Sports Therapy vs Performance Engineering

Quadrant 4 sport is a whole different ballgame. And over the past couple of years working with this demographic, I have come to learn and realize a few things that have not only changed my thought process but has also molded my approach to "therapy".
​
Sports Therapy

• A reactive approach to injury management. "A" before "B". Injury before Therapy
• A mini clinic
• Largely focused on rehabilitation
• Rehabilitative and corrective exercise
• Analogous to a body shop mechanic
• An extreme emphasis on manual therapy and electromodalities
• Tissue-targeted 
• Technique driven, clinician centered
• "Injury prevention" occasionally an emphasis
• End goal is return to training

​Performance Engineering

• A dynamic, collaborative approach between coach(es), athlete and "therapist"
• A pit stop
• Largely focused on skill correction for mechanical efficiency
• Motor learning and skill acquisition
• Analogous to a Formula 1 mechanic
• Manipulation for facilitation. As little as necessary. 
• Skill-targeted  
• Situational driven, athlete centered
• "Injury prevention" often a by-product 
• End goal is performance enhancement

...this post was inspired by Stuart McMillan's post on performance therapy and ongoing commmunication with Patrick Ward.