You may be a high school or collegiate athlete, avid CrossFitter or runner. Whatever your sport of choice, physiotherapy or rehabilitation will likely be a part of your life at some point. That’s because developing an injury, aches and pains, tightness, and physical limitations are inevitable in sports, especially for competitive athletes.
What Is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a form of therapy that relies on a variety of drug-free remedies that may include things like:
- Education
- Targeted exercises
- Soft tissue therapy
- Acupuncture
- Electric and/or other forms of energy
- Others
“At Ottawa Health: Performance and Rehabilitation, our physiotherapists prioritize education to achieve a basic level of understanding about anatomy, aggravating and relieving factors,” said Dr. Rich.
When Is Physiotherapy Recommended?
In sports, there are many ways physiotherapy is used:
Injury Prevention
For many years, advances in research have supported the fact that pre-season or baseline tests can be used to assess a player’s risk of injury. There are a variety of evidence-based baseline assessments for common injuries such as concussions, ACL injuries, groin injuries and more. Our qualified physiotherapists can assess for faulty performances that make a player or athlete more susceptible to these injuries.
Rehabilitation
Once injuries occur, rehabilitation is the process of facilitating recovery. Our physiotherapists can craft well-programmed rehabilitation routines that often allow athletes to return to their sport stronger than before!
Performance-based
Seeking to shave a minute off your mile? Improve your golf swing? Whatever your goal, physiotherapy can help you improve your performance in your sport. Our physiotherapists have the tools to help recovery and improve performance by improving things like:
- Tissue compliance and/or flexibility
- Joint capsule mobilizations to improve range of motion
- Strengthening in preparation for a specific event
- Improving muscle soreness
“We recommend that young competitive athletes have a therapist they trust and who is familiar with their sport,” said Dr. Rich.
Helping You Get Back in the Game
The physiotherapists at Ottawa Health: Performance and Rehabilitation help your body function better, allowing quicker recovery. You’ll also be taught the tools to help promote optimal healing and recovery.
If an injury has sidelined you, we want to help you return to your sport and be at your athletic best. Contact us today to book an appointment!
2022, 2023, 2024