Why see an Osteopath for my sporting injury?
Osteopaths are highly skilled in taking a thorough case history, performing an in depth physical assessment and using the findings from this to formulate a detailed management plan for each patient.
There are no specialisations within osteopathy, however many practitioners undergo further study and have a clinical focus and interest on specific patient groups. At Beyond we are lucky to have osteopaths with extensive experience treating and managing a wide range of different sporting injuries. During your consultation we will take into consideration the demands of your given sport and training load to ensure your management plan is aligned with your sporting goals.
How can an Osteopath manage my sporting injury?
In addition to the hands on osteopathic treatment, your osteopath may use sport relevant assessment approaches and outcome measures to determine recovery timeframes and progression. This means we can advise you on training restrictions or alternatives as well as provide specific strengthening, conditioning and rehabilitation to get you back to your full capacity as soon as possible.
Osteopaths have an understanding of musculoskeletal sports injuries and complications associated with these injuries, often in relation to your sport. In situations where you need further care, osteopaths have a strong referral framework and are able to refer you to the necessary practitioner so you receive the most appropriate care for your injury.
How long will my recovery be?
The length of your recovery depends on the following factors:
- The type of injury. There is an estimated recovery time for injuries, for example most sprained ankle injuries heal within 2-6 weeks, however a severe ankle ligament injury can take up to 12 weeks to recover.
- Patient compliance. This means following your Osteopaths recommendations with rest, activity restriction or modification. This can be the difference between being at the low or high end of you recovery time frame range.
- Rehabilitation exercises. Diligently doing your exercises as often as prescribed is the best way to get back to full training as quickly as possible.
Can I still train?
Once again, this depends on the nature of your injury. At Beyond we will only have you rest completely from sport or exercise if absolutely necessary. We will restrict or modify training activities when required to protect you from further injury or worsening your injury. Our primary goal is to get you back to sport and training as quickly and safely as possible.
Can Osteopathy help me prevent injury?
We are able to assess movements specific to your sport and test for any movement restrictions, muscle imbalances or weaknesses. This enables us to tailor treatment and exercise prescription to target any issues we find during assessment. Strengthening these weaknesses and imbalances and improving movement patterns decreases the risk of preventable injuries in sport. It can also improve your sporting capabilities through improved technique and increased strength.
Can all Osteopaths treat sporting injuries?
All osteopaths can diagnose, treat, manage or help prevent general sporting injuries. However, an osteopath will often focus on one or two specific sports. That focus includes a comprehensive understanding of biomechanics, performance needs and injuries or strains that commonly occur within that sport.
Whatever your chosen sport, one of our Beyond practitioners will be able to help you MOVE THROUGH LIFE this sporting season!
