Sports physiotherapy is a specialized branch of physical therapy that focuses on athletic injuries and issues. Sports physiotherapists can conduct research, assist athletes in recovering from injuries, and provide education and resources to help prevent problems. Therapy services are available to people of all ages who are participating in sports at any level of competition. Professionals can work in a variety of settings, including private practices, hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, and on-site at sporting events.
Sports physiotherapy research leads to a better understanding of sports injuries and more effective rehabilitation techniques. In biomedical research and development laboratories, scientists and engineers create equipment to aid athletes in recovering from injuries and avoiding future problems. For example, an engineer might create a new type of knee brace for a sportsperson suffering from a torn knee ligament, which is a common injury in many sports. He or she may experiment with various materials and their configurations in order to create a brace that is comfortable, practical, and supportive for an athlete to wear during activity. Much of the research in sports physiotherapy is focused on the development of better safety equipment, such as helmets and mouthguards, to protect athletes in various sports.
Sports physiotherapists and trainers are well-versed in the wide range of injuries that can occur while participating in sports. Therapists assist athletes in recovering from injuries and returning to previous levels of activity providing rehabilitation services as well as advice on how to avoid future problems. When an athlete is injured, he or she meets with a physiotherapist to discuss the situation and determine the best course of action. To regain strength and confidence, he or she may be told to take medicine prescribed a doctor and attend physical therapy sessions. During rehabilitation, the therapist assesses the athlete’s progress and provides advice on how to avoid re-injury.
Successful rehabilitation physiotherapy can take anywhere from a few hours of light sessions to months or years of intensive training, depending on the type and severity of the injury. Some professional athletes meet with their therapists on a regular basis throughout their careers to assess the status of lingering injuries and look for signs that new ones are on the way. Some experts also offer counseling to their long-term clients, assisting athletes in making the best career decisions for their health and safety. Many athletes are able to fully recover from injuries and return to their sports with ease thanks to the guidance and treatment provided skilled therapists and physicians.