April 2023 | Rehab for Life

Have you ever wondered why some athletes are able to maintain peak performance while others are sidelined with injuries? It’s not just luck, it’s the result of proper prehabilitation.

Injury prevention is a crucial aspect of sports performance. Athletes who are able to avoid injury are more likely to succeed and have longer careers. Prehabilitation, or prehab for short, is a proactive approach to injury prevention that focuses on improving strength, mobility, and stability to reduce the risk of injury.

Athletes who implement prehab into their training routines are able to prevent issues before they occur and maintain optimal performance. In this article, we will explore the importance of prehabilitation for athletes and how it can help them achieve their goals.

What is Prehabilitation?

Prehabilitation, or prehab for short, is a proactive approach to injury prevention. It is a system of exercises and activities designed to improve strength, mobility, and stability before an injury occurs. Prehab programs focus on improving the overall health of the athlete by focusing on the musculoskeletal system. This includes strengthening muscles and joints while also improving flexibility and balance.

Prehab is not only important for injury prevention but also for performance enhancement. By improving strength and mobility athletes are able to perform better and more efficiently.

Is Prehab the Same as Preventative Physical Therapy?

No, prehabilitation is not the same as preventative physical therapy. While both approaches are designed to reduce the risk of injury, they have different focuses and goals. Physical therapy is a form of medical treatment that helps to restore function, movement, and strength following an injury. On the other hand, prehabilitation is a proactive approach that focuses on improving overall strength and mobility before an injury occurs.

Benefits of Prehabilitation for Athletes

Prehab programs have many benefits for athletes. Here are just a few of the ways it can help:

Improved Strength and Power

Prehabilitation can help athletes increase strength and power, which will in turn improve performance. Exercises such as plyometrics, weight training, core work, and bodyweight exercises can all be used to increase strength and power. Building up muscle strength helps to prevent injuries by providing more support for joints. Additionally, increased muscular strength can result in improved speed, agility, and power.

Reduced Risk of Injury

Prehabilitation can play an important role in reducing the risk of injury and improving overall athletic performance. By strengthening muscles and joints, as well as improving flexibility and balance, athletes are able to better prepare themselves for physical activity. This can help decrease the likelihood of muscle strains, tears, or joint injuries that could sideline a player for weeks or even months. Additionally, prehab exercises help to promote recovery and reduce the risk of re-injury.

Improved Flexibility and Range of Motion

Prehabilitation can also help to improve flexibility and range of motion. This is important for athletes because improved flexibility allows for greater mobility and a wider range of motion which can improve performance. Prehab exercises such as stretching, foam rolling, dynamic warmups, and balance work can all help to increase flexibility and prevent injury. By improving overall flexibility, athletes are better equipped to push their bodies to the limit without fear of injury.

Enhanced Recovery

Prehab exercises can also help to improve recovery time following an injury. By focusing on strengthening muscles and joints, prehab can help athletes recover from injuries more quickly and return to their sport or activity sooner.

Prevent Overuse Injuries

Prehab can also help to prevent overuse injuries which are a common cause of injury in athletes. Overuse injuries occur as a result of repetitive activities and can be caused by anything from running to throwing or even weightlifting. Prehab programs can focus on strengthening the muscles and joints that are most commonly affected by overuse, helping to reduce the risk of these types of injuries.

Who Should Do Prehab?

Prehabilitation is beneficial to all athletes, regardless of skill level. Prehab programs can help improve performance and reduce the risk of injury for professional athletes, weekend warriors, and even those who simply want to exercise for overall health.

At its core, prehab is about preparing the body for physical activity by strengthening muscles and joints and improving flexibility. This makes it ideal for anyone who is looking to improve their physical performance.

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Differences Between Aquatic and Regular Physical Therapy

The primary difference between these two forms of physical therapy is the environment in which they are conducted. Aquatic therapy sessions take place in the water while regular physical therapy sessions take place on land. Additionally, aquatic therapists must understand the unique characteristics of water, such as buoyancy and resistance, in order to properly design a treatment plan.

Aquatic therapy takes advantage of the unique properties of water to facilitate rehabilitation. The buoyancy of water can help to reduce the amount of weight bearing on the joints, making it easier for patients to perform exercises and movements that might be difficult or painful in land-based therapy. Additionally, the resistance of the water can provide a gentle form of resistance training that can help to build strength and flexibility.

Another key difference is that aquatic exercise can be particularly beneficial for patients with conditions that make weight-bearing exercise difficult, such as arthritis or chronic pain. The warmth of the water can also help to soothe sore muscles and joints, making it a good option for patients with conditions that cause inflammation or stiffness.

Benefits of Aquatic Therapy

The most obvious benefit of aquatic therapy is its ability to reduce pain and inflammation in the body. Since the water supports the body, it eliminates strain on joints and muscles that can be caused by land-based therapies. This allows for smoother and more efficient movement while performing exercises, which helps reduce pain and discomfort. Additionally, increased buoyancy from the water reduces the risk of injury and allows for a larger range of motion.

Other benefits of aquatic therapy include:

Resistance: Water provides more resistance than air does, and it does this without the full weight of your body. When combined with the buoyancy of the water, you can perform functional exercises while improving your range of motion and strength.

Increased circulation: The heat and hydrostatic pressure of the water increase blood circulation and flexibility while decreasing swelling.

Why Choose Rehab For Life?

Rehab for Life is the only therapy clinic in the Tri-State area to have two adjustable, warm water, Endless Pools utilizing remote control variable currents and treadmills. Our pools are expertly designed to facilitate easy entry/exit from each pool with our hydraulic pool lift. Clients use these unique features and other specialized aquatic equipment coupled with the expert guidance of our knowledgeable therapists to help them achieve their therapy goals and vastly improve their quality of life.

If you’re interested in learning more about aquatic therapy in the Evansville area, please contact us. We’re here to help you every step of the way!

Prehabilitation for Athletes: The Importance of Injury Prevention