In this blog, BSc Sports Therapy students, Rosina and Ryan, share their reasons for choosing Sports Therapy over Physiotherapy, from addressing the root causes of sports injuries to supporting athletes both physically and mentally on their journey back to peak condition.
Why did you choose Sports Therapy rather than Physiotherapy?
Ryan: Some people focus on rehabilitating the general public, helping them recover from injuries and illnesses. However, when working with athletes, you're dealing with individuals who are at an exceptional level of performance. Even in lower league sports, these athletes are still incredibly talented, and you can help them return to their peak. Sometimes, they may have seen other professionals but haven't received the right treatment or support. When they come to you and you can identify the root cause and develop an effective rehab plan, it's truly rewarding to be part of their journey and witness the positive impact you've made.
Rosina: Physiotherapy is broad and focused on seeing everyday injuries. For example, an elderly person might want help for back pain, while sports therapy is more focused on sports-related injuries and performance. We also address the psychological impact of injury. When athletes get injured, they go from being at their peak to sometimes struggling just to walk, which affects them both mentally and physically. There are mental obstacles in the rehabilitation process, such as the fear of performing a movement that caused the injury. It is our role to adapt rehabilitation exercises to support both physical and mental recovery, helping to rebuild the athlete’s confidence and progress in their recovery.
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What sport would you love to work with, and is there specific support Sports Therapists can offer athletes in that field?
Rosina: My favourite sports are field hockey and F1. People don’t realise it takes a lot of physical strength to keep still and keep your heads still against the headrest when you’re an F1 driver. Otherwise, their heads bash against the car, which can cause concussion and other issues. So, you can work with an F1 driver on their neck to strengthen it, so it doesn't move as much. They can lift 40 even 50 kg with just their neck which shows you how much they train.
Ryan: Ice hockey is a similar sort of thing. You're going at extreme paces, so a lot of the time it's a lot of collision-based injuries such as fractures. And then the players also need a lot of leg power. You have these people that can zoom around on NHL-sized rinks in a matter of 11-odd seconds. When you see it in person you realise just how quick they are and how tall they are. The sheer power of them is awesome!