The Power Of Prehab

Want to perform at your best this year? Don’t wait until you’re injured to visit the physio…

- Sarah Ivory

You pay for the car to have an MOT every year, so why shouldn’t you splash out on a full-body check, too? This is the premise behind the workout world’s latest body-boosting trend – prehabilitation, or prehab, an injury-prevention programme that’s usually devised by a physiotherapist, sports therapist or osteopath. The aim of a prehab programme is to look at a fitness fan’s body and iron out any imbalances that might lead to an injury. While the tests and treatments at a prehab clinic may vary, the aim of all centres is the same – to improve the way your body moves, hopefully shielding it against sports injury. ‘Prehab prepares the joints for exercise,’ explains Erica Foulds, master trainer at Ten Health & Fitness (ten.co.uk). ‘If you’re predominantly sedentary [you have a desk job, perhaps], your spine and joints aren’t in the condition to be put through strenuous exercise, so you need to prepare them for it.’ And fitness fans need prehab treatments now more than ever, as experts note that HIIT and online workout trends are increasing the risk of injury. ‘If you’re following a high-intensity workout from the internet and not being helped by a qualified instructor, you’re more likely to do the moves incorrectly and get injured,’ explains Foulds. We tracked down the premier prehab centres…

Prescriptive Body MOT at Ten Health & Fitness