Sports Therapy,
the Treatment for Injury
Injuries range from fresh (acute), long-standing (chronic) or can simply be a niggle that refuses to resolve . We thrive on preventing and rehabilitating injuries. The injuries we see most commonly associated with sports are ligament sprains, muscle strains and tears. Joint injuries (as often seen by Osteopaths and Chiropractors) are also commonly the result of sports injury, as well as overuse injuries like repetitive strains.
We treat everyone, from elite athletes, those involved in sports at club level or simply individuals involved in sports for health and fitness. Competitive sports or fitness for pleasure; we treat people from school children to retirees.
Rehab for injury can mean a return to your favourite sport, or being able to walk to the park, or just being able to do daily activities with ease again.
What you can expect from Sports Therapy.
We can cover a broad range of treatments, from sports massage, taping and strapping, myofascial cupping and Instrument assisted massage (IASTM), through to individualised fitness and rehabilitation plans. All of these techniques allow us to provide the best possible care for patients, giving them the best opportunity for a positive outcome.
Unfortunately injuries are part of sport for many people. The initial stages of injury-management are usually key, so getting your injury assessed and treated promptly allows you to build strength, co-ordination, balance and mobility for a safe return to sport in a timely but safe manner.
Lauren thrives on the challenge of finding the route cause to someone's injury; and this often isn't where the majority of the symptoms are. Yes, you can expect symptomatic relief so that movement and rehab becomes a little easier. But finding the primary problem is key to full recovery. If something hurts, we naturally try to compensate to relieve the pain; however this can produce further difficulties as we then move in a different way or stand and walk in an altered fashion.
Subtle changes, like these to gait, are all part of the assessment process we go through to work out what the best way to tackle your discomfort is, in order to get back on the right path again.
Initial Injury Consultation
During this appointment both a verbal and physical assessment will be carried out. This allows us to gain some background knowledge about you, the injury and how it is affecting you. We then move on to analyse how you move and use the affected area. All of this will determine what the diagnosis may be and thus how we can help you get back on top form again; be that through treatments and/or rehabilitation.
Dry Needling
This treatment modality is usually used alongside other techniques to release muscle tension by targeting trigger points. These needles are very fine and painless, the same as those used in traditional Acupuncture. The needles are designed to help increase blood flow to the area and reduce local and referred pain for the client.
Taping
There are many options with taping that can either stabilise an injury in the early stages of rehab or to support an injury through posture correction while rehab exercises are used to strengthen particular areas. The key is to not get reliant on the tape and recognise that your personalised rehab plans will get you back stronger and fitter; and back to doing what you love most!
Myofascial Cupping
Myofascial cupping is a soft tissues technique used to target deeper muscle tension. Suction cups are used to lift the underlying tissues; such as the fascia, to give further muscle release. This treatment modality can be used to treat soft tissue injuries, aid the healing process by drawing in the nutrients to the damaged area; all while increasing the flexibility and pliability of the muscle fibres.
Instrumented Assisted Massage / Rockblades (IASTM)
This technique uses the aid of an instrument to help with pressure and muscle tension relief during treatment. It helps to realign fibres through a deeper penetration to the underlying tissues and also to reduce some of the superficial nerve sensitivity.
Lauren Watts
Sports Therapist
Lauren graduated from Hartpury University with a BSc Hons degree in Sports Therapy in 2020 .
She has a background of working in both a clinic setting as well as on the sports field,
Her main passion is football, having played and then progressed onto youth coaching, before moving on to work with a semi-professional men’s team. She is currently working with Wellington AFC in the men’s Western League, travelling across the South West for all their games home and away.
To underline her love of the sport, Lauren has been appointed as the England Schools U15 Sports Therapist and has enjoyed a very successful first international season with the squad; lifting 2 trophies and being unbeaten against Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Lauren treats a wide variety of clients, not just those involved in sport; with ages ranging from 11 to 80 Seeing all different types of injuries, healing times and their dedication to recovery, has reinforced her love for treating clients; with the most satisfying part being the return to their chosen activity post rehabilitation.
Following most appointments patients will take away some home techniques to aid their recovery process. This could be in the form of rehabilitation exercises, self-massage, trigger release, or stretching which also helps prevent injuries from recurring.
Registered
Sports Therapy Association
Fully Insured
Balens
Lauren provides the following types of massage therapy:
Injury Assessment (Sports)
Injury Rehabilitation (Sports)
Sports Massage
Myofascial Cupping
Instrument assisted massage / Rockblades (IASTM)
Dry Needling
Pilates
Taping and Strapping
Testimonials
Kimberley has treated a number of my sporting injuries over the last 5 years. Despite having sports therapist and physio's on tap I kept going back to Kim... Why because of her excellent care and the attention she took. Great value for money and she always manages to correct my issues picked up on the rugby field. Highly recommendable!!Stephen
Kimberley is incredibly thorough and knowledgeable. I was suitably advised the best treatment for shoulder and neck pains with excellent results. XxLisa
Fantastic relaxing massage. Kimberley was very knowledgable and helped to relieve the tension in my back and shoulders with her healing hands. Highly recommended.Annabel
The best massage ever received highly recommended.Phillip
Thank you so much for my lovely massage this evening. Will definitely be back 🙂 xSamantha