You’ve probably heard the word ‘athletic therapy’ thrown around in recent years. Almost every professional sports team has one. For instance, major NHL and NFL teams have their own athletic therapists.
But what do athletic therapists do? Why are they such a critical piece to these sports teams’ success?
In truth, athletic therapy isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The field continues to expand and grow, gaining more interest and more applicants in accredited programs nation-wide. So, let’s take a closer look at certified athletic therapy and how it’s shaping the future of sports.
What is an Athletic Therapist?
An athletic therapist specializes in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of sports injuries and musculoskeletal disorders. In particular, they focus on these injuries and disorders in relation to athletes.
And they aren’t just around for when an athlete or a physically active individual injures themselves. It’s not all about rehab. Athletic therapists also place a huge emphasis on prehab – meaning they look at the body as whole. They then find and correct imbalances by addressing areas of weakness to improve musculature and strength. In turn, they prevent various injuries from occurring.
This can lead to long-term success of an athlete, as well as a long and healthy career. And this also means that coaches and fans don’t see their favourite all-star player fall victim to career-ending injury.
Athletic Therapy Is the Future
The future is here and now. Athletic therapists practice an approach that looks at a person’s health from a holistic perspective. It isn’t just about one body part or complaint of pain. An athletic therapist aims to discover the root cause and knows everything in the body is connected.
Through athletic therapy, ill health or injuries can be prevented in the future. In turn, this keeps individuals and athletes out of long-term care and rehabilitation facilities. It also keeps players and athletes in the game, with less time spent watching and waiting for an injury to heal.
Athletic therapists have already been involved in major sporting teams and events, including in the Olympics and on the professional playing field and ice. These teams and athletes rely on their athletic therapists to ensure they can safely perform their activities and optimize their performance – ultimately, leading to their overall success.
In addition to helping higher performance athletes, athletic therapists also deal with the general public. They can prevent and treat injuries relating to musculoskeletal systems and help a person get back to their regular activities. Consequently, athletic therapists are a critical part in helping some individuals achieve a happy and healthy life.
Should You See an Athletic Therapist?
Any physically active individual can benefit from an appointment with a certified athletic therapist. Whether you want to prevent an injury, improve your overall performance, or have recently suffered an injury, book an appointment today. At Athlete’s Choice Massage, we’re ready to help you get the most out of your life.
