Sports Therapy aims to help those struggling with injuries through specific prescriptive exercises, rehabilitation programmes and therapeutic techniques such as massage, manual therapy, and electrotherapy, to name a few. It utilises the principles of sport and exercise science incorporating physiological and pathological practices to prepare the participant for exercise, competitive sport, and work.
Sports Therapy also aims to prevent injuries and help prepare people to reach their sporting goals through sports screening (MOTs) and carefully planned Prehabilitation programmes. Whilst injuries cannot be completely eradicated, specific exercises can help reduce some injury risks and improve athletic performance.
Sports Therapy looks at a person’s posture, range of movement, strength, movement patterns and sporting needs to help plan a safe and effective programme to help an individual return to the sport they love or excel further in it.
At your first session, your Sports Therapist will discuss with you the history of your injury, your general health, and your goals for treatment. A thorough assessment of your injury will follow this. If time permits you will be given some treatment or exercises to start your rehabilitation. However, a more detailed treatment plan will be provided during your follow-up sessions.
If you are using our service for a Sports MOT to determine areas of focus, please see our Sports Performance Packages (link). This service aims to improve your sports performance, maintain good strength and mobility, and prevent future injuries where possible. Within this service, your therapist will discuss your needs and take you through various assessments and exercises in order to create an effective prehabilitation programme for you. In your follow-up sessions, the therapist will guide you through this programme to ensure its effectiveness.
Sessions are aimed at sporting populations of all ability levels. It can be helpful for those aged 9 and above. However, for younger athletes, it is recommended to see an injury specialist for paediatrics.
Here at MSO Physio, we understand that sprains, strains, aches, and pains can occur to anyone. This service therefore strives to help anybody with a musculoskeletal injury to resume their hobbies and work and return to a normal healthy lifestyle.
Please click here to view the vast range of sports injuries that can be treated by a Sports Therapist.
Your initial assessment will be a longer session of up to 60 minutes. Following this, sessions will usually take 30 minutes.
The number of sessions required will vary between people. It is often dictated by how much an individual can comply with the programme but can also be affected by a vast range of factors including, general health, mental health, pre-injury conditioning levels, and skill acquisition.
Often sessions will be weekly in the first phases of treatment. As you progress through your programme and you become more able to manage your symptoms, treatment will become more spaced out until no longer required. This can take weeks or months depending on the injury and individual.
For upper limb and back injuries, we may ask you to remove your shirt to be able to access the area. For women, please wear a bra you are comfortable in or a top that allows access to the area being treated.
For lower limb and back injuries, please bring or wear some shorts.
Please remember Sports Therapy usually involves some exercises so it is important you wear things you feel comfortable in and can move around in.
Unfortunately, this type of treatment is not yet available under private healthcare and must be self-funded. This is due to the background of Sports Therapy focusing primarily on athletic populations.
A Sports Therapy focuses extensively on musculoskeletal injuries and their treatment within sports. This includes manual therapy, soft tissue treatment and rehabilitation techniques. A Sports Therapist will study these injuries with a sporting focus and relate any prehabilitation and rehabilitation programmes directly to the individual’s sport or activity. A Sports Therapist will use this knowledge to treat all populations to achieve their strength and mobility goals.
Physiotherapists includes areas of study such as; respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, post-surgical care, conditions relating to the brain and nervous system, as well as musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Post-graduation, physiotherapists may decide to specialise in one of these areas and this is where musculoskeletal physiotherapy treatment and Sports Therapy treatment can cross over significantly. Especially as within both professions, continued professional development is highly important and therapists are committed to expanding their knowledge.
Sports Massage is a treatment technique used by both sports therapists and physiotherapists. However, it is not usually used in sessions as a stand-alone treatment. Many people will find Sports Massage highly beneficial to relieve tense muscles and may wish for Sports Massage as a separate treatment. Therefore, a Sports Masseuse may be recommended when there are no contraindications to this type of treatment and when a Sports Therapist feels this may be of benefit. Individuals can self-refer to this treatment where there is no injury present.
If you’re ready to book your appointment click below, if you have any questions you’d like to ask before booking please contact us by phone on 0208 254 2150 or email us at info@msophysio.com and we’ll be in touch with you asap.
