Sports physiotherapists use an entirely different group of techniques and tools to work with their patients than regular physiotherapists, as sports injuries are completely separate to regular injuries.
As you would expect, an athlete or sporting enthusiast is much more likely to be regularly placing an inordinate amount of pressure on one or more parts of the body and generally pushing their body to the limit, which is why sports physiotherapy is such a vital service.
Here is an overview of the role of a sports physio therapist and some of the treatment options that they may use.
The Key Roles of a Sports Physiotherapist
Much the same as other medical professionals, sports physiotherapists are involved in a wide variety of roles and have differing responsibilities dependent on the patients they are working with.
Typically, however, the following roles are involved in the average working day of a sports physiotherapist:
- The identification of the root cause of the injury
- Working together with other medical professionals
- Improving the movement, mechanics, and strength of the affected area
- Preventing injury of other areas of the body during recovery times
- The application of realistic yet aspirational timelines to get ‘back to normal’
Qualifications Necessary to Become a Sports Physiotherapist
Professional and qualified sports physiotherapists, such as those at physio Blaxland, are all not only certified to practice sports therapy and sports physiotherapy, but always keep their knowledge and practical experience in new and innovative treatments up to date.
To become a qualified sports physiotherapist yourself, you will need to have successfully completed not only a bachelor’s degree in the field, but also a master’s degree program too, in either sports education, sports physiotherapy, or sports medicine.
In addition, you will have needed to have partaken in at least five years of practical experience working with amateur and even professional athletes and sportsmen alike in a variety of different settings, as well as proven evidence of further educational top-ups.
Patient Profiling
Another crucial aspect of devising and enacting a tailor-made physiotherapist program for a patient is to build a detailed profile on the individual, which usually comprises of three separate sections.
The first section is involved with a test to assess the length and capability of the affected muscle and more specifically, to check whether or not there are certain imbalances in one area compared to another.
Secondly, an ultrasound will be taken of the muscle and the surrounding joints and tendons, with an ultrasound being particularly effective, and more so than an MRI.
The third and final section of a patient profile involves testing the strength of the affected muscle and surrounding area, focusing on three areas; eccentric, concentric, and isometric.
Shockwave Therapy
Finally, it is also important to mention that one of the most innovative strategies being used by more and more sports physiotherapists as time goes on is shockwave therapy (also referred to as ESWT (Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy)).
Shockwave therapy is an effective treatment for numerous different tendon and muscle complaints, but it is particularly effective for runners who have torn or damaged hamstrings. Usually, shockwave therapy is administered once a week in three separate sessions.
