Physiotherapy Treatments
Physiotherapy & sports injury rehabilitation
Nic Costiff Physio is more than just physiotherapy treatment. Your initial assessment will involve a detailed examination of resting posture and movement patterns to help identify the source and cause of your pain/injury. Findings will then be explained to you as I believe that understanding your injury is key to your recovery. From here, a plan of treatment will be discussed with you in order to meet your lifestyle and goals.
I combine evidence-based physiotherapy techniques with strength and conditioning principles to help you reach their full potential whether it is in elite sports or simply moving to keep fit and active.
Massage and sports massage
Regular soft tissue massage contributes to recovery from sports and intense physical activity. These activities can cause increased muscle tone and can be felt as tightness within the muscle tissue. Competing or training with increased or abnormal muscle tone can have several effects on your physiology:
- Impaired oxygen and nutrient delivery to working muscles and reduced removal of waste products.
- Asymmetrical muscle tightness can contribute to biomechanical abnormalities which could lead to injury
- Increased tone also limits the extensibility and shock absorbency of muscle tissue and thus predisposes the tissue to strain
Sports massage helps to reduce muscle soreness associated with increased intensity, increases joint range of movement and increases the circulation to muscle tissue thus aiding recovery. Regular soft tissue massage also gives the physiotherapist the opportunity to identify areas of tightness which if left untreated may lead to injury.
At Physio & Rehab Nic combines soft tissue massage with other physiotherapy techniques including muscle energy techniques, neuromuscular stretching techniques and trigger point release to provide re-energizing soft tissue body work facilitating the environment for your body to perform at its best.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a medical tradition dating back to ancient times in China. Meridians and the flow of vital energy ‘Qi’ form its theoretical basis. In western society, Acupuncture has long been recognized as complementing the practice of physiotherapy. Nic has a post graduate certificate in acupuncture where he links the philosophies of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the theory and practice of western science in order to treat musculoskeletal conditions and sports injuries.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny single use needles into the skin to stimulate specific points along meridians within the body. This is thought to correct and rebalance the flow of “Qi” thereby reducing pain and restoring health . These needles may remain in place for upto 40 minutes but are often combined with physiotherapy treatment and are used for shorter periods of time.
Strength & Conditioning
In order to get the most from your physio and rehab, you will be given a strength and conditioning programme to ensure that you are able to carry on improving and reduce the incidence of your injury recurring.
Strength and conditioning involves functional movements targeting the whole kinetic chain to ensure that you are moving as efficiently as possible without stressing your joints or soft tissue.
I will be able to give you a bespoke training programme aimed at increasing performance in your particular sport or activity. Other benefits of strength and conditioning training include:
- All round body strength and robustness.
- Stronger and more efficient muscle and tendon units
- Increased speed and power for sport
- Efficient movement patterns, flexibility and posture
- Resilience against injury
- The ability to cope with increased demands upon your body
- Increased muscle size, cardiovascular fitness and wellbeing
Functional Screening
Physio & Rehab is about making you fit and keeping you that way. However, there are some steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting injured in the first place. Functional screening looks at how you move and identifies areas of muscle imbalance, tightness or weakness and poor patterns of movement which could all lead to musculoskeletal tissue overload and injury.
Simple movement tests within the clinic can assist in identifying these dysfunctions that may not be causing any pain but if excessively loaded could result in pain and time away from your activity. I can also observe your performance which may assist in identifying ways of increasing your movement efficiency which could lead to better results.
After a functional movement assessment, you will then be given an action plan with movement patterns and exercises to move better and perform better.