ABOUT YOUR THERAPIST
Ben Bradley–Graduate Sports Therapist
Having studied at UWTSD Carmarthen, Ben has become a confident and skilled Sports Therapist working with athletes from Scarlets rugby and Ironman Wales, right down to your weekday gym go-er.
Having always been sporty and playing rugby, an injury led Ben to take his career path into Sports Therapy whilst also coaching Wales u18’s and then into triathlon events which he now competes in regularly
What is Sports Massage & injury rehabilitation?
Sports Massage is the management, manipulation and rehabilitation of soft tissues of the body including muscles, tendons and ligaments. It is applicable not just to sports people but to anybody wishing to guard against or recover from a soft tissue injury.
The benefits can also help relieve the many day to day problems, repetitive strain injury, sprains, tension, fatigue, that everyone experiences.
The aim of a rehabilitation program is to regain pre-injury levels in all aspects of physical fitness. A full rehabilitation and strengthening program is essential to ensure full recovery and in order to prevent re-injuries.
Rehabilitation programs should aim to restore muscle strength, endurance and power, improve flexibility, proprioception and balance as well as more sports specific or functional exercises.
What are the benefits?
Improve circulation and lymphatic flow
Assist in the removal of metabolic waste
Sedate or stimulate nerve endings
Increase or decrease muscle tone
Increase or decrease muscle length
Remodel scar tissue when required
Assist in mental preparation for sporting participation
What is Sports Therapy?
Sports Therapy is an aspect of healthcare that is specifically concerned with the prevention of injury and the rehabilitation of the patient back to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports specific fitness, regardless of age and ability. Although focussed on sports people, therapists can treat joint pain, back and neck pain and other related conditions in every day people.
Sports Therapists are experts in musculoskeletal disorders. They treat pain and injury through hands-on treatment and rehabilitation. They undergo an intensive three-year degree course which focusses primarily on the musculoskeletal system and on restoring, maintaining and maximising movement to relieve pain and increase quality of life. It utilises the principles of sport and exercise science incorporating physiological and pathological processes to prepare the participant for training, competition and where applicable, work.
A Sports Therapist, who is a Member of The Society of Sports Therapists, is an allied health professional who has the knowledge, skills and ability to:
Utilise sports and exercise principles to optimise performance, preparation and injury prevention programmes
Provide the immediate care of injuries and basic life support in a recreational, training, occupational & competitive environment
Assess, treat, rehabilitate and, where and if appropriate, refer on for specialist advice and intervention.
Provide appropriate soft tissue interventions in a sport & exercise context
Plan and implement appropriate rehabilitation and return to training/work programme