What is a Sports Therapist?
A Sports Therapist is a distinct occupational title that applies to a clearly defined scope of practice.
A Sports Therapist, who is a Member of The Society of Sports Therapists is an allied health professional who has the knowledge, skills and ability to:
A Sports Therapist, who is a Member of The Society of Sports Therapists is an allied health professional who has the knowledge, skills and ability to:
- utilise sports and exercise principles to optimise performance, preparation and injury prevention programmes
- provide the immediate care of injuries and basic life support in a recreational, training, occupational & competitive environment
- assess, treat, rehabilitate and, where and if appropriate, refer on for specialist advice and intervention.
- provide appropriate soft tissue interventions in a sport & exercise context
- plan and implement appropriate rehabilitation and return to training/work programmes
Sports Therapy is an aspect of healthcare that is specifically concerned with the prevention of injury and the rehabilitation of the patient back to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports specific fitness, regardless of age and ability.
It utilises the principles of sport and exercise science incorporating physiological and pathological processes to prepare the participant for training, competition and where applicable, work.
There are a number of techniques that are used in daily practice by a Sports Therapist. Most commonly, sports therapy treatment includes a combination of:
- Joint mobilisation and stretching
- Specific exercises and rehabilitation principles
- Return to sport planning and protocol
- Sports massage/deep tissue massage
- A range of other myofascial techniques
- Supportive sports taping
- Kinesio-taping
- Dry needling (this is also referred to as medical acupuncture)
As part of your initial visit to a sports therapist, you can expect the following thorough process, in order to make an accurate diagnosis and get you on the path to recovery:
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- Extensive case history/discussion of medical history
- Detailed Physical Assessment (including assessment of mobility, strength and posture)
- Detailed explanation of our findings and a formal diagnosis
- Proposed treatment/recovery plan specific to you
- Begin the treatment process
- Receive your personalised rehabilitation plan
