What's the Difference Between a Sports Therapist and a Physical Therapist?
If you have a musculoskeletal injury and require rehabilitation, then you may be in the market for a specialist who can support you. Often, injured athletes will turn either to a sports therapist or a physical therapist for their rehabilitation needs. Since these two types of specialists have slightly different skill sets, here are some ways that you can decide which one you need.
They Have a Different Focus
The primary goals of a physical therapist and a sports therapist may be different. A physical therapist's goal is to make sure that a patient is functional enough to cope with their daily life. For instance, pain reduction and functional exercises may be a focus. The physical therapist's goal is to rehabilitate the patient so that they can achieve their daily movement goals while maintaining their comfort level.
A sports therapist's goal is to rehabilitate a patient so that they may resume their sport and reach the same or greater level of physical conditioning. This slight shift in mindset can make a difference in treatment goals.
Physical Therapists Are More Holistic
Physical therapy may also be beneficial because it is more focused on the holistic well-being of the musculoskeletal system and the individual. At the same time as you are working on rehabilitating a sports injury, your physical therapist may also be helping you to strengthen the rest of your musculoskeletal system to prevent other injuries. For instance, the physical therapist may notice problems with your posture that could lead to injury, and may decide to incorporate these into your treatment. Another time when physical therapy is the best idea is when you have multiple injuries or health conditions that can come into play. Since physical therapists treat patients in a wider range of health conditions, they may have a better skill set for dealing with complicated rehabilitations.
Sports Therapists Can Support Ongoing Training
In fact, both physical therapists and sports therapists can play a role in providing ongoing care to athletes. For instance, once your injury is rehabilitated, you might decide to continue seeing your care provider for regular assessments of your musculoskeletal health. Your specialist can assess the weaknesses in your current training plan and give you exercises to create a more holistic strengthening program. Some patients prefer to see sports therapists or physical therapists who specialize in sports medicine if this is their goal. While both practitioners can provide this care, the added sports focus is a helpful qualification.
Contact a professional such as Physical Therapy Center PC for more information.