Whether you're an athlete looking to get back in the game after an injury, or just seeking relief from chronic aches and pains, sports therapy may be the answer. On this page, you'll find some of our most frequently asked questions about our sports therapy services.
We hope to answer any queries you have below, but if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out and ask a member of the team!
FAQs
Should I see a Sports Therapist or Physiotherapist?
Patients often ask, "why should I see a Sports Therapist and not a Physiotherapist?". Both Sports Therapists and Physiotherapists are highly educated in musculoskeletal injuries, employing a mixture of hands-on treatment modalities (such as sports massage and joint mobilisations), rehabilitation and patient education to focus on restoring, maintaining and maximising movement, relieving pain and increasing quality of life.
In general, a Physiotherapist will view patients with the aim of returning them to normal day-to-day activities. Sports Therapists, however, generally view patients with the aim of returning them to physical and/or sports and exercise activity. There is obviously a lot of room for nuance within those general position statements - a Sports Therapist will often treat sedentary individuals in the same way that a Physiotherapist would treat athletes. Our Sports Therapists at seventy9 Sports Therapy combine knowledge from the fields of biomechanics, strength and conditioning and physiology whilst assessing and diagnosing the injury, rehabilitating and prescribing preventative programmes.
There is no right or wrong answer to the question. The best practice is to choose a therapist based on their individual experience and expertise. You can find out more about our team here
What are the results and benefits of sports massage?
Any soft tissue technique aims to improve the mobility and function of the affected tissue. That may see an increase in joint range of movement, an improvement in the recruitment of a muscle, an increase in space to make better shapes for athletic movements, or an improvement in awareness and understanding of posture. With many patients, we also have to look at the bigger picture and align good sports massage with some take-home exercises to aid in achieving our goals.
That said if you are not injured but just looking for a sports massage to help relax you, our aim is also to achieve that!
What are the different sports massage techniques?
Sports massage techniques are based on Swedish massage techniques, with effleurage (smooth, gliding strokes) being the main technique we use. Additionally, we mix in structure-specific techniques such as trigger point therapy and myofascial release, as well as stretching techniques like PNF.
Can I pay via insurance?
Unfortunately, we cannot receive payment directly from health insurers at this time. It is well worth checking with them, however, as some will pay out retrospectively direct to you.
Should I see my GP first?
In the main, for musculoskeletal injuries, a musculoskeletal specialist such as our team at seventy9 Sports Therapy would be the first port of call for a musculoskeletal injury.
Generally, a GP is likely to refer you to see a musculoskeletal specialist for assessment and formulation of a treatment and rehabilitation plan. We are able to refer on to orthopaedic specialists and imaging via your GP if our diagnostic procedures deem this necessary.
Is a sports massage right for me?
You don’t need to be injured to benefit from a sports massage!
Sports massage techniques can be beneficial for managing and treating injuries but are also great during training or competition to help keep your body in top condition.
But don’t forget, sports massage isn’t just for athletes! If you are finding discomfort or stiffness from sitting in the office or driving, a sports massage can help you too!
What is a sports massage like?
Sports massage is unfairly characterised as an incredibly painful experience.
In reality, sports massage therapists - such as our team at seventy9 Sports Therapy - should only be working as heavily as your relaxation tolerance, i.e. you should be able to relax the muscle we are working on at all times during the sports massage.
That said, there will be associated discomfort with a sports massage if the area we are treating is in a reactive state. At all times, we will do our best to work within these parameters and leave you walking away feeling more mobile.
What payment methods do you take?
We accept all major cards, including American Express, as well as Apple Pay, Android Pay and Google Pay. We no longer accept cash or cheques. Payment is to be made at the end of each appointment.
Why should I book an appointment at seventy9 Sports Therapy?
Our musculoskeletal specialists focus on placing your injury/dysfunction in context, working with you collaboratively to improve function and return you to daily activities/exercise/sport at whatever level you compete. We understand the difference between elite athletes and sedentary individuals. Still, we also have the underpinning knowledge to adjust our templates and protocols for you as an individual to achieve your goals.
We have experience working with elite athletes from rugby, football, tennis, cricket, athletics, marathon and ultra-marathon, kayaking, cycling, squash, triathlon and ironman, swimming, climbing, modern pentathlon, golf, fencing, CrossFit, badminton and alpine skiing, as well as individuals from all branches of the armed forces, and blend this experience base to provide treatment to patients from all walks of life, regardless of circumstance.
Our job has always been, and will always be, a focus on your improvement.
What should I expect from a visit to seventy9 Sports Therapy?
Our first goal is to give you a diagnosis and put a name or description to your issue. Therefore we need to assess it. Even if you just think you’re stiff, we still want to know why this is an issue and set up some baseline details about the issue before treating it. A full assessment involves questions (subjective) and physical (objective) components. As education is an essential part of our job role, we will then take the time to explain in as much detail as we can what we’ve found and what that all means, as well as to answer any questions you might have. We will also outline what the plan is in as much detail as we can.
We will then treat the injury using our broad musculoskeletal skillset, followed by teaching you any exercises that may form your rehabilitation plan. Our approach is firmly based on collaboration. Therefore, your rehabilitation plan will be formatted to align with your schedule. Whilst many of our rehabilitation models are based in elite/professional sports, we understand that adherence to good programming is more important than over-prescribing exercises - we would rather prescribe two exercises that you do well and consistently than six that you only do once or twice a week.
We will likely rebook a follow-up appointment where necessary to continue your treatment and rehabilitation plan, during which we will reassess the issue to track improvement before continuing to progress the treatment and rehabilitation plan (adjusting if required).
How much does an appointment cost?
Your first appointment would be 60 minutes at £58. This is to afford us time for a thorough assessment as well as for effective treatment and rehabilitation.
Follow-up appointments are 45 minutes as standard at £48, though there is the option for 60-minute follow-ups at £58 (especially for sports massage appointments).
Ready to find out more?
Get in touch today to find out how we can help you.