Sports physiotherapy in Helsinki- Physiotherapy for athletes and active people!
Sports physiotherapy is a special field of physiotherapy that focuses on the prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries in athletes and active people. A sports physiotherapist is familiar with the requirements of different sports and the specific characteristics of training, which are important to take into account when planning rehabilitation or prevention. In sports, the load on various structures of the body is many times greater than in everyday exercise, and the repetitive nature of the load can expose the athlete to acute and stress injuries.
The goal of sports physiotherapy is to work together with the athlete to maximize their healthy training days and optimize their functional abilities. Sports physiotherapists may collaborate closely with coaches to achieve these objectives.
When an athlete sustains an injury, sports physiotherapy aims to facilitate their safe and speedy return to full competition while minimizing the impact on their physical capabilities. Optimizing tissue healing processes, reducing the risk of re-injury, enhancing or maintaining performance during the rehabilitation period, and collaborating with the coach are crucial components of high-quality sports rehabilitation.
Is sports physiotherapy suitable for me?
Sports physiotherapy is suitable for anyone who wants to prevent acute and chronic injuries related to sports or is currently experiencing sports-related injuries. While it is particularly important for professional athletes and individuals who engage in sports actively and with specific goals, people of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to seek our help. Assessing an individual’s capacity to meet the demands of a particular sport can be a valuable tool for those considering starting a new sport to avoid excessive strain too quickly.
Typical clients who seek the expertise of a sports physiotherapist include:
- Active individuals who want to optimize their performance and prevent the occurrence of overuse injuries, allowing them to continue their sport at full capacity.
- Individuals suffering from sports-related stress injuries. These injuries can be recurring conditions or new problems that have arisen for the first time.
- Individuals undergoing rehabilitation for acute injuries who require the support of a professional who understands the sport’s demands in planning their rehabilitation and return to sports.
- Postoperative conditions and rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation of stress and sport injuries
People who exercise a lot and play sports are prone to various stress and sports injuries. Especially top-level and goal-oriented athletes often push their bodies to the limit when striving for their own record or peak performance in their sport. In this case, various injuries are unfortunately common. An injured athlete is often very eager to return to their sport or hobby quickly, that could result in re-injury or in the worst case, a cycle of injuries. Certain physiological healing processes cannot be accelerated, and in this case, professional guidance and a rehabilitation plan are often essential.
Most strain-related injuries are caused by excessive or one-sided loading in relation to the tissue’s carrying capacity. Muscles, tendons and bones require rest after exercise to adapt to the exercise. If the next exercise always comes too early, the tissue does not have time to recover and the result is a strain injury. However, this is a slightly simplified explanation and many other things, such as nutrition, sleep and other stress-causing factors, are also factors. This is why we always take an person-centered approach into account in our rehabilitation.
During rehabilitation, it is important for us to have the athlete moving immediately. This does not mean that risks are taken with rehabilitation, but that the time available is used to advantage by improving other qualities and possible weaknesses in addition to rehabilitating the injury itself, if this is possible. After a well-done rehabilitation, the athlete can return to their sport even stronger and better.
When building a rehabilitation plan, it is important that all parties involved in the rehabilitation, including the athlete, are on the same page with the treatment. We always strive to actively discuss with the sports coach, doctor and other treatment personnel, always keeping the athlete’s best interests in mind.
Rehabilitation naturally includes post-surgery rehabilitation. We have been operating in the field for years, and now, with the help of new facilities and equipment, we are able to handle rehabilitation from start to finish in the same office.
Typical stress and sports injuries that we treat:
- Tendon problems, such as tendinitis, tendinosis, or tendon ruptures
- Ligament injuries, such as anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, collateral ligaments of the knee, ankle ligament injuries, or labrum, i.e. cartilage ring injuries, operated or injured shoulders
- Muscle tissue tears
- Bursitis
Book your appointment today if you need quality sports physiotherapy for your situation!
We recommend booking your first appointment for a minimum of 60 minutes to allow sufficient time for assessment.
You can book an appointment for sports physiotherapy at both the Punavuori and Kamppi branches. In Punavuori, you’ll find expertise widely available to support athletes and active individuals across various sports.
Physiotherapists
Sports Physiotherapist
