Physiotherapists are highly educated healthcare professionals who help people function and thrive in spite of disabilities, recover from accidents and injuries and live an overall healthy lifestyle. They accomplish this by administering manual therapy, creating/facilitating patient exercise regimes and educating individuals on how to get and stay fit.
With this in mind, what types of individuals do you think would be good candidates for receiving physiotherapy? If your answer is, “those who are disabled or who have recently suffered a serious accident or injury,” you are right. However, these are not the only individuals who would benefit from the services of a physiotherapist.
A physiotherapist’s services can be helpful to many different kinds of people, not just those who are injured or disabled. For example, some individuals with autism respond well to physiotherapy. Also, those with heart and lung conditions, Alzheimer’s disease, nervous system disorders, or bone problems often see great results from working with a physiotherapist. Many motorcyclists are prime candidates for receiving physiotherapy.
Why Motorcyclists Need the Input of a Physiotherapist
When you think of motorcyclists, do you envision muscular individuals barreling down the road on loud, dangerous bikes? In many cases, this is accurate. However, no matter how “tough” a motorcyclist may be, he or she still can benefit from the advice of a physiotherapist.
Physiotherapist-Approved Tips for Motorcyclists
Riding a motorcycle for hours really wears on the body. Motorcyclists can keep themselves healthy by taking these physiotherapist-approved tips to heart:
1) Stretch
Stretching is to a motorcyclist what performing vocal warm ups is to a singer. It primes the body for a long day of sitting in one position, and it protects muscles from injury. ATI Physical Therapy recommends stretching before and after riding, and taking “stretching” breaks during a long ride. ATI’s article Live (Pain) Free, Ride Hard says, “Stretching increases flexibility to help prevent common ailments such as low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and muscle strains due to localized muscle fatigue, that may lead to further injuries.”
2) Monitor pain
Those who ride a motorcycle consistently should keep a close eye on any aches and pains that crop up. Pain that doesn’t go away or gets worse should be discussed with a healthcare professional such as a physiotherapist. A physiotherapist can treat bodily pain at its source and help a motorcyclist prevent further injury.
3) Wear a knee brace
Not enough motorcyclists know that wearing an inexpensive knee brace can keep annoying injuries at bay. Lakeshore Sports Physical Therapy mentioned an Internet study that measured the health of over 2,000 off-road motorcyclists. Some of these individuals wore protective knee braces, and some didn’t. The study “found that fewer injuries were reported by riders who wore preventive braces. Riders who didn’t wear a brace were more likely to injure their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the meniscus (cartilage) in the knee, or their medial collateral ligament (MCL).”
Are you a motorcyclist? Or, do you have a loved one whose favorite pastime is hitting the road with his or her bike? If so, be sure to apply or share these tips.