Sports psychology

Athletes are always seeking out new ways to perfect their skill and outperform their opponents. They follow all the rules, train hard and yet there remains that elusive something they need to catapult them into winners’ row. The answer may lie in sports psychology – a discipline that studies the behaviours of athletes (and others connected with sports) and helps them improve their performance. One of the tenets of sports psychology is that a person can improve his/her performance by managing their emotions.

Physiotherapy has always been a holistic practice in which the therapist treats not just the injury or condition, but the whole person. Physiotherapists trained in sports psychology go a step further by helping athletes prepare themselves mentally as well as physically to compete, either pre or post-injury. Goal-setting is one of the tools that physiotherapists use in their normal duties – it can make or break an athlete’s game.

Many talented athletes become nervous and tense before a big game. Physiotherapy can help the athlete learn how to relax either through warm-up drills or muscle relaxation. The latter can do a lot to relieve muscle tension and allow the mind to concentrate so that the muscles can cooperate. Certain Yoga poses such as the shoulder stand, the head stand and the cobra also help to relieve muscle tension, improve concentration and release energy.

Guided imagery is another effective technique for helping athletes perform at their optimum level. The athlete can do this before the game and during rest breaks. He pictures a scene that calms his senses and puts him in a relaxed frame of mind. He can also visualise the game, planning every move, every sequence, every sudden change until it becomes perfectly clear in his mind and he feels as if he is already on his way to victory.

Of course, none of these techniques can take the place of proper training and overall fitness, they can only build on them. Sports psychology can help you not only become a better athlete, but help you avoid injury by relaxing your muscles and sharpening your concentration. Whether you are a runner, soccer player or golfer we can help you perfect your game through this cutting-edge discipline. Why not come in and see us today?