Treatments at the service of athletes
Physical activity has countless benefits, but it also risks. Rescue treatments.
Written by Leon Rene de Cotrette
The scientific evidence abounds: physical activity and sport are undoubtedly excellent for health, well-being and happiness...but exercising has its share of risks, whether they are too much or too bad. or the “most insidious danger” of enthusiastically embarking on a new activity, only to give up after a few weeks or months, due to lack of time, energy, motivation, or pleasure.
Fortunately, there are a wide range of treatments to deal with these risks, and thus prevent or treat injuries and discomfort; Self-motivation and perseverance. As well as improving its performance.
prevent
To prevent injuries, it is of course recommended to warm up immediately before doing intense physical activity. But, in the long run, there are several methods, grouped under the name of physical education, that make it possible to improve flexibility, strengthen muscles, enhance coordination and awareness of the body, as well as facilitate relaxation, and prevent all factors of injury.
Practices such as Tai Ji Quan and Qi Gong provide the same type of benefits and also aim to develop focus, balance, endurance and self-control.
Finally, techniques that emphasize posture and movement rehabilitation, such as Rolfing and Hellerwork, can be helpful. In fact, if the body structure is harmoniously aligned and the movements are smooth, the risk of sports injuries will be reduced accordingly.
medicine
Multiple massage therapy techniques are important allies for athletes with pain. Massage therapists are often part of the nursing staff on professional sports teams. In addition to providing immediate relief, the massage is soothing and invigorating, it also reduces stress, especially in the case of lymphatic drainage, it improves blood and lymph circulation, and this colorless liquid that nourishes and cleanses cells, accounts for 15% of body weight.
Manual therapies such as chiropractic and applied kinesiology, as well as orthopedic and epiphysis therapy are particularly useful in treating problems of the musculoskeletal system. The latter two seek to return to the original causes of malaise. Thus, the practitioner can discover that the tendonitis or back pain caused by exercise has a deeper origin (accumulated stress, old injury, etc.) and treat it accordingly. It is used by many athletes and dancers. Acupuncture is also recommended for treating musculoskeletal problems, especially to relieve chronic back and joint pain.
When it comes to sprains, tendinitis, sciatica, and bursitis that attack connective tissue, fasciitis treatments can be of great support. Toning the fascia and restoring its natural movement will make it possible to prevent these effects or support their treatment. (Fascia is a thin, fibrous, malleable membrane that wraps, supports, and connects all structures in the body.)
Note that all of these methods can also be applied in prevention.
Persevere and improve your performance
We know that physical activity is one of the best and least expensive ways to stay healthy; However, the statistics are relentless: we don't exercise enough. The reasons for this discrepancy are manifold and complex. They are external - lack of time, money, and facilities - and internal - lack of motivation, attention, and will.
Fortunately, there are ways to motivate yourself, strengthen your will, make physical activity a priority, and break out of the frustrating vicious cycle: "I don't exercise, so I'm less fit and more tired; I'm too tired, so I don't exercise." It is interesting to note that these means are often used by top athletes and weekend athletes to maximize their performance.
Psychological therapies, especially psychosomatic therapies (organic psychoanalysis, bioenergetics, Jin Shin Do, positivism, integrated body psychotherapy, Radix, Rubenfeld synergy), can help us free ourselves from what prevents us from taking action. Or what makes us always give up our practice after a few weeks ... Several techniques can be used, which make it possible to manage stress, gain better personal control and strengthen one's will, such as meditation, visualization, hypnotherapy, psychology and self-training. Most are easy to learn, inexpensive and provide benefits beyond sports.
Techniques primarily aimed at maximizing intellectual or occupational performance, as well as sports, such as NLP and coaching, can also enhance basic motivation and help keep it alive.
Finally, remember that research shows that even a small increase in physical activity has major health benefits and that regular bouts of exercise of no more than ten minutes are indeed very profitable 1 .