One of the questions I get asked a lot is ‘Do I need to see you regularly for Sports Therapy treatment?’ The answer in most cases is YES! Just like regular Chiropractic sessions, regular Sports Therapy sessions can provide a wide range of benefits. In this article I will discuss some of the key benefits and reasons behind having regular care and staying on top of your aches and pains.
First and foremost regular Sports Therapy treatment helps with injury prevention:
- By having regular care it allows us to keep an eye on your progress and identify any changes within the body and addressing any problem areas before they become a larger and more complex issue.
- It helps us identify any changes to muscle imbalance or weakness that if left alone may lead to injuries.
- Improved mobility and flexibility – regular Sports Therapy allows us to continue to improve range of motion and reduce stiffness which again prevents the likelihood of injury.
- We can also keep on top of current or past injuries allowing them to continue progressing nicely.
Secondly, regular Sports Therapy supports a faster recovery:
- Treatment such as Sports Massage helps aid post exercise recovery by reducing muscle soreness known as DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) which therefore promotes a faster recovery from exercise.
- It helps recovery from injuries too as Sports Therapy treatment addresses things such as scar tissue build up, swelling and overall joint stiffness.
- Massage treatment also helps improve circulation. It increases the blood flow to the injured area which then helps release toxins and delivers oxygen to the area for a faster healing response.
Thirdly, it enhances performance:
- By having regular treatment and personalised exercise plans this helps to improve things such as muscle coordination, flexibility and balance which will all help to enhance overall performance.
- Improves technique and form when exercising. By having regular sessions the Sports Therapists are able to spot any postural changes or weaknesses you may have and can provide advice and exercises to improve technique when exercising.
Pain relief:
- This one may sound obvious! But having regular Sports Therapy sessions can keep on top of and manage any pain you may be experiencing, whether that is chronic or acute pain.
- Techniques such as massage, dry needling and stretching help to alleviate any muscle tension which therefore reduces muscle tightness and provides pain relief.
Sports Therapy can help you reach your own individual goals and needs:
- This is done through personalised care – Like most things in life when it comes to Sports Therapy treatment it is not once size fits all, so therefore every Sports Therapy session is different.
- We target these sessions to address what you need and also what you want to be able to achieve whether that be running a marathon or just keeping yourself mobile.
- We take into consideration the whole body and not just isolated areas and will try different treatment methods to see what works the best for you and your goals.
Stress reduction:
Techniques such as massage can be good for relaxation which helps release tension, reduces cortisol levels and therefore helps with overall mental well-being.
Improving posture:
- As I said previously, by having regular sessions it can allow us to identify any postural changes from one session to the next.
- It is important to improve and maintain good posture as not looking after this can lead to discomfort or injuries if not dealt with properly.
Finally, regular Sports Therapy treatment is important for encouraging long-term physical health:
- This can be done in many ways by providing advice on things such as exercise, nutrition, work/home related ergonomics as well as advice on day to day habits too.
- Having regular sessions also allows us to catch any niggles or injuries early and reduce the risk of any further injury or setbacks in the future.
Having regular treatment is also like brushing your teeth. We don’t brush our teeth because a problem exists or we are in pain, we brush our teeth because it keeps them healthy. So the same principles apply to other aspects of our bodies such as eating healthy, exercising regularly and having maintenance care. There are all things we should do to maintain and improve health not just to decrease pain or improve problem areas.
Hopefully you have learnt something from this article about the importance of regular Sports Therapy sessions. If you aren’t already and you’d like to get booked in for more regular sessions then don’t hesitate to contact us. We want the best possible outcome for all our clients and adding an extra session in here and there is only going to benefit you.
Abi Wheatley, Sports Therapist