Hands-On Therapy for Sports Injuries: Why It Works
Sports injuries are an inevitable risk if you are an athlete or just an active individual. Fortunately, hands-on therapy provides an effective, long-lasting solution to sports injuries by prioritizing active recovery and personalized care. This article will explore exactly how hands-on therapy works and why it is suitable for sports injury rehabilitation at State of the Art Physical Therapy.
What Does Hands-On Therapy Entail?
Hands-on therapy, popularly known as manual therapy, is a specialized physical therapy technique in which a trained physical therapist uses their hands to assess, diagnose, and treat musculoskeletal problems that cause pain, restrict mobility, and limit physical function. Hands-on therapy involves direct physical contact because the therapist’s hands are the primary tool for this treatment. Therefore, therapists can feel changes in muscle tone, joint position, and tissue tension in real time, allowing them to adjust the intensity or treatment technique, as needed.
How Does Hands-On Therapy Work for Sports Injuries?
Hands-on therapy does more than relieve pain associated with sports injuries. It also addresses the underlying conditions that may cause these injuries. The following explains how hands-on therapy works to treat and manage sports injuries:
- Improves blood circulation and tissue healing: The blood carries oxygen and nutrients around the body. However, some sports injuries or underlying conditions may disrupt the flow of blood, preventing it from reaching damaged areas in the body. However, hands-on therapy techniques, such as soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release, and joint mobilization, manual therapy can boost the blood flow to injured areas, delivering oxygen and nutrients that accelerate the body’s natural repair process.
- Reduces Pain & Muscle Tension: Sports injuries usually cause pain and muscle tension that may compound your condition, leading to emotional problems. However, trigger point therapy, deep tissue massage, and some other hands-on therapy techniques can provide immediate pain relief by releasing tight muscles and calming irritated nerves.
- Restores Proper Movement Mechanics: Sports injuries often cause the body to adjust its movement to avoid pain, leading to compensation. Over time, compensatory patterns can create muscle imbalances and joint misalignment. However, hands-on therapy corrects these problems, ensuring the body moves efficiently without extra strain.
- Breaks Down Scar Tissue and Adhesions: Scar tissue can form after sports injury or surgical procedures, restricting mobility and causing pain. However, sports physical therapy techniques break down these adhesions, restoring flexibility and mobility.
- Enhances Joint Mobility & Range of Motion: Sports therapy restores natural joint movement, ensuring that you can move around freely and perform your daily activities without fear of chronic pain or new injuries.
Conclusion
Sports injuries can be frustrating setbacks. However, your recovery does not have to be painful, sedentary, and long. Hands-on therapy offers a non-invasive yet effective treatment option for reducing pain, improving circulation, and accelerating recovery time in people who have suffered one sport injury or another. Therefore, whether you are a professional athlete or just someone who enjoys staying active, you should consider undergoing hands-on therapy at State of the Art Physical Therapy.
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