The Science of Sports Physiotherapy: Evidence-Based Practices and Techniques

Sports physiotherapy is a highly specialised branch of therapy that integrates principles across sports medicine and exercise science to treat and prevent injuries associated with physical activities. Athletes or active individuals who wish to improve performance, speed up recovery, or reduce their risk of sustaining injuries may turn to sports physiotherapy for help. Wondering how it works? We’ll explore the science behind sports physiotherapy to give you a better understanding of its usefulness in maintaining optimal physical health.

Learn More: How Physiotherapy Can Help You Return to Sports After an Injury

How Does Sports Physiotherapy Work?

Sports physiotherapy leverages various scientific principles and disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, and rehabilitation sciences, to study the body’s movement during physical activity.

With an understanding of these systems, physical therapists assess how the body moves and applies kinesiological principles and exercise physiology to diagnose and treat injuries. The techniques commonly employed for recovery and injury prevention include: 

• Manual Therapy Techniques

Manual therapy is a key musculoskeletal physiotherapy method used to alleviate pain, improve joint function, and restore optimal movement patterns for greater sports performance. 

Physical therapists will devise a treatment plan and apply a variety of techniques depending on the person’s condition and desired results. For instance, if you’re struggling with tense muscles, they’ll physically stretch and place pressure on your muscles and ligaments to break up the muscle tissue and help relieve tension and reduce inflammation. Other approaches include joint mobilisation and myofascial release. The former involves exerting pressure on a joint to improve mobility and range of motion while the latter restores pliability in the fascia. 

• Therapeutic Exercises

Therapeutic exercises are also fundamental aspects of sports physiotherapy that work to address pain, discomfort, and strengthen an athlete’s body to prevent injuries. They are designed to promote tissue healing, enhance overall performance, decrease injury risks, and improve strength, flexibility, and neuromuscular control. These exercises may include aerobic and endurance conditioning, agility training, body mechanics training, and neuromotor development activities. How they work is they build strength, balance, and coordination to allow the body to perform physical activities in the correct form, which is crucial to prevent injuries and promote recovery.

• Sports Specific Exercises

Sports specific exercises are those designed to replicate the demands of a particular sport to train athletes and promote their recovery. These programmes will mimic the movements, intensities, and biomechanical challenges encountered during athletic activities to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and return to sport, to help athletes regain strength, flexibility, and neuromuscular control specific to their field. 

There are numerous types of training curricula. Here’s a look at what they may include:

– Functional Movement Patterns: Exercises that encourage athletes to practise the motions involved in a particular sport, promoting muscle memory and neuromuscular adaptation. For example, lateral agility drills for a basketball player recovering from a knee injury. 

– Strength Training: Targets muscle groups crucial for the specific sport. For instance, strengthening the quadriceps and hip flexor to optimise kicking performance. 

– Dynamic Stability Exercises: Exercises that challenge an athlete’s ability to maintain control during unpredictable movements to build joint stability and injury resilience. 

– Agility and Coordination Drills: Enhances an athlete’s agility and reaction time to facilitate swift directional changes and optimal performance even under stress. They can include ladder drills, cone drills, and sport-specific footwork. 

Sports physiotherapy harnesses evidence-based practices and techniques for successful rehabilitation and enhanced athletic performance. The benefits it offers extend beyond recovery, helping athletes and active persons strengthen their body for greater safety during physical activities. 

If you’re looking for a sports physiotherapy clinic, SG ProRehab and its team of physiotherapists are here to help. Schedule your appointment with us today.