I am often asked by my clients if I can help their family members with certain conditions which may not be obviously treatable disorders. It can be confusing when considering whether to see a sports therapist, a physiotherapist, or perhaps a chiropractor or osteopath. Our titles don’t necessarily lend much clarity to what we actually do. So here is a short guide to what sports therapy can help with and how / what to expect from treatment.
Sports Injuries – This one is obvious, but it’s not always clear what type of injury can be helped by a sports therapist. Whilst it’s true that some injuries sustained are too severe and need to be referred to a physiotherapist/orthopeadic doctor for imaging and potentially surgery, most minor injuries obtained in the gym or out on the road can be treated with a combination of hands on treatment and exercise rehab. For more severe injuries where surgery is required, we can also help in the follow up stages of recovery, with graduated rehabilitation programs, all the way up to returning to sports.
Non-Sports Related Injuries – You don’t need to be an athlete to utilise the services of a sports therapist for an injury. You might have twisted your ankle taking out the rubbish, or pulled a muscle getting up off the sofa. We know not everyone has the time, ability or inclination to participate in sport and exercise. Whilst we will always try to promote movement as one of the best ways to stay physically healthy, we don’t judge you for not wanting to join in. However you sustained your injury we can find the best way to help you with hands on treatment and prescribed movement you can do in the comfort of your own home, based on your individual capabilities.
Inflammatory Conditions – These can occur for a number of reasons. Inflammatory conditions include things like tendon inflammation, osteoarthritis or bursitis. They often are recognised as joint pain and can get worse with lack of movement. They might begin with overuse of a certain joint, or simple wear and tear over time. We have various treatment options for inflammation including acupuncture, ultrasound therapy, massage and taping, plus exercise prescription to help you move in the most pain free way, whilst still gaining strength, which is all important for recovery.
Back Pain – Back pain is such a common condition and one which many of us live with for years. Putting up with back pain is totally unnecessary. It is often caused by a simple muscle imbalance, which can be quickly resolved, and you can go on to be pain free. By taking a detailed history of your pain, and doing a few simple movement assessments, we can usually determine the cause of your back pain in your initial session. This will be followed up by a combination of hands on treatment and advice for movement and exercise. We can also advise on the best way to avoid the pain coming back in the future.
Chronic Pain – There are various chronic pain conditions which have begun to be recognised in the last 10-20 years in the UK. They can be severely debilitating for anyone who suffers them. Whilst sports therapy cannot treat or resolve the condition itself, it can be useful to help manage the symptoms. Reducing pain so you can get on with your daily life has a huge impact on overall wellbeing. Unlike many massage therapists, sports therapists have a much better understanding of anatomy, and usually have a wider range of hands on treatment modalities, so we can best find out what works for you. Listening to our clients and what they feel will best help is one of the most important things we can do for chronic pain sufferers. Some prefer deep pressure massage, others prefer light myofascial massage works better, or even gentle passive stretching. By working together we can help you move towards feeling like yourself again.
If you haven’t been diagnosed with a particular chronic pain condition, but you live with pain on a daily basis, arrange to have a chat with a sports therapist. There is usually something we can do to help, whether with treatment, diagnosis or just signposting you to someone who can help.
Repetitive Strain Injuries – We spend much of our lives at work or driving or sitting in one position, this can cause all kind of problems with our muscles, joints, bones and nerves. RSI refers to any injury or pain caused by doing something over and over again. It might be shoulder pain from plastering ceilings all day, wrist pain from typing, or neck pain from driving. Whatever pain you are suffering, we can help with a wide range of treatment options. Don’t live with your pain, do something positive and take action to resolve it. We know the best way to do that.
Here is a list of common conditions (from toe to top) which we can help with;
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Ankle Sprains
- Achilles Tendonopathy
- Calf Strains
- Shin splints
- Knee Pain
- ACL/PCL/MCL/LCL injuries (knee ligament injuries)
- Osgood Schlatters
- ITB Syndrome
- Knee or Hip Bursitis
- Lower Back Pain
- SI Joint Pain or disfunction
- Shoulder Pain
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Frozen Shoulder
- Golfers/Tennis Elbow
- Carpal Tunnel
- Neck Pain
- Headaches/Migraines
- Osteoarthritis
- Spondylitis
- Nerve Pain
- Muscle Pain / Fatigue / Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
- Chronic Pain Syndromes
- Chronic Fatigue Syndromes
- MS
- And a whole lot more…
If you, or someone you know would benefit from a sports therapy consultation or treatment, get in touch today. Waiting to see if it’ll get better by itself will often lead to things getting worse. And living with daily pain is often something which can be resolved quickly and easily. It’s just a question of knowing the right things to do. Our expertise at Personal Best Sports Therapy will put you on the right path to getting back to your Personal Best.