What’s the Difference Between Athletic Therapy and Physiotherapy?

When you’re dealing with pain or discomfort, you might be evaluating different options to improve your condition. Two specialists you may be considering are physiotherapists and athletic therapists. While both physio and athletic therapy aim to bring your body to its best possible physical condition, the conditions that they treat and how they approach treatment are quite different.

So, what is the difference between athletic therapy and physiotherapy, and which is the right solution for you and your needs?

What is Athletic Therapy and Who Needs It?

Contrary to popular belief, athletic therapy isn’t just for athletes, although it can be highly beneficial for those who do professional or high-level sports. Athletic therapy aims to help you return to peak physical condition, returning you to your previous level of fitness, using an active approach to rehabilitation. This means that you’ll learn to use your body to help with your issues.

Both athletic therapy and physiotherapy are hands-on treatments that involve the creation of an individualized treatment plan that fits your specific needs. However, athletic therapists have less training in whole-body systems and are geared toward helping recovery from minor aches and strains. Their expertise in rehabilitation helps regain strength and endurance.

Athletic therapy can be a great option for:

  • Athletes and performers
  • Active people who want to recover and strengthen injured body parts; and
  • Those who have recently experienced minor musculoskeletal injuries.

What About Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is another hands-on treatment that can make a huge difference for those with pain, inhibited mobility, and soft tissue injuries. They are trained under the Faculty of Medicine in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, including soft tissue strains, tears, bone fractures and dislocations. Physiotherapists have more of a comprehensive overview of the body and its functioning beyond the muscles, joints, and bones that athletic therapists specialize in. They know how different systems of the body work and can help to diagnose the root causes of your issues beyond minor injuries.

With most injuries and chronic conditions, a correct diagnosis must be determined so that any planned treatment will facilitate recovery and not make the condition worse. At Healthx Physiotherapy, we pride ourselves on an active approach to recovery employing evidence-based treatment techniques to reduce your pain and promote the fastest recovery possible.

Healthx Physiotherapy also includes our Active Rehabilitation Program which is supervised by our highly trained kinesiologists to help you regain strength, range of motion and endurance through injury-specific exercise in our 40,000 square foot gym.

Physiotherapy and Active Rehabilitation are great options for:

  • People who do physical work, like construction work, who need to return to peak physical condition to do their work effectively.
  • Athletes and performers, professional and recreational.
  • Active people who want to recover and strengthen injured body parts.
  • Those who have recently experienced major and minor musculoskeletal injuries.
  • Recovery from fractures and dislocations.
  • Pre and Post-surgical treatment and rehabilitation.
  • Workplace and ICBC MVA injuries.
  • Vertigo and Vestibular Rehabilitation.
  • Arthritis and chronic pain conditions.

Which Is Right for You?

Physiotherapy and athletic therapy are both hands-on practices that can reduce pain, increase mobility and return function to affected body parts. Both involve a treatment strategy that seeks to bring your functioning back to normal. However, Physiotherapy provides the most comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of the root problem and effected area providing a safe and effective path to treatment and recovery.

If you’re interested in seeing whether physiotherapy is the best choice for you, contact HealthX Physical Therapy today. Serving Langley for over 25 years, we can help to diagnose your issues and recommend a custom plan that will treat your injuries and prevent those in the future. Call us at (604) 322-447 or fill out a contact form today!