Ongoing prehab
Again it seems that between science pull and market push, innovation, in this case, came from the latter: try typing “prehab” or “prehabilitation” in any scientific search tool. You get very few results (to be precise, 7 at Pubmed). But Google it and you get 45.200 results.
A number of prehabilitation clinics have already taken advantage of the generalized perception among coaches and athletes that prevention is the key to performance. They must rely on their own clinical experience and feedback from patients, since Academia hasn’t provided a critical mass of empirical evidence yet.
I started doing prehab too late: technically, it was not prehab. It was just a more systematic approach to rehab, since my injuries had evolved to a point that I could no longer train or compete without excruciating pain. I don’t have to add that it has been a mediocre competitive year.
Prehab is about a special type of physical therapy intervention: monitoring the athlete throughout the competitive season. Early signs of injury are checked, a periodized program of injury prevention is developed according to the competition calendar and exercises and treatments are adjusted according to the athelete’s response.
I think I can only say that I am engaged in prehab now. I still feel my epicondylitis in both elbows, but it is improving. Not fast, but improving. We have slowly added new preventive practices to my weekly and daily routine and, if I stick to it, I am pretty sure I will get better.
All in all, prehab requires discipline from the athlete. Not easy, but a sufficient amount of love and commitment to your sport should do the trick.
Check this:
http://www.prehab.com/
