, lack of movement and exercise causes joint stiffness and muscle atrophy. A physiotherapist develops a program to help you stretch vital muscles, tendons and ligaments safely to regain your strength and range of motion.

DISABLED ATHLETES

Athletes with disabilities find particular benefit in consulting a physiotherapist regularly. Not only do you receive exercises to balance your body, but you receive individual attention to prevent injuries. During the 2010 Paralympic Games held in Vancouver, British Columbia, physiotherapists were on hand to ensure the athletes' needs were met. In certain cases, limbs or extremities can have little or no sensation, making them vulnerable to blisters, cuts and scrapes. Paraplegic and quadriplegic athletes may need a physiotherapist to monitor body temperature, as their bodies do not always provide autonomic temperature regulation. Disabled athletes also sustain the same types of injuries seen in other sports -- strains, sprains, bruises, fractures and lacerations. Physiotherapy aids in regaining strength and flexibility.

MANUAL THERAPIES

In addition to physical exercises, physiotherapists use a variety of techniques to relieve muscle stress and pain, promoting optimal wellness. Hydrotherapy, craniosacral therapy, soft tissue manipulation and massage are beneficial techniques physiotherapists employ to target imbalances in muscles and bone structure. Your physiotherapist can also recommend certain sports or activities that are best for your particular condition.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/481236-what-are-the-benefits-of-physiotherapy-for-athletes/#ixzz20uk8VWva