Know the secret of injury-free athletes.
Sports injuries can be frustrating, whether you’re a weekend warrior or a professional athlete.
Fortunately, a physiotherapist can help minimise your risk of getting hurt during intense physical activity. With their expertise and guidance, you can stay on top of your game without getting sidelined by injuries. First, let’s look at the common types of injuries that happen in sports.
Types of sports injuries
There are two main types of sports injuries: contact and non-contact injuries.
Acute or contact injuries are caused by direct contact with another person, object, or surface during sports activities. Some examples of contact injuries include the following:
- Contusions – Also known as bruises, contusions occur when a direct impact causes bleeding under the skin, resulting in discolouration and localised pain.
- Fractures – Fractures are breaks or cracks in bones that can result from a significant impact or force. Falls, collisions, or a high-velocity impact can cause fractures.
- Dislocations – Dislocations happen when the bones of a joint are forced out of their normal alignment due to a severe impact or force. This can cause pain, deformity, and loss of joint function.
- Ligament Sprains – Ligament sprains occur when the ligaments that connect bones in a joint are stretched or torn due to a sudden force or impact. These injuries can result in pain, swelling, and instability in the affected joint.
Non-contact injuries, as the name suggests, occur without direct contact. These injuries typically happen due to factors like poor technique, overuse, or inadequate conditioning.
Here are some examples of non-contact injuries:
- Muscle Strains – Muscle strains happen when muscle fibres are overstretched or torn, often due to sudden or excessive stretching. They commonly occur in sports that involve explosive movements, sudden changes in direction, or inadequate warm-up.
- Tendinitis – Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon, which is the tissue that connects muscles to bones. It often develops gradually over time due to repetitive motion, overuse, or poor technique.
- Stress Fractures – Stress fractures are small cracks or breaks in bones caused by repetitive stress or overloading. They typically occur due to repetitive impacts on weight-bearing bones, such as those in the feet or legs.
- Overuse Injuries – Overuse injuries develop gradually over time due to repetitive motions, inadequate rest, or improper training techniques. These injuries can affect various structures, including tendons, muscles, and bones, and are common in sports that involve repetitive actions, such as running, swimming, or throwing.
What is the role of a physiotherapist?
Physiotherapy plays a vital role in sports injury recovery by providing comprehensive rehabilitation.
Here are some ways a physiotherapist can help you quickly recover from a sports injury:
- Assessment and Diagnosis – A physiotherapist will assess the nature and extent of your injury, identify contributing factors, and provide an accurate diagnosis. This evaluation helps determine the most appropriate treatment plan tailored to your needs.
- Pain Management – There are many techniques that a physiotherapist can employ to help you manage pain, including manual therapy, therapeutic modalities (e.g., heat, cold, electrical stimulation), and exercises. They may also provide education on self-management strategies to alleviate pain during recovery.
- Restoring Range of Motion and Function – After an injury, your range of motion and functional abilities may be compromised. Physiotherapists use specific exercises, stretches, and hands-on techniques to help restore joint mobility, muscle flexibility, and functional movements. They will help you regain strength, balance, coordination, and proprioception.
- Strengthening and Conditioning – Physiotherapists design individualised exercise programs to help you regain strength and optimise muscular balance. These programs target specific muscle groups, taking into account the demands of your sport. Gradual progression is important to avoid re-injury and promote long-term recovery.
- Rehabilitation and Sports-Specific Training – Physiotherapists develop tailored rehabilitation plans focusing on functional movements and sport-specific activities. They will guide you through progressive exercises, drills, and simulations so you can safely return to your sport. This may involve sport-specific movements, agility training, and skill development.
- Technique Correction and Movement Analysis – Physiotherapists are trained to identify any biomechanical flaw or faulty mechanics that may have contributed to your injury. They provide guidance and corrective exercises to improve technique, reduce re-injury risk, and enhance performance.
Physiotherapists work closely with other healthcare professionals, such as team doctors, orthopaedic surgeons, and athletic trainers, to ensure a multidisciplinary approach to injury management. This collaboration provides comprehensive care and facilitates a smooth transition from injury to return to sport.
How to prevent sports injuries
The first step towards injury prevention is a comprehensive assessment. Your physiotherapist will evaluate your current physical condition, identify imbalances or weaknesses, and assess your movement patterns. They will take into account your sporting activities and specific goals to create an individualised program tailored to your needs.
These injury prevention strategies are designed to keep you safe during sports activities:
- Warm-up and cool-down – A physiotherapist can guide you on appropriate warm-up exercises that prepare your body for the demands of your sport. They can also provide stretching routines and cool-down exercises to aid in recovery and reduce muscle soreness.
- Wear proper gear and use appropriate equipment – Your physiotherapist can advise you on selecting the right equipment and protective gear for your chosen sport. This includes proper footwear, helmets, braces, and padding, all of which are essential for reducing the risk of sports-related injuries.
- Gradual progression – A physiotherapist can help you establish realistic goals and develop a training plan incorporating gradual progression. This approach ensures that you don’t push your body too hard or too soon, reducing the likelihood of overuse injuries and stress fractures.
- Injury education and awareness – By educating athletes about common sports injuries and their causes, a physiotherapist can raise awareness and help you recognise potential warning signs. This knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions about your training and seek early intervention when needed.
- Collaboration with your training team – Physiotherapists also play a crucial role in collaborating with coaches and trainers to ensure a holistic approach to injury prevention. They can communicate with your training team and coaching staff to integrate their recommendations into your training regimen, fostering a supportive environment for injury prevention and overall athletic development.
Battling a nagging injury? Physiotherapy might provide a solution.
Transcend Health can help in your recovery journey. Our experienced team understands the unique demands of sports injuries and is committed to providing personalised care to athletes of all levels.
Whether you’re dealing with an acute injury, a chronic condition, or aiming to prevent future injuries, our physiotherapists have the expertise and resources to create a personal recovery plan that’s tailored to your needs.
Take the first step towards your recovery by booking your physiotherapy appointment in Newcastle today! Call us on 02 4961 3399 or send an email to hello@transcendhealth.com.au.