Let's Get Physical: Is Physiotherapy Right for You?
Whether you're looking into sports physiotherapy on your own or you've been recommended to do so by a professional, it can be difficult to know whether it's really something that you'd like to try. Sessions can be expensive, and you may feel intimidated at the thought of attending such an intense-sounding session. However, the truth of the matter is that sports physiotherapy can be extremely beneficial in a whole range of circumstances. If you feel it could help you – or an expert has already suggested that it might – then chances are you have something very real to gain from it. For example – does any of this describe you?
I Suffer From Chronic Pain
Sports physiotherapists can help with all kinds of pain, whether it's generalized or simply connected to the specific movement of one joint. They're specialists in designing exercise routines for you to lessen your pain and ease the stress and tension in your body. It may not completely remove the pain, but physiotherapy will certainly go a long way towards helping you handle it – and it will certainly significantly reduce it, in most cases.
I Was Recently Injured Playing Sport
Whatever the type of sport or activity you were undertaking, however severe the injury and however far you are through the healing process, it's likely that physiotherapy could be beneficial to you. Seeing a physiotherapist will allow them to ensure your body is healing correctly – especially if you're keen to get back into that sport all over again. There's a chance it could speed up the process of recovery, too. Just be sure to follow any instructions the therapist gives you. It may feel like you're using your damaged limb normally during your sessions, but if your therapist asks you not to return to the sport for three weeks, you should take that guideline seriously. Otherwise, you may set yourself back to square one.
I Have a Pre-Existing/Historic Injury
If you were injured a while back and the damage never healed properly, all may not be lost. Your physiotherapist may be able to help you encourage the old injury back into submission. Of course, this will be on a case-by-case basis; issues such as joint damage are irreversible and cannot be aided by exercise or posture changes. Still, it's certainly worth a consultation at the very least.
Whatever your ailment, if you loosely fit any of these descriptions, it's well worth making an appointment to try out physiotherapy and see what it can do for you. Of course, results aren't instant, and you'll need to keep it up to feel the most significant benefits – but dipping your toes in the water may at least help you to decide whether the therapy is right for you. Good luck!