As an Athlete, is Regular Physiotherapy beneficial?

Physiotherapy is the most effective way an athlete can recover from an injury and reduce the chances of re-injury. It is common for patients to only ever use physiotherapy when someone has injured themselves, such as athletes and recreational sporting lovers. Living an active lifestyle can be quite demanding on your body; adding Physiotherapy as part of your physical routine can help you improve your overall health and performance. In this article, we will go over why regular physiotherapy is beneficial for athletes, recreational enthusiasts and people with heavier physical work demands.

What is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a branch of medicine that specializes in the musculoskeletal system to treat a multitude of issues such as acute and lingering physical pain, injury recovery, and pre-and post surgical recovery. Physiotherapy is beneficial for improving mobility, reducing chronic pain, improving flexibility and strength, promoting soft tissue healing and preventing injuries.

Accessing Physiotherapy is a great way to complement an active lifestyle to keep you in good shape. Physiotherapists can prescribe exercises appropriate to your level of activity to maintain optimal health.

Benefits of regular physiotherapy include improved sleep cycle, improved mobility and flexibility, improved strength and balance, reduced pain and discomfort, increased endurance and cardiovascular fitness. Physiotherapy can even help with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, vertigo and dizziness, recovery from stroke and a multitude of medical conditions. Your physiotherapist will advise you on the best medical practices for your current situation.

Benefits of Physiotherapy for Athletes

As an athlete, you want to perform your best and improve your game. No matter how experienced a player might be, there is always a risk that comes with intense and physical activity, and we want to reduce that risk. Adding Physiotherapy as part of your weekly or biweekly routine is a great way to help you improve your athleticism and reduce the chances of injuries happening in the first place.

The most common types of athletes we see in the clinic play Hockey, Lacrosse, Football, Soccer, and Track and Field disciplines. We treat numerous sports-related injuries and create effective plans to help athletes improve off the field. Our athletic clientele also includes (but is not limited to) gymnasts, dancers, and recreational runners.

Below is a list of the top ways Physiotherapy can help Athletes:

  • Help your muscles recover sooner and facilitate rehabilitation
  • Reduce muscle pain and fatigue
  • Improve strength, flexibility, and mobility
  • Reduce the chances of requiring surgery from serious injuries
  • Boost mental health and energy
  • Improve cardiovascular performance
  • A quick session after a demanding game can also provide pain relief to fatigued and cramped muscles.

Types of injuries we most commonly treat for athletes

  • Ankle sprains
  • ACL or MCL tears
  • Herniated discs
  • Concussion and Whiplash
  • Muscle tears
  • Muscle strains
  • Shoulder injuries
  • Hip compressions
  • Low Back trauma

Other types of conditions we treat can be accessed here.

Why regular physiotherapy is important for athletics and sports enthusiasts

As previously stated, Physiotherapy helps with a multitude of conditions and issues resulting from physical activity. Often people who live active lifestyles are very susceptible to back pain, dislocations, torn muscles and other complications due to physically demanding lifestyles. Athletes are constantly pushing themselves to be better. Even if you are wondering why go to Physiotherapy if I am perfectly healthy and performing well, there is no downside to consulting a Physiotherapist. Physiotherapy can help you take better care of your body so that you can maintain your current ability and there is always room for further improvement.

Adding physiotherapy is a great way to see long-term results in your performance and daily life. If you would like a consultation, please feel free to book an appointment with us today or call us at 604-332-4487