Pre-habilitation is one of the latest buzzwords in healthcare, but what does it mean? In a sporting context it is quite simple; maximising your potential to improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.
We are all quite familiar with the idea of rehabilitation; Treating someone with an injury and then helping them to improve their strength and conditioning, gradually return to training and finally to competition. But (if you can see a potential problem) why wait until there is an injury? Many sporting groups and organizations are now developing techniques and protocols to screen people for potential problems before they occur.
Osteopaths of course have long been experts in assessing the way each person’s body works from a mechanical perspective, it’s ‘bio-mechanics’. In terms of biomechanics we can assess a persons areas of weakness, stiffness or reduced mechanical efficiency, and formulate treatment plans to improve strength, flexibility and integrated function. This can potentially reduce the risk of injuries occurring by making you better able to cope in your environment.
Understanding how the different areas of the body work together and how they compensate for each other when things go wrong (or when there is increased demand on the system) helps us to work out what potential problems there may be and what needs to be done to address them. For example; an old foot injury can cause tightness in the leg which can in turn cause problems with the knee and then the back. Sorting out the old foot problem could help prevent this cascade of effects. With more research being published all the time, we have more information on sports specific injuries and training needs now than we have ever had.
Pre-habilitation can be done in many ways but it is most effective when you look at all the factors that can affect the outcome. These include training techniques, physical attributes, injuries, nutrition, psychology and many other factors. In other words the more holistically you look at things, the better. (At Macquarie Osteopaths we look at the mechanical function but also help you to identify other areas of need and often communicate with coaches and other health professionals to help you maximize results.)
Of course what has been developed in a sporting context can work just as well in a business or corporate context. Postural assessment, ergonomic advice and education in lifting and handling techniques are all forms of pre-habilitation. Improving your mechanical fitness can help you to perform your job more efficiently and therefore with less stress and more output, whether that is working at a desk or in a more physical job.
Pre-habilitation doesn’t have to be complicated either. It might mean getting advice on some stretches or strengthening exercises or making simple changes to your daily routines, or it could just be having some massage to loosen muscles before a sporting event.
For more information on osteopathy visit our Australian Osteopathic Association feature page.
© Macquarie Osteopaths. Not to be reproduced without express permission.
Originally published on May 03, 2010
