What is Osteopathy and how can an Osteopath treat and help prevent sports injuries?

By Malcolm | 28th November 2016 |

An Osteopath can help improve performance as well as treat the injuries being suffered. By using their knowledge of diagnosis and highly developed palpatory skills they can help to restore structural balance, improve joint mobility and reduce adhesionsand soft tissue restrictions so that ease of movement is restored and performance enhanced.

For those into sports, an Osteopath can help you keep supple and improve muscle tone reducing the risk of injury to soft tissues unaccustomed to the extra work they are being asked to do. Advice on diet and exercise which will help you with yourspecific sport may also be offered.

To qualify, an Osteopath must study for four to five years for an undergraduate degree. This is similar to a medical degree, with more emphasis on anatomy and musculoskeletal medicine and includes more than 1,000 hours of training in osteopathictechniques.By law, Osteopaths must register with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) which sets competency, conduct and safety standards and promotes them. It isan offence for anyone to call themselves an Osteopath if they are not registered with the GOsC.

Institute of Osteopathy logo
The Institute of Osteopathy, the professional body for osteopaths in the UK says;“Osteopaths provide a personal and effective approach to the care for sports people competing at both an amateur or professional level. We are seeing increasing numbers of osteopaths working at the highest level of elite sports, including at the recent Olympics and at many professional sports clubs. So whether you are a professional or weekend runner, your osteopath can provide the highest quality of advice and care to enable you to enjoy your sport!”
Osteopathic Sports Care Association Logo
There is also the Osteopathic Sports Care Association and their chairman Simeon Milton describes their role as "OSCA has worked for 20 years to provide routes into sports for Osteopaths by wayof advance clinical practice/mentoring, education and promotion of OsteopathicSports Care for amateur through to elite level."
Find your nearest Osteopath at www.sportsinjuryfix.com
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