Athletic Therapy
What is Athletic Therapy?
Athletic Therapy (AT) is a healthcare profession that blends the latest evidence-based research with hands-on clinical experience. Certified Athletic Therapists are highly trained on injury prevention, assessment, and management, and treatment of injuries related to physical activity, sports, and posture. AT’s work with individuals of all ages and abilities to help them recover from injuries, prevent future injuries, improve their over all athletic performance and work. At Osteo+ our Athletic Therapist specializes in the prevention, assessment, and management of musculoskeletal injuries, as well as postural imbalances, posture correction, and corrective/supportive taping.
How to prepare for treatment?
Fill out the online intake form prior to your first visit and make an online profile.
If you have any diagnostic image reports (x-ray, ultrasound, MRI), please upload to your online profile/ bring a copy to your appointment.
Wear loose comfortable clothing that you can move around easily in. (loose pants, shorts and shirt are best) some people bring a workout bag with gym clothes and a water bottle.
Avoid eating a big meal 2-3 hours before treatment.
Arrive on time so that you can benefit from the full length of your appointment.
After any treatment, it is encouraged to hydrate the body, get plenty of sleep, and if you choose to exercise keep it gentle: take a walk, stretch, gentle yoga. Epsom salt baths are also encouraged for muscle relaxation and detoxification.
What to expect?
Assessment: The therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation of your injury, including a review of your medical history and a physical examination. The therapist will ask questions about the nature of the injury, how it happened, and any symptoms you are experiencing.
Clinical Impression: Based on the assessment, the therapist will develop a treatment plan.
Treatment: Treatment may include various techniques such as manual therapy, soft tissue mobilization, stretching, and strengthening exercises. The therapist may also use modalities such as heat or cold therapy, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound to help manage pain and promote healing.
Rehabilitation: The therapist will develop a rehabilitation program to help you recover from your injury and regain your strength and flexibility. This may involve exercises to improve your range of motion, reduce swelling and pain, and prevent re-injury.
Education: The therapist will educate you on how to prevent future injury from reoccurring, and how to manage your injury, including providing advice on activities to avoid, recommended exercises and techniques for pain management, and information on the expected timeline for recovery.
Follow-up: The therapist will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.
The number and frequency of sessions required varies depending on the injury or condition. Our Athletic Therapists do not diagnose or practice medicine, nor do we attempt to treat disease. If you are concerned about any medical pathology and /or disease, always consult your physician prior to exploring AT treatment.
Overall, the goal of athletic therapy treatment is to help you recover from your injury, manage pain, and improve your overall physical function so you can safely return to your sport or activity as soon as possible
What Can I expect after the treatment?
You may experience tenderness in some muscles or joints, but not everyone experiences these effects.
Depending on the modalities used during your treatment, you may feel some relief after treatment if analgesic (pain-relieving) modalities were used, but experience an increase in pain several hours later - this is to be expected and is totally normal!
You may find that you feel more pain or discomfort in the days following treatment, but remember that healing is non-linear and sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better! It’s normal and to be expected.
If pain persists after several days and seems to be getting worse, or spreading or different, let your therapist know.
This depends on many factors including what areas of the body are treated, the mobilizations being performed, the state of your body’s inflammation, hormonal cycle and emotional states, as well as the nature of your injury.