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The Techniques of Sports Physical Therapy
from:Sports physical therapy has become increasingly popular over recent years as more people continue to participate in their favorite activities later in life. Older adults certainly aren't the only people who end up with an injury that requires special attention though. Most people tend to think of this type of therapy as ice packs and heat packs and maybe some stretches, but it is far more than that. Here is a quick look at sports physical therapy and some of the techniques these trained professionals use to help you heal.
Methods of Exercise
McKenzie Approach
Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization
Along with the common use of ultrasound, the use of cold and heat packs, and electrical muscle stimulation, physical therapists have some other very effective tricks up their sleeves. Let's take the McKenzie approach to sports physical therapy first. This group of exercises was designed for the sole purpose of providing relief for back pain due to sports injury. The therapist pinpoints the exact location of the back injury and applies the techniques to centralize the problem and promote healing. This system can also be used for non sports related back problems.
Moving on to another very useful tool for sports therapists, we have the dynamic lumbar stabilization technique. This one is different from the McKenzie approach in that while it does centralize the damaged location and provide relief from pain, it also involves teaching the patient to reduce the amount of movement in the injured area by engaging the surrounding healthy muscle tissue. With this type of therapy, the patient can continue to exercise while providing healing time for the injured muscle mass. This technique of sports physical therapy is often used for athletes like professionals and marathon runners.
While these techniques and the many others used in physical therapy are effective, there are underlying principles that have to be followed in order for a successful outcome. Sports physical therapists are also responsible for teaching their patients the correct way to isolate the damaged muscle group to protect it from further injury during the healing process. That means one on one time spent illustrating the proper stretches, technique for exercise performance, and an individualized exercise program that enhances and improves the patient's use of their bodies. In sports physical therapy, the therapist is also responsible for staying current on the latest therapy developments, knowing when a specific exercise is correct for each patient, and knowing the difference between a healthy, safe technique and one that could cause damage instead of correct it.
Everyday new advances are being made in this exciting field for the benefit of patients and athletes alike. Sports physical therapy has proven to be very effective for all types of injury and ensures that patients can continue to live the active lifestyle they want.
Sports physical therapy is often the best choice for people seeking a non invasive way to repair muscle damage and continue to enjoy the flexibility and strength of their bodies during healing. A physical therapist has many different techniques available to them to help their clients reach their full potential.
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