LIGHTFORCE THERAPY IN PROFESSIONAL SPORT: Interview with Bruno Boussagol, PT/Osteo - Health Manager XV France – Rugby
How did you learn about LightForce (LF) therapy, and how long have you been using it with the athletes you follow? I’ve incorporated LightForce therapy into a number of protocols over the last year, working with athletes from very different backgrounds. I’ve worked with golfers, professional rugby players, a downhill Mountain Bike World Champion... My approach was built around the needs I encountered, to be able to meet the demands of the athletes I accompany from time to time. They are subjected to increasingly intense preparation. Competitions are often long and traumatic. Our approach as therapists requires us to adapt and anticipate these changes. LightForce Therapy has a dual role to play in supporting athletes: in prevention, during preparation sessions, and in the programming of care for numerous pathologies. Integration of LightForce Therapy When I became interested in this type of treatment, I contacted therapists with expertise in the field, to understand the added value of photobiomodulation and how I could integrate it into my own practice. I wanted to use this technology by integrating it into my own professional practice. I had to practice to master the tool. When proposing this type of treatment, it’s important to be familiar with the effects, and to be able to clearly explain what you’re looking for in terms of how you’re going to use it. Results can only be validated by athletes, and feedback is generally very positive. Whether as part of prevention or treatment, LF is integrated into a complete care protocol. The aim is to limit the risk of relapse and reduce downtime in the event of pathology. My aim is to improve individual care and performance.
I have used LF to treat a wide range of pathologies, including tendon problems, muscle injuries, and plantar fasciitis, as well as joint injuries such as ankle sprains, knee ligament injuries (medial collateral ligament). I’ve also used photobiomodulation as part of an activation approach, for players who were in the recovery phase and those who were struggling with cumulative workload. What feedback have you had from athletes after this therapy, and could you now work without this technology? The feedback is very positive. When you support a professional athlete in international competitions, you have to gain their trust and respond effectively to their needs. The notion of efficiency is essential. For a therapist, it’s difficult to offer a treatment during a competition and not be able to repeat it the following time. Once a treatment protocol has been validated, we need to be able to offer it at the next competition. The LF is a tool that follows me wherever I go. In what specific contexts do you use this therapy? Rather than reviewing the various pathologies, I’d like to take a look at two situations in which LF has been a real added-value treatment:
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