Bowen Therapy and Sports 

Sports Injury Treatment and Prevention

As someone who became interested in bodywork through my personal extensive journey of treatment for numerous sports injuries, it has given me a deep understanding of what is at the root cause of injuries, especially recurring injuries.


It was only when I received Bowen therapy from a sports specialist that I finally understood how all my injuries were linked, and why I was getting them. My "weak" ankles, as I called them, were not actually weak, the problem was stemming from my pelvis, and the imbalance created was placing the greatest strain through my ankles.

Most injuries are a result of structural misalignment through the musculoskeletal system. This will undoubtedly lead to compensation, and increased muscular tension. What I see with the majority of people I treat, is an internal rotation through the hip, which internally rotates the knee, and causes the foot to drop. This rotation is also going on through the shoulders. It can be quite unnoticeable to the lay person, but I see it everywhere, even in top class athletes - it is only the optimum levels of fitness and conditioning that prevent them from injuring more often, and is the reason as they get older, and slow down that it "catches up with them".

Sports are physically demanding, from training to events, and the body is more than capable of handing this. However, throw in any degree of misalignment, compensation, and increased tensional strain, and the body is working excessively harder in attempting to maintain balance. Over time muscle fatigue increases, and injury ensues.

Common sporting injuries that most of us are familiar with whether personally, or someone we know, include; hip flexor strain, ACL tear/strain, groin strain, shin splints, sciatica, hamstring strain/pull, knee pain, ankle sprain, ITB pain, shoulder pain, rotator cuff injury, golfers/tennis elbow.

The solution, naturally, is to restore alignment, to structurally re-balance the body. This is where Bowen therapy comes in, working on the soft tissue, and very specific points of tension and dysfunction (root cause). Once the root cause has been resolved, specific areas can be addressed, areas that may be under or overactive.


Now that training, and work with your conditioning coach, will really be effective.

Steve Fleming

Sports Perfomance

Increased performance level comes from finding the right balance.

Once that balance has been created, the body is able to operate at an optimum level, and produce the best results.


It is the reason racing cars are so well maintained, with so many hours spent setting up and finding the right balance; before, during and after races.

That optimum balance for the car and driver are the fine margins between success and failure. 

Your body should be a finely tuned machine!

GB triathlete Victorial Gill's experience with The Bowen Technique has led to benefits in physical performance, and also improvements in overall well-being and health:


"The effects of each treatment continue to surprise me. My first assessment showed imbalances throughout my body which meant that I wasn't getting the most out of myself on race day as it was not working as an efficient machine"

(the full interview can be read at the huffingtonpost here)


Although there has been limited scientific study on The Bowen Technique, one study that has been published is the effect of Bowen therapy on hamstring flexibility. 

The results of the study, carried out on 120 asymptomatic volunteers, split into two control groups, showed a significant increase in hamstring flexibility on the Bowen control group, after one treatment.

(the full paper can be read here)

Steve Fleming