416 Ilam Road, Fendalton, Christchurch 8052

Clinic Hours: Monday - Friday 7am - 8pm

416 Ilam Road, Fendalton, Christchurch 8052

Clinic Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-8pm

Osteopathy For Sports Injuries & Performance

Published by Better Health Osteopathy on 23 February 2020, Sports Injuries

Osteopathic treatment for sports injuries is experiencing a surge in popularity among various sporting professions in New Zealand. From elite athletes to weekend warriors, fitness enthusiasts, and even teenagers with sports injuries, there is a growing awareness of the benefits of using an Osteopath. At Better Health Osteopathy, we cater to a wide range of sporting enthusiasts, including rugby players, soccer players, martial artists, weightlifters, skiers, bikers, and runners.

Sports Injuries From An Osteopathic Perspective

The primary objectives of osteopathy in sports are as follows:

1. Treating sports injuries: Osteopathic treatment focuses on accurate diagnosis, effective pain management, and the development of personalised rehabilitation plans. We also provide advice on preventing further injuries and offer strategies to enhance sports performance. By addressing muscle and tissue imbalances, as well as joint mobility and alignment throughout the entire body, osteopaths consider the body as a whole and recognise that sports injuries often result from underlying imbalances and spinal restrictions.

2. Injury prevention and reoccurrence: Osteopathy aims to prevent injuries from occurring or reoccurring. By adopting a global view of the body and understanding its interconnectedness, osteopaths thoroughly investigate the root cause of problems and treat the underlying sources of injuries. This comprehensive approach reduces the risk of future injuries and facilitates a speedy recovery.

3. Improving sports performance: Osteopaths are increasingly sought after by high-level sporting professionals and teams to address injuries and improve performance. Osteopathy serves as both a remedial and preventative measure, ensuring that the body remains in optimal condition. By considering the body as a unit, osteopaths work towards minimising the risk of injury while enhancing overall athletic performance.

Osteopathy in sports has been successfully utilised in various high-profile events and with renowned athletes. For example, the England Soccer team brings its dedicated osteopath to events like the Football World Cup. Osteopaths have been spotted pitchside at Tennis Opens, such as Wimbledon, where they have treated injuries during games, including Roger Federer’s shoulder injury. Dedicated teams of osteopaths are often present at the Olympic Games, providing treatment to top athletes across different sports. Osteopaths have even extended their expertise to caring for NASA Astronauts in space.

Sports Injuries Suitable For Osteopathic Treatment

Numerous sports injuries are suitable for osteopathic treatment; these include but are not limited to:

How Will Osteopathy Help With My Sports Injury?

Osteopathic treatment will assist with your sports injury by alleviating pain and immediate symptoms, aiding in your recovery and rehabilitation, preventing further injuries, and working towards improving your long-term performance.

When you visit our Osteopaths at Better Health Osteopathy, you can expect a thorough case history and examination. We will explain your diagnosis and outline all available treatment options.

A customised treatment and rehabilitation program will be developed, which may include natural pain relief methods, ongoing osteopathic treatment, referrals for further diagnostic imaging if necessary (such as MRI, X-ray, or ultrasound), addressing other dysfunctions in your body that could impede healing, providing a rehabilitation plan, offering treatment and advice to prevent future sports injuries, and ultimately improving your overall sporting performance. Our goal is to help you return to your sport as quickly as possible while achieving your sporting goals.

If you are currently struggling with a sports injury, our highly qualified Osteopaths at Better Health Osteopathy in Christchurch are here to help you!

You can contact us at 027 755 5700 or book an appointment online. We are committed to assisting you in returning to peak performance.

Better Health Osteopathy

Lorraine Herity is the Clinic Director of Better Health Osteopathy in Christchurch, New Zealand. She previously worked in Osteopathic clinics in London and Ireland, before moving to New Zealand. Lorraine trained at the British School of Osteopathy in London, where she gained her Master of Osteopathy (M.Ost). Lorraine is a dedicated and passionate Osteopath. Her main aim is to help her patients regain their health and to return her patients back to their everyday activities, in as quick a time as possible. Lorraine is also a clinic tutor on the Osteopathic Course in Ara and relishes the opportunity to teach the next generation of osteopaths.