12/07/2023
WHAT IS SPORTS THERAPY? AND WHAT DOES A SPORTS THERAPIST DO?
It struck me this morning that communication is so important. My son was talking to me about my job, and he seemed to think that Sports Therapy was just about massage, and so it seems do so many people! I have been a Sports Therapist for almost the entirety of his life and I have failed to explain to him what it is I actually do! We spoke for a few minutes, and he said that various things were trending on Tik Tok, and as he named them, I replied, I can do that! Which got me thinking, maybe I have failed to explain this to potential clients, not just my 19 year-old son.
So here goes, Sports Therapy is an aspect of healthcare that is specifically concerned with the prevention of injury and the rehabilitation of the patient back to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports specific fitness, and where appropriate work, regardless of age and ability. I like to think that the rehabilitation is getting the individual to a point where they are stronger and more resilient than when they were injured.
Sports Therapy is based on the principles of sport, health, fitness and exercise sciences, including physiological (promoting normal healthy functioning) and pathological (looking at the tissue damage) processes, focusing on musculoskeletal and soft tissue rehabilitation (muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones).
A Sports Therapist holds a range of skills that enable them to work in a clinical or sporting environment. Treatment of injuries can involve the use of specialised techniques, such as joint mobilisations, sports massage, and electrotherapy (e.g. muscle stimulation). Whereas injury rehabilitation focuses on designing and coaching structured exercise programmes, with the aim of returning individuals to peak physical performance—be that occupational or high-level sport. Many Sports Therapists undertake additional training and are able to offer dry needling or acupuncture, taping and strapping, cupping to name but a few. It is always worth asking your Sports Therapist what they can do!
The major roles and responsibilities of a Sports Therapist are defined as:
• utilise sports and exercise principles to optimise performance, preparation and injury prevention programmes
• provide the immediate care of injuries and basic life support in a recreational, training, occupational & competitive environment
• assess, treat, rehabilitate and, where and if appropriate, refer on for specialist advice and intervention.
• provide appropriate soft tissue interventions in a sport & exercise or work context
• plan and implement appropriate rehabilitation and return to training/work programmes
In addition to these roles, Sports Therapists may work ‘pitchside’ to provide trauma support and emergency first aid.
In my clinic we can offer sports massage, full joint assessments, joint mobilisations, dry needling, sports acupuncture, infrared treatment, instrument assisted soft tissue massage, taping and strapping, cupping, injury prevention and injury rehabilitation. What this means is we treat muscle, tendon and ligament pain, and joint pain, whether it is acute or chronic. We can offer 1 to 1 Strength & Conditioning sessions, so you do not have to go to a gym and 1 to 1 rehabilitation sessions.
So, that is what we do, if you want to discuss your injury or whether we can help, please contact us. If we cannot help, we will tell you and we may be able to point you in the right direction for someone who can.
Mark Mears LLB, LLM, BSc, MSc
Founder and Head Therapist
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