How Velocity Helps Athletes Improve from Injury to Recovery

Sports Injury Rehab

After a sport or orthopedic injury, people set a process in motion.  The decisions throughout that process can determine whether they recover quickly. Whether they lower their risk of future re-injury.  Unfortunately, those decisions can lead to a slow recovery and condition lasting for years.  Velocity offers an approach to sports injury rehab that is not the traditional model.

The traditional therapy model might have the injured person going to 8 – 12 sessions of treatment. Then just turned loose to manage on their own.

The Traditional Model

This traditional model is often focused on treating the symptoms and reducing pain. Too often it doesn’t address the underlying causes of that problem.
 
According to Velocity Sports Medicine Specialist, Misao Tanioka; “When underlying problems such as restricted mobility, muscle imbalances, poor joint stability or lack of functional strength aren’t addressed the risk of re-injury and/or chronic pain often remains.”
 
Underlying problems can lead many individuals to experience a frustrating cycle of pain and injury. This leads to re-entry into the healthcare system, more treatment, and release.  They can go through that cycle repeatedly without ever getting to the root of the problem.

Velocity’s therapy model grew from working with the world’s elite athletes and teams.  In that arena, performance is the name of the game and results matter. 

Eliminating Pain

Instead of “chasing the pain” alone, Velocity looks at the big picture of the athlete as a whole.  They evaluate basic fundamental movements, mobility, stability, and function. Doing this allows identification of an individual’s needs and to create a roadmap to recovery.

functional sports injury rehab with professional athlete
A Velocity specialist works with a professional athlete to assess a movement dysfunction.
 
“Whether it’s an Olympian trying to win to a medal, or a serious weekend warrior, they have common goals in therapy. They all want to eliminate pain and be able to perform at their highest level.  No one wants to be restricted from the sports and activities they love.”
 

Athlete Centered Sports Injury Rehab

From the initial assessments, Velocity creates an integrated treatment plan. It involves rehab specialists, massage therapists, trainers, nutrition coaches, and mindset coaches.
 
This means that for many people who have experienced the traditional healthcare model, this integrated approach is a refreshing experience.
 
Some of those people have experienced working with a rehab therapist, or even a massage therapist, but few have seen a coordinated effort. A sports injury rehab approach from multiple specialists. A plan with with athletic strengthening, movement training, nutrition and mindset.  This is a whole new dimension.
 
Manual sports injury rehab on weightlifter
Tanioka provides manual therapy to a member of the US Weightlifting team in preparation for the World Championships.

Tanioka explains this perspective, “It’s the model we strive for in our Athlete-Centered approach.  That means we focus on the individual as a whole, their goals, and what they can do, instead of what they can not do.  We want them to stay as active as possible, restoring function and getting back to full, pain-free sport and activity.”

Velocity built the model based on the demands of elite sport.  Training, Recovery, and Rehabilitation are the cornerstones.  They are facilitated with Mindset and Nutrition to help athletes achieve their goals.

For elite athletes, this makes sense and they have the mindset to do everything possible to recover But weekend warriors and young athletes may not be exposed to a comprehensive support system.
 
They might not be exposed to effective solutions.  They might not have access to high level specialists.  This often ends up with them frustrated. They may find their progress stagnates through the traditional process.  Their risk of re-injury can also be higher because of this.
 
Effective sports injury rehab isn’t just a short series of visits. In the Velocity model, it’s a mindset of integrating all the elements. This helps achieve faster recovery, and sustain high performance.   “Instead of seeing therapy as something to merely eliminate symptoms, we help people to recognize what their body requires. To start building good habits to be able to take care of their needs” says Tanioka.
 
Velocity delivers solutions for athletes and active individuals. By integrating a full spectrum of disciplines, it offers a new model of rehabilitating sports and orthopedic injuries.
A person can return to full, pain-free function, and maintain that performance for a long time.