Understanding the Role of Physiotherapy in a Swimmer’s Life
Sarrica PT performs different types of physiotherapy techniques that treat swimming injuries.
Let's learn more about how physiotherapy helps swimmers. Written by guest blogger David Williams.
Swimming is an enjoyable activity. However, the downside of the sport is the likelihood of being injured. Anyone who is swimming is prone to injury. While newbies taking their swimming lessons can get hurt, professionals in the field are also susceptible to injuries. One study shows that injuries in competitive swimmers are indeed common. Swimmers are likely to injure their neck, shoulders, and even their knees. These injuries are mostly due to overtraining, poor core strength or stability, or simply not having enough rest periods. Sarrica PT performs different types of physiotherapy techniques that treat swimming injuries. Let's learn more about how physiotherapy helps swimmers.
Benefits of Physiotherapy to Swimmers
Physiotherapists play a role in the life of athletes of all ages and ability levels. Aside from performing various types of treatments, they also provide athletes with evidence-based advice on performing better at their sport. If you are a swimmer or any athlete, here are some of the things you can benefit from physiotherapists:
Enhances Physical Strength
Swimming is fun, but constant training can also take out all of your energy. Physiotherapists can help you regain your strength. With their help, you may also take higher levels of physical pressure swimming may require.
Improves Flexibility of Joint and Muscle
To achieve maximum power and speed in swimming, your body should be able to produce an incredible range of motion in your joints. Flexibility improves body posture and the relationship between the length of the muscles and the level of tension the muscles can exert. Physiotherapists can help you achieve the level of flexibility needed in swimming.
Prevents and Treats Injuries
Physiotherapists can assess your strengths and limitations and craft a custom fitness plan to achieve your goals in swimming. The plan also prevents cramps, muscle strains, and torn ligaments that lead to injuries. In case of injury, they will find the most suitable treatment options to help with pain and discomfort.
Helps in Recovery
After being treated for an injury, it is important to rehabilitate our bodies. Rehabilitation allows us to come back stronger than we have ever been. Physiotherapists create rehabilitation programs tailored to every individual’s unique situation to help them recover quickly and efficiently.
What Types of Treatments Physiotherapists Use for Swimming Injuries?
Physiotherapy has a lot of different treatment approaches. Sports physiotherapy is especially focused on helping athletes, including swimmers. These are some of the physiotherapy treatments that can help you with your swimming injuries:
Joint Mobilization
This kind of physiotherapy treatment uses skilled graded forces to move a joint in a specific direction. The technique is concentrated on the capsule of the joint itself. The gentle gliding of the joint improves motion and normalizes joint function. With this treatment, swimmers can say goodbye to pain, tension, and muscle spasms.
Joint Manipulation
In this approach, physiotherapists apply pressure on their hands and perform a quick thrust at the joint’s anatomical end range. Manipulating the joint stretches and realigns muscle, scar tissue, ligament, and the joint capsule itself. In addition to decreased pain, it improves one’s range of motion and functional mobility, which is beneficial to swimmers.
Myofascial Release
This physiotherapy technique treats individuals who have sensitivity and tightness in their myofascial tissues. These tissues wrap, connect and support the muscles. The physiotherapist locates the stiff myofascial tissues during the therapy and proceeds with focused manual pressure and stretching to loosen up the person’s restricted movement. The therapy helps in reducing the pain.
Soft Tissue Release
The body’s soft tissues, such as the ligaments, muscles, fascia, and tendon, are likely to gain acute and chronic injuries. The tissues can acquire adhesions and scarring, resulting in loss of strength, function, and mobility. In a soft tissue release, physiotherapists perform the same stretch on a certain muscle to break down muscle adhesions and boost blood flow.
Cross-Friction Scar Mobilization
When we get injured, the body repairs the damaged tissue and creates scar tissue. This mix of cells and collagen cover the specific injury site. Physiotherapists perform this scar massage to treat muscle strains, ligament sprains, and tendonitis. The method is done within five to ten minutes using one or two fingers to massage along the scar line.
Acupuncture
This method is part of the Traditional Chinese medicine ancient practice. Physiotherapists apply very thin needles at strategic parts of the body. Acupuncture can relieve swimmers' pain from their necks and lower backs.
Entrust Your Swimming Injuries to a Physiotherapist
Injuries are part of any sport, no matter how careful you are. Trained swimmers still get injured now and then. When this happens, go to Sarrica Physical Therapy & Wellness Center. Its physiotherapists are dedicated to alleviating pain from injury and improving your performance. They perform various kinds of manual therapy techniques and individualized exercises. Please schedule an appointment with them today!
