In October I had the pleasure to be on tour again and assist the ATP-physios at the ATP500 Erste Bank Open in Vienna. It’s a must-stop on the ATP-Calendar as it´s one of the last tournaments of the year to gain points for the final ranking.

As an indoor tournament played on hardcourt, days can be long, as matches are played late in the afternoon and there are night-sessions as well. This is how a normal day for me as a physio looks like:

My day always starts an hour before play begins, so I have time to see any players for pre-match preparations. This may involve treating players’ new injuries or pains but usually involves managing problems we have been aware of before. Treatments at this point may involve soft tissue massage, joint mobilizations and taping to offload any tight and sore body parts.

Once play is in flow then the physio needs to be prepared for any on-court medical time outs. A player can request the physio at any time during the match for an injury or illness. A walkie talkie is always carried by the physio so they can be easily contacted. Once on court, the player’s needs are assessed within a reasonable time scale. If the player needs treatment to continue playing, then the umpire will allow no more than three minutes for this. Types of on-court treatment can vary from massage, joint mobilizations, manipulation, taping, wound management or simply advice.

After their matches or practice our goal is to help the athletes with their recovery and look after their general maintenance and rehabilitation plans. We use different techniques like stretching, manual therapy, manipulations, fascial release, dry needling, and taping.

When the athletes play on hardcourt with quicker points there are also different stresses on the body. Typically, the players have more lower limb injuries like patella tendinopathy and lower back problems because of the shock-absorption, as the surface doesn’t allow the players to slide. Tennis toes and blisters also occur frequently, as the result of sudden stopping movements.

We always try to prevent these kinds of conditions together with the doctors and rest of the medical service. Teamwork is key, to offer the best approach and help the athletes to stay in their best physical conditions during the whole tournament.

Osteopathy is a philosophical approach to medicine that focuses on the root cause of the patient´s problem and works with the innate healing capabilities of the human body. It´s a health-centric approach to improving health and wellness by looking at people as a whole.

5 reasons checkups with your osteopath are a good idea

The truth is the majority of patients contact us when they’re already in extreme pain or something’s gone horribly wrong with their body. But in many instances their problems and the time spent out of action could have been prevented in the first place with a routine maintenance check-up.

As osteopaths, we are experts in joints, muscles, ligaments and tissues and the way they work with other systems in the body. We can quickly identify whether you’re setting yourself up for future problems from your posture, gait and the way you hold yourself and, more often than not, we’ve clocked what’s wrong with you before you’ve had a chance to explain your symptoms.

As well as hands on treatment, we can spot troublesome signs immediately as well as offer advice on how to help prevent future problems developing.

Below are 5 reasons why yearly check-ups with an osteopath are a good idea.

SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG TERM
We think nothing of spending money on personal grooming and clothes but when it comes to our health many of us struggle with the idea of paying out to see an osteopath especially if we feel well. But the truth is a regular treatment ONCE every 3-6 months could work out far cheaper in the long run by nipping a serious problem – that may require four or five visits – in the bud.

HELP YOU FEEL BETTER
It’s easy to ignore those niggly aches and pains but make today about prevention and detection, not reaction. You might not realise it but over time your body goes through the mill. Office workers hunched over a computer may struggle with bad necks and backs.

Builders and nurses may find undue pressure placed on their joints. Busy mums may twist awkwardly and put something out when picking up their children. However, a routine check-up can help stop potential problems from developing and we can also show you exercises to strengthen your core and overall frame.

OPTIMISE YOUR EXERCISE ROUTINE
Many of us make a plan to get fit and throw ourselves into a new routine. However, we forget that training our body – especially when we haven’t exercised for a long time – puts it under intense pressure.

Everything is affected – muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments are being moved about all over the place and more often than not we end up sore and in pain. This is natural and it’s important to listen to your body and rest. However, if pain persists, your body may be out of alignment. A check up with an osteopath once every six months to a year can help.

GET ADVICE TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH ON YOUR OWN

Sometimes we can have the feeling of getting dependent on seeing a therapist. The main goal of seeing an osteopath from time to time, is not only hands-on treatment, but also to get advice about how to work independently on your own, to bring your health to new heights and staying away from injuries, surgeries, and illness. Advice here is based on the main pillars of wellness, like exercise, nutrition, stress or sleep.

MAKE TIME FOR YOU
How often are you run ragged by the demands of others? How often do you neglect your health and push your needs to bottom of the pile? The trouble if you don’t look after yourself, you’ll not be fit to look after anyone. Why not book an appointment with an osteopath and make it part of an entire day devoted to your wellbeing? It could be just the thing to set you up mentally and physically for the week ahead.