Benefits of Sports Rehabilitation

Sports rehabilitation can be defined as the process by which full function is regained following an injury – restoring strength, flexibility, endurance and power through various exercise techniques (Walden, 2017).

In a typically healthy individual, “the tissues of the musculoskeletal system respond to exercise through a process of damage and repair”. Injuries can occur when a person’s tissues are excessively overloaded, for instance through sport, training or a fall. It has been noted that when someone is recovering from an injury or surgery, their “tissue is already compromised and thus requires far more attention despite the recovery of joint motion and strength” (Kraemer, Denegar, & Flanagen, 2009). This means that despite the injury healing over time, the tissue is still weakened – this is where sport rehabilitation can be not only an effective, but an essential tool to aid recovery. By creating a rehabilitation programme that does not over-exert the damaged area but still promotes gentle activity and exercise, the tissue will begin to heal. The techniques given during rehabilitation can also reduce the probability of future injury (Shellock & Prentice, 1985).

Benefits of Sports Massage

There are various uses for sports massage including: to help prepare an athlete for competition, as a tool to enhance athletic performance, as a treatment approach to help the athlete recover after exercise or competition, and as a manual therapy intervention for sports-related musculoskeletal injuries (Brummitt, 2008).

Laura utilises her skills and knowledge of both sport and deep tissue massage to create a treatment that is tailored to each client’s needs. This can include varying the pressure, location and duration of a massage based on the preferences and affliction of the individual. Both sports and deep tissue massage works based on manipulating the soft tissue such as muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia and using touch to find any knots, tightness, overactive or any tension that is stored in the body. Sports and deep tissue massage benefits are

• Increases blood flow
• Decreases blood pressure
• Helps reduce tension stored in the muscles
• Helps reduce stress and emotions
• Releases tigger points in overactive muscles
• Helps reduce Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness post training/games/events (DOMS)
• Reduces joint and muscles stiffness

Sports or deep tissue massage can benefit most people looking for pain relief for musculoskeletal issues.

Benefits of Exercise Rehab and Pilates

Laura has completed all of the APPI Pilates Matwork levels 1-3 which enables her to take one to one sessions with a client as well as taking classes. She has also studied ante and post natal Pilates to help with mum's to be and post partum mums. The aim of the APPI Pilates method is to improve body alignment with a focus on developing and strengthening deep postural ‘core’ muscles through movement. In turn, creating a functioning body for efficient day to day living that is less prone to pain and injuries.

Pilates is extremely beneficial to anyone who is looking to increase core, pelvic and spinal strength and stability. Whether to reduce pain, stiffness or to rehabilitate an injury to not only get back to their starting point but to also get stronger and minimise the probability of re-injury (Rogers & Gibson, 2009). In addition to the focus on core and truck strength, Pilates also addresses any movement or patterning dysfunction and aims to re-train and re-educate poor, weak, short or overactive movements from head to toe.  It involves dynamic and static stretching as well as high repetition postural exercises to increase mobility and strength.

Clinical studies have shown that incorporating exercise rehabilitation techniques into your daily routine can improve and even prevent exercise-induced injuries. Exercise rehab can mean a range of different movements, from mobility work to stretching and Pilates. The results that occur from exercise rehabilitation can include increased flexibility. Improving your level of flexibility has been scientifically proven to benefit our physical performance and can also help in the prevention of injuries to the musculoskeletal system (Shellock & Prentice, 1985)

Pilates has been proven to help people with spinal disc problems, arthritis, pre and post-natal, pre and post-operative, postural weakness, joint stiffness and muscular aches and pains (Bryan & Hawson, 2003).

Benefits of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that is nearly 3000 years old. The method of acupuncture involves inserting tiny, sterile needles in to specifically identified anatomical spots called acupoints to access the body’s own energy system (Qi). The Chinese technique uses the acupuncture of these points on certain pathways called ‘meridians’ to trigger and stimulate the body’s internal healing process. If this Qi is disrupted and fails to flow through the meridians, this can lead to a blockage that results in pain or illness. Acupuncture is thought to restore normal Qi flow and therefore restore health.

Modern, scientific research has demonstrated the positive effects acupuncture has on the nervous, digestive, immune, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. The acupoints and meridians are linked to neural, muscular and fascial tissue bundles that once stimulated causes the body to produce pain relieving endorphins. Research has shown that receiving acupuncture treatment can therefore help reduce pain, illness, stiffness, stress, anxiety and improve sleep, digestive, immune and hormonal function (Vickers, Cronin, Maschino et al, 2012). Medical studies have shown that having a course of acupuncture has an extremely successful rate of reducing migraines and relieving headaches. It also has been proven to help with arthritic pain, chronic neck and back pain, sciatica and trapped nerves and muscular pain (Gould & MacPherson, 2004)

Acupuncture is a great treatment that can you used in isolated or combined with other forms of hands on treatment as well as exercise based rehabilitation. I can also be an option for people who have not had any or a positive response from medication but are looking to try another form of pain relieve or trying to restore normal bodily function (Vickers, Cronin, Maschino et al, 2012).

Laura is registered with Warrington Borough Council and has a license for the use of needles.