Image Source

Physical Therapist in the Sports Industry: How Important Are They?

We often see athletes as individuals with vigor, top physical abilities, and excellent athleticism. However, we don’t know why they can function and perform that way, how they can move with such agility, and how they are able to show those kinds of strength.

The simple answer is through extensive training, monitored diet plan, and assistance of a physical therapist. There’s a lot of significance in having a physical therapist, especially when it comes to sports, wherein injuries are inevitable.

In the National Basketball Association (NBA) alone, injuries are among the major reasons why pro players cannot make it to a game. Thus, having a physical therapist is a valuable factor in keeping these athletes fit.

Sports Therapy VS Physical Therapy

There’s a very thin line setting the difference between a sports therapist to a physical therapist. We know that a physical therapist is a broader type of profession. They are the individuals we turn to if we have health-related conditions or medical problems that limit us to move, function, or perform daily life activities.

Also, they have a diverse client base making them suited for all ages. If you are looking for one to consult, places like PhyxMe provides a well-trained physical therapist to help and assist you with your case.

Whereas, sports therapy is a more specialized and focused form of practice. These experts’ practice is to provide comprehensive medical care for athletes. They are well-rounded when it comes to sports-related injuries, keeping the athletes active and ensuring they receive optimum care and assistance to keep them in shape. They are employed by many sports teams and closely work with the head athletic trainer.

Can a Physical Therapist Be a Sports Therapist?

That’s a question a lot of people have since the two professions are tightly knitted to each other, with few differences setting them apart. However, many physical therapists turn into a sports therapist, such as Denver Nuggets’ former physical therapist, Dr. Steve Short. They still retain the title of a physical therapist.

As per Dr. Short, athletic training education is a vital study if you are a PT who wishes to work with athletes. According to him, if he could turn back time, he wished to be trained, too. This kind of learning pathway will give a lot of advantages to the field you want to belong in. A floor-level of knowledge is vital for your profession.

Physical Therapists in the Sports Industry

If we go back to what physical therapist Dr. Steve Short has shared during his interview, physical therapists in the sports industry must put the patient as the number one priority. That means making all things possible to assist them and to put in place a good connection through communication.

Physical therapists’ primary roles are the following:

Injury Prevention

The sports industry is prone to all kinds of injuries, and one of the physical therapist responsibilities is injury prevention. Though injuries in sports are perceived to be unavoidable, there are specific ways to avoid or prevent them.

Injuries happen because our bodies have weak spots. Once the therapist detects these so-called weak spots, they can suggest specific movements that will reduce putting an impact on these specific body parts to avoid future injuries.

Fact: Physical therapists also perform functional testing. This is a process where athletes are assessed through a series of routines to detect their specific weaknesses and pains. Through this testing, PTs have fundamental ideas on how to help every athlete improve their performance.

Injury Rehabilitation

Since injuries are unavoidable, even with extreme injury prevention measures, the physical therapist plays a vital role in injury rehabilitation.

Injury rehab or recovery is a much-needed process athletes must undergo. The injury rehabilitation time frame depends on the severity of the injury the athlete has taken. But the primary role of the physical therapist is to assist the patient and speed up the recovery process.

One of their practices includes reducing pain by doing a specific movement to help increase blood flow. Through this, patients achieve natural healing, thus, speeding up the recovery phase.

Furthermore, since athletes take a break from strenuous training, the physical therapist can also advise muscle build up during the recovery. This is to ensure that the athlete won’t lose their muscle strength even while rehabilitating.

Improved Mobility

Ever think of why athletes are very agile in the field or the court? This is all due to specific training for them to improve their mobility. Though some athletes are naturally-born with high-level physical abilities, all of it is improved, even more, allowing them to show top-class athletic performance.

Physical therapists work on your muscle improvement. One is muscle stretching. This specific exercise reduces stress on your muscles, which grants you an extended range of motion. Next time you wonder why NFL quarterbacks run so fast, it’s thanks to their physical therapists.

Physical therapists are valued members of professional sports

We all know the late Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. We thank them for giving us great basketball games and experiences. However, we don’t know that one of the people behind their greatness is their head physical therapist Dr. Judy Seto. LAL’s secret weapon, Dr. Seto, worked for the Lakers for 20 years, treating, assisting, and improving their players.

According to Dr. Seto’s NBA experience, working with pro players not only includes training them but also making quick decisions. He relates to what happened to Bryant during the All-Star Game, where Bryant suffered a concussion.

Another brilliant physical therapist in the world of pro sports is Seattle Seahawks’ Michael Tankovich. Tankovich practices dry needling as he believes that it can offer a longer-lasting relief effect than manual therapy. He has worked and treated pro players and mostly uses the approach in treating injured athletes.

Tankovich was with the Seahawks when they won the Super Bowl 2014.

Takeaway

Health is always a person’s prized possession. The saying goes, “health is wealth” is entirely accurate, especially for athletes whose health is the primary factor in keeping their profession. Fortunately, physical therapists are present. Their role in professional sports is highly valued.

Author’s bio:

Melissa Bell is a content writer and copywriter who specializes in fitness, lifestyle, and health. She’s known for being a health junkie, and is crazy about yoga, tea, biology, and self-help books.