In addition to performance enhancement and injury prevention, sports physiotherapy focuses on injury treatment and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation will help you to return to the functional capacity you had before the injury or even better.
With perfect execution and consistency on your part, you won't have to wait too long before you can see the results of your rehabilitation plan. Here are some tips to help you stick with the plan and, ultimately, get the most out of it.
Trust the Experts
Your sports physiotherapist will consider several factors when designing your rehabilitation plan and will tailor it for your specific circumstances and meet your goals. The years of training and experience your physiotherapist has should give you the confidence that you are in the right hands. Trust that the plan is precisely what is right for you. You will be motivated to stick to it, knowing you can achieve your goals through the program.
Understand Your Plan
Every good sports physio expert will make educating you about the rehabilitation plan a priority. You will better commit to what you understand, so ensure you take the time to learn and understand all there is to your rehabilitation plan.
The physiotherapist will explain to you the exercises in your plan, how to safely do them, and how to go about making modifications, if necessary. Most importantly, the physiotherapist will explain the benefits of these exercises towards promoting recovery, reversing any impairment and restoring your functional capacity. Be sure to freely ask as many questions as you have at any of your sports physio sessions.
Give Feedback
Always keep track of your progress as you continue with your rehabilitation plan. Update your physiotherapist on this progress and improvements, if any, during your subsequent sports physio sessions.
Is your joint mobility getting any better? Do the exercises aggravate your pain? This information will help the physiotherapist to adjust your plan accordingly so you can stay on the trajectory to a faster recovery.
Give it Time
You may not notice an improvement after the first or second sports physio session. Don't let this make you give up on your rehab plan. Understand that results may take time, and while it may have taken someone else only a couple of sessions, you may have to wait a little longer. Keep your goals in mind and work towards them.
Rehabilitation plans work, especially if you are committed and consistent. The outlined tips will help you get the best from your rehab plan and sports physio sessions.
