Rehabilitation or rehab after injury is a very common reason why people see a physiotherapist. But have you ever heard of prehabiliative physiotherapy?
Prehab is a continuously evolving personalised exercise program. It provides sports specific focused exercises and activities for a client’s needs.
Why is Prehab Necessary?
The purpose of prehab is simple – to prevent injuries. In other words, it should be done before any injuries occur.
You might be surprised to know that the vast majority of injuries are due to the overuse and imbalance of muscles., called chronic injuries. Sudden injuries caused by an impact or through an accident, called acute injuries, occur far less often.
Imbalances in the body occur naturally with any type of physical activity. These muscle imbalances can change our body’s normal functions and can trigger other parts of the body to overcompensate. This means that these imbalances can worsen and lead to injury if they are not properly and quickly addressed.
What is the Focus of a Prehab Program?
The ultimate goal of prehabiliative physiotherapy is to improve the body’s overall function.
It aims to balance the entire body. Namely, the left and right, front and back, and upper to lower body.
It also balances the range of motion, core strength, coordination, and stabilisation of the hips, back and abdominals.
In fact, at the very core of prehab is…the core! It focuses on learning to control the position of your trunk including the spine and pelvis. Core instability and control is common and often due to a lack of a proper training program. Without a strong core, neutral spine control and correct movement patterns one’s risk of injury increases significantly.
Who Should Do a Prehabiliative Physiotherapy Treatment?
The short answer is everyone!
Prehab is suitable for both men and women, and at any level of fitness. In fact, overuse injuries and muscle imbalances are more likely to be caused by spending long hours sitting at a desk, rather than on a sporting field.
Because a physiotherapist will give prehabiliative treatment to prevent any injuries, you do not need to have pains or niggles. In fact, a prehab appointment can potentially save you from needing a lot of physio appointments in the future.
Prehab is also recommended to people before undergoing surgery. Prehab conditions the body prior to the procedure to maximise the rehabilitative process. It will also minimise any loss of function during the early stages of recovery.
How Prehabiliative Physiotherapy Will Enhance your Physical Performance
- It builds strength or proficiency in movement patterns. This in turn creates a stable platform for the body to produce power.
- It works to better speed, agility and quality of movement. This will lead to an overall improvement in skill.
- It focuses on strengthening smaller muscles or muscles that work together (anterior or posterior slings) that in turn creates stability.
- Exercises and techniques are individually tailored. Professional athletes will have a more complex program than those who play sport recreationally.
- A prehab program is every changing to meet the needs of the athlete and match his or her progress.
Contact Functional Physio Qld today to book in a prehabilitative program.
