FOR ACTIVITY AND SPORTS
Keeping active for a healthy life
Taking part in sport or keeping fit can be rewarding, improve your health and reduce your risk of serious illnesses, such as heart problems, stroke or cancer. It can also help maintain your weight and improve your self-esteem.
It is common to feel some minor discomfort after training, as the body takes a little time to recover and adapt to the demands of activities. Soreness often quickly resolves itself but occasionally, may persist for more than a few days or make it difficult for you to continue your normal activities. In these instances, you may want to seek advice from an osteopath.
Advice for keeping injury free
Sport has become a way of life for many in the UK, with participants ranging from elite athletes to those who just want to keep fit. But what happens if you get an injury? Participating in sports too often or too hard may result in an injury.
Not warming up properly beforehand, or warm down and stretch after exercise may also result in strains. Using inappropriate equipment or wearing the wrong footwear may, likewise, hinder your performance. An unresolved injury, which might not even be related to sport, can make it difficult to even get started.
Osteopathic care
Osteopathic care is based on the individual needs of the patient and so varies depending on your occupation, age, fitness levels and diagnosis.
How can osteopathy help?
Osteopaths provide a wide range of gentle hands-on techniques, often used with rehabilitation exercise and helpful advice, together with strapping or taping, all of which are designed to relieve pain, help you return to normal activity levels and keep you there. The good news is that although sports injuries are common, those who are active and have experience of following exercise routines may find they recover more quickly and easily from their injuries.
What does osteopathic care and treatment involve?
Osteopathic care is based on the individual needs of the patient and so varies depending on age, fitness levels, lifestyle activities and diagnosis. Whether you are an amateur footballer, yoga fan, go to the gym once a week or are planning a marathon, your osteopath will take into consideration the level of your activity or chosen sport, understand your goals and work with you to ensure you maintain the best of health. As well as treating injuries, osteopaths may offer advice about optimal nutrition or suggest a sport-specific diet.
Research and Evidence
You can find more on the evidence and research in osteopathic practice from the National Council of Osteopathic Research.