Sports injuries/diminished performance

The body is essentially a bio-mechanical machine designed to allow us to move but any sporting activity tests this machinery to its limits depending on which sport and the level of competition.

The job of an osteopath is to assess the function of the body mechanically and identify and correct any areas of increased stress and strain that leads to an abnormal mechanical function. This can often manifest as a persistently recurring injury, especially in the region of the hamstring muscles, shoulders elbows or knees, which seems to get better with physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment and rest, only to return again as soon as you increase the intensity of training. Equally there may be no pain but as the structure is continually being put under undue stress, increased fatigue can result which decreases the efficiency of the muscles that adversely affect performance, no matter how hard you train.

There is good evidence for the efficiency of osteopathic treatment for back pain shoulder pain, tennis elbow, knee pain (patella femoral) and planter fasciitis.* An osteopath can make sure you are working in tip-top condition and by working very closely with our exercise rehabilitation practitioner we can ensure that you are training correctly and that all the muscle groups are in balance and the joints are free to work to their best ability during your sporting activity, whether it's golf, tennis or marathon running – We aim to give you an unfair advantage over your opposition!

*Effectiveness of manual therapies: the UK evidence report. Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2010, 18:3 doi:10.1186/1746-1340-18-3 Article URL http://www.chiroandosteo.com/content/18/1/3