Optimizing Athletic Performance and Well-Being: A Comprehensive Exploration of Sports Therapy & Kinesiology

 

 

You may already be familiar with the modality of Kinesiology, but what about Holistic Sports Therapy Kinesiology? 

 

Sports Therapy Kinesiology is a spin off from Holistic Kinesiology that focusses more on the physical structures of the body, it not only uses muscle monitoring and acupressure, it addresses the musculoskeletal system.  It draws from many other areas such as orthopedics, biomechanics, musculoskeletal therapy, exercise physiology, eastern medicine, applied kinesiology and functional neurology. 

The treatments could be passive manual therapy based approaches such as trigger point therapy, myofascial release, bowen therapy, neuromuscular approaches or corrective stretching. Alternatively they could be more active approaches such as self-myofascial release, muscle activations, stretches and restorative movements.

 

These treatments along with Kinesiology techniques and assessments you quickly find and address the imbalances in the body and mind. 

 

Sports Therapy Kinesiology works with chronic physical issues a person suffers from be it physical pain, postural/movement challenges, sleep issues or if you are an athlete who wants to focus on performance. Sports Therapy Kinesiology can help athletes with brain body communication to ensure optimal performance, recover from injuries and reduce stress.

 

A person may have tried many different treatments to tackle their issues, it either comes back or the treatment hasn’t made any difference. If this is the case, its more likely the client and practitioner just hasn’t addressed the root cause of the issue. 

 

Sports Therapy Kinesiology, we look at the body and mind as a whole, your symptoms are signs something is out of balance. The human body is always trying to maintain a relative state of homeostasis, that if it is in a healthy state, therefore it will always find ways to compensate, we do not necessarily treat the symptoms directly. We explore why they have occurred, look for and treat the root cause of your symptoms. 

 

Given the right environment and the clients commitment, when everything is functioning well, the body has innate ability to heal itself.  People can be complex and often require an integrative approach to het the results they are after.

 

 

There can be many different reasons why a person has an injury and symptoms can show up in many different ways for someone - pain,  restricted movement, muscle tension/weakness. The key is assessing and continually re assessing, it’s one of the foundational pillars for the Sports Therapy Kinesiology approach. Such assessments as range of motion, postural, orthopedic, movement assessments and of course muscle monitoring. Using these assessments with an integrative understanding, looking at the mind and body as a whole, we will choose the most appropriate treatment to apply to the clients issues, the right one for that particular client at that time. Each session will focus on something different according to how the client responds and things shift in their body and mind. 

 

Teaching the client the reasons why they have these physical issues and help them take ownership of their pains and challenges, understanding their body and what its trying to tell you. Teaching the client or athlete how to heal themselves yields the most long lasting and effective results in clinic, especially when dealing with pain.

 

Sports Therapy Kinesiology is a very safe and gentle therapy, it is suitable for everyone and of all ages. Other holistic therapies and modalities recommended for certain clients and their circumstances can be Chiropractors, Homeopathic’s, Naturopaths, and Chinese Medicine Practitioners.

 

Depending on what is needed for clients and their ongoing progress, yoga, qi gong, pilates, gym sessions, meditation, breath work can complement Sports Therapy Kinesiology sessions.

 

Developing strategies to maintain physical well being and prevent future physical issues, keep pain at bay, it’s important to acknowledge and heal any emotional or physical trauma as it occurs. Delaying this will only prolong your healing process. Your emotional state will affect the way you move, holding tension in your body, it will show in your body if not death with. The ability to communicate with the nervous system, can lead to more accurate interventions and faster results.

Here is an example of this, a client of mine came in to see me for chronic pain in her inner thigh. She had tried many different modalities, lots of tests done but remained unexplained and untreatable. We worked through many challenges and got to the root cause of what was causing it, for her it was childhood trauma. Once we unpacked that her pain subsided and has not returned. There are many other clients with similar stories, unexplained pain from a significant life event which has never been addressed.

 

 

There are many more Kinesiologists than Sports Therapy Kinesiologists, it is a relatively new modality, we are slowly increasing in numbers. During your first visit, ask about their training and qualifications - Diploma in Sports Therapy Kinesiology. A good therapist are able to assess well, understand the mind body relationship and get the results you are after along with your committment. Most importantly find a therapist that you feel comfortable with, feel safe to explore whatever comes up for you - past trauma or unresolved past issues. 

 

If you are new to Sports Therapy Kinesiology, I suggest at least 3 sessions to see any significant change. Depending on experience, years in practice, your therapist will charge anything from $120 - $240 for a 1.5 h session. Unfortunately, Kinesiology is not claimable from private health insurance. Our regulatory bodies are working with Government on re instating this.

 

Some things to note - Kinesiologists don’t diagnose. A practitioner will never ask you to abandon your conventional medical treatments, only consult your doctor in regard to this. If you have had or have been diagnosed with psychological issues, its important to have a support person in your life as issues may arise that can be triggering. Also, as we use acupressure in our sessions, it is important to mention to the therapist if you are pregnant, there are many points not suitable for different stages in your pregnancy. Talk to your therapist about any accidents, injuries current and past, you could possibly be referred onto other specialists for further assessments and tests. 

 

A Holistic Sports Therapy Kinesiologist can be your go to practitioner for fast, effective and long lasting results whether you are an athlete or a person with chronic physical issues. Our goal is to eliminate your chronic issues once and for all. As a Holistic Therapist, we are excited to see that people are shifting more and more towards Holistic Therapies.

 

Check out Bodhi's Kinesiologists including Katarina. You can also contact Australian Kinesiology Association for a registered practitioner in your local area. Ph - (03) 9898 7406