We all love playing sports. Sport allows us to express ourselves to the fullest. No matter your athletic level, you constantly push yourself to get the best possible results.
Along the way, you may pick up niggles and injuries, which are a part of sport but that may affect your ability to play.
When this happens, coaches, teams, athletes, and parents turn to physiotherapists to help athletes get back to what they love doing - playing sports.
But what is physiotherapy? And what is the role of a Physiotherapist?
I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Mete Cheung, a sports physiotherapist based at The Hong Kong Sports Clinic.
The Hong Kong Sports Clinic was founded by Physiotherapist Joseph March and is situated in Central. One of the leading sports clinics in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Sports Clinic offers various services from Physiotherapy, Chiropractor, Nutrition, Strength and Conditioning, Running club, Pilates, Yoga, and Group Classes.
The clientele consists of everyday people aged 5 to 80 and elite athletes.
A keen sports enthusiast, Mete has been involved in and played various sports and understands what athletes go through to achieve their goals and results
Mete describes physiotherapy as rehabilitation.
Physiotherapist focus on pre-hab which focuses on pre-injury and surgery, and rehab, which focuses on post-injury and surgery.
An example of prehab is following protocols for strengthening, activation, and warm-up. These protocols may differ from sport to sport but will lessen the risk of injury by 30%. And should be done at least twice a week.
But physiotherapy extends beyond rehabilitation.
Physiotherapy involves exercise prescription, education, flexibility, mobility, and massage.
Many youth athletes are in contact with a physiotherapist, but there is sometimes a lack of communication between parents, coaches, and physiotherapists.
Mete believes there should be a good understanding among the three parties and a good line of communication on the best form of rehabilitation or adjustment in training
Depending on the severity of the injury, advice varies from athlete to athlete. Still, the main focus should be getting athletes back into sports as quickly and steadily as possible is essential.
Throughout the Hong Kong rugby season, Mete has been working with the Discovery Bay Senior Rugby team.
The opportunity arose through a senior player attending physiotherapy sessions for an injury.
It's an opportunity that he is grateful for. It allows him to gain experience, learn and grow in his profession.
He also finds rugby a fantastic sport that encourages team spirit and passion and makes you feel part of the team.
His final message to anyone seeing a physiotherapist or in the future is to ask questions and remember that physiotherapists are just like you. They share a passion for sports as you do.
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