What is a Sports Physiotherapist?
Is a Sports Physiotherapist different from a normal Physiotherapist?
An APA Sports Physiotherapist is a fully qualified professional with expert knowledge & skills in the prevention, diagnosis & treatment of sports injuries.
An APA Sports Physiotherapist has completed the normal undergraduate university studies of four years just like a normal physiotherapist. In addition, the APA Sports Physiotherapist has undertaken further university studies specifically in the management of sports injuries. This includes a comprehensive knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, crisis management, assessment & treatment of joint & muscle conditions.
Sports Physiotherapists are first contact practitioners. This means that a doctors referral is not necessary to consult a Sports Physiotherapist, although you may need one for Workcover or for some Sports insurances.
An APA Sports Physiotherapist can
- optimise your return to sport after injury
- resolve chronic or recurrent injuries& prevent further injury
- enhance your sporting performance & sports technique
- increase your flexibility, muscle control & strength
An APA Sports Physiotherapists are highly trained & experienced in
- crisis management, enabling them to take immediate care of injuries on the field
- providing skilled diagnosis of sporting injuries
- correcting muscle imbalances & posture
- prescribing exercise programs for specific injuries
- biomechanical analysis of sports technique to improve sports performance & prevent injury
- providing education about injury management, prevention & maximising sporting performance
- designing stretching programs for teams & individuals
- advising on appropriate warmup, cool down & recovery programs
- providing pre-season musculoskeletal screening & injury prevention programs
- the provision & coordination of sports physiotherapy coverage at sporting events from club to elite competitions
APA Sports Physiotherapists work closely with coaches & exercise scientists to ensure a coordinated approach to optimise your performance. They also liaise with other members of the health care team including medical practitioners, dieticians & podiatrists.
