Rehabilitation: From Deficiency Towards Performance
Physical Therapy as a concept began in the 1800s with massage, manipulation, and exercise. Since then, the profession has improved assessment and treatment within these means. In the Sports Physiotherapy world, a successful athlete typically works in step with an experienced Physiotherapist (Physical Therapist to all the Americans).
When an athlete is affected by an injury, the path beyond recovery to performance involves many components that are blended together as an art, and as a science. #TeamEPP recognizes that path is an individual journey for every athlete, whether it is a sprain / strain, a concussion, or full surgical recovery. The individual needs require emphasis and balance amongst 3 interrelated realms:
Biological - tissue and neuroendocrine health
Psychological - identity and mental health
Social - participation in normal life / athletics
These realms do not operate in isolation, and essentially define why successful rehabilitation requires:
Professionals with extensive clinical and personal experiences
Comprehensive assortment of tools to effectively stimulate the correct change
Listening skills, to understand the scope of the issue AND how to resolve it
Solutions that are realistic and measured
The techniques that a Physiotherapist may include in their treatment depend upon a comprehensive History and thorough examination.
Tools Targeting Biology
Education - an empowered athlete becomes an agent in their own biological recovery. In another way, having the confidence to be active within limits, and perform meaningful self-care / recovery may be the single greatest determinant of a successful rehabilitation. Another strength in this area is communication with a coach regarding safe return to activity planning - we acknowledge one of the best cures is being able to spend time participating in your sport, and we aim to do so with purpose and safety.
Exercise - the single greatest drug never packaged. The multitude of effects, and the powerful ability to multiply the effects of other interventions, makes exercise the other greatest tool in the toolbox. An experienced clinician knows that no exercise is too little, and too much exercise is too much. The art is in finding the movements that guarantee improvements on a timeline towards participation and high level performance. #TeamEPP is very proud to have experienced Physiotherapists and Strength & Conditioning collaborating towards ideal exercise programs.
BFR - Blood Flow Restriction during exercise maximizes muscular / tissue adaptations when the injury or surgery limits the amount of loading. Never easy, but the results are incredible.
Manual Therapy - Massage, mobilization, manipulation are soft-tissue and articular techniques to help gain and re-learn movement. Hands on therapy has been found to compliment education and exercise extremely well by modulating the autonomic nervous system (and its effect on pain and spasm), breaking down scar tissue, and introducing tissue loading.
Intramuscular Stimulation - Dry Needling (IMS) is another method of modulating a sensitive nervous system by stimulation with a deep acupuncture needle. Although it may be uncomfortable at first, it is this sensitivity that indicates the usefulness. After 1-2 sessions, #TeamEPP Physiotherapists expect significant decreases in that sensitivity (but will likely look for other areas as well), indicating progress towards a nervous system that will be less sensitive to movement.
Strategies Addressing Psychology
#TeamEPP works alongside every individual. This means understanding the impact of an injury on an athlete’s identity, which can be a frightening scenario. We endeavour to understand your beliefs, your concerns, and your challenges. Advocacy is a central foundation in our plan to educate you, stand with you, and speak on your behalf.
Recognizing the Athlete as a Person
Your role outside Athletics also needs understanding in a therapeutic alliance. Instructions to exercise are useless if you do not have gym access or timely childcare. Many athletes are brands in themselves that cannot be forgotten during prolonged periods away from competition. We will work within your support groups (family, coach, teammates etc) as valuable resources in your recovery.