Athletic Therapy & Sports massage
Athletic Therapy and Sports massage are offered in clinic by Lisa Donelly. Lisa trained and worked in Ireland before moving to Aberdeen to undertake her Msc Physiotherapy. Read more about Lisa here.
Athletic therapy is a specialist field focused on the prevention, assessment, management, and rehabilitation of injuries, primarily in sports and physical activity contexts. Athletic therapists use a combination of manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, modalities (like ultrasound and heat/cold therapy), and education to help clients recover from injuries and improve physical function.
Key Aspects of Athletic Therapy
Injury Prevention: Athletic Therapists assess athletes’ movements, body mechanics, and fitness levels to identify risk factors for injury. Design training programs to improve flexibility, strength, and balance, all aimed at reducing injury risk.
Injury Assessment and Management: If an injury occurs, athletic therapists are trained to evaluate its severity and determine a suitable plan. This includes on-field assessment during sports events and immediate care to stabilize injuries.
Rehabilitation: The therapist designs a personalized rehabilitation program to restore function and strength to the injured area. This often involves a combination of strength training, flexibility exercises, manual therapy, and education to ensure proper form and reduce re-injury risk.
Return-to-Activity Protocols: Athletic therapists guide the athlete through gradual progressions back to physical activity, ensuring readiness and safe return. This process can be quite structured, especially for high-risk activities.