Sports Therapy or Physiotherapy? Are they different?

Pain is a fantastic motivator for change. We’ve all experienced it, we’ve all had to manage it at some point in our lives and we have all been at our limits with it at some point. With so many health practitioners out there to choose from it can often be a minefield when choosing between them. The job titles and practice names sometimes don’t make it obvious which professional to choose from. When it comes to physiotherapy the subject matter is wide ranging. With sub-sections such as musculoskeletal injuries, neurology, respiratory, orthopaedics and post-operative care to name a few, the range of a Physiotherapist’s knowledge cannot be questioned. Sports Therapists, as the title suggests, specialise in injuries that have occurred generally as the result of a sporting activity. They primarily assess the site of pain with a hands-on approach using techniques that are wide ranging in accordance with the latest research findings. They are also well versed in biomechanics and movement analysis regarding performance, which is great if you are an athlete, but also vital if your particular injury is being caused by an issue with your movement gait or posture.  That said, it really doesn’t matter how you injured yourself, whether that be stepping off the kerb or playing football, an injury is an injury – and they can help! Both disciplines have similarities in the sense that both assess and diagnose injuries. Both deliver a manual therapy treatment plan and show patients how to manage and reduce pain. Both are advocates of long term health and wellness. Sports Therapists favour a bigger focus on exercise rehabilitation to reduce any issues via the medium of a personalised, bespoke training programs. More often than not, a Sports Therapist will support the client through an exercise session as an integral aspect of treatment, ensuring that the client performs the exercises proficiently but also understands the importance of them. Education is key. They also perform a lot more ‘hands on’ treatment such as massage, soft tissue release, myofascial release, passive stretching and mobilisations to name a few. In summary, both therapies can help you back to full fitness with Sports Therapy having an additional criteria of ‘return to sport’.  Not just returning you to independent movement but making sure you are back at your pre-injury sporting ability. It’s important to pick the practitioner you feel is right for you!  Give them a call and have a chat – that way you can ask questions beforehand too!