Sports Injury

Sports injuries are different from regular injuries and mainly affect an athlete. Sports injuries happen while participating in sports, training and or exercises. Overtraining, lack of conditioning, and inappropriate technique of performing a certain task leads to sport injuries. Neglecting to warm up prior to exercising or playing any physical sports also increases the risk of injuries. Although, sports injuries are mainly found in athletes involved with any form of physical sports, there are another species of athletes – the weekend athletes (engaging in sports only during weekend). This kind of “athletes” are actually more prone to such injuries, owing to their sedentary work week and the sudden weekend physical exploits that are bound to take its toll on their bodies.

Sports injuries are different from regular injuries, as athletes put their body under a lot of pressure, which sometimes leads to wear and tear in the muscles, joints and bones. Sports injuries treatment is better dealt with the help of sports physiotherapy, which is the particular branch of physiotherapy which manages injuries and physical issues associated with athletes. Sports physiotherapist helps the athletes in making recovery and also provides some education on the prevention of further injuries. Sports physiotherapists have sports specific knowledge and as such are better apt in helping the athletes make rapid recovery.

Common Sports Injury

Some of the common forms of sports injuries are as follows;

  • Muscle Strain: Muscle strain or pulled muscle is one of the most common sports injuries, that often takes place when a muscle is overstretched and tears. Muscle strains mainly affect the quadriceps, calves, quadriceps, groin, lower back and the shoulder. This form of injury can be treated with some rest, ice compression and sports physiotherapy. At Portea, we bring forth highly skilled and experienced sports physiotherapists who offer world class therapy sessions for fast recovery, that too in the comfort of your home.
  • Torn ACL: ACL or anterior cruciate ligament helps in keeping the knee joints together and brings stability. A Torn ACL is extremely painful and restricts the ability to walk. The injury takes place from a direct shot to the knees, or from incorrect landing and or stopping and changing direction quickly. This kind of injury requires surgical maneuver followed by sports physiotherapy sessions. To locate a good sports physical therapy, just log on to Portea and type sports physiotherapy near me.
  • Torn MCL:  It is another form of knee injury, which takes place when the medial collateral ligament that connects the femur to the tibia is injured. It is caused when the knees are pushed sideways. This form of knee injury can be treated with help of ice compression, braces and sports physical therapy sessions under the watchful eyes of a sports physio.
  • Shin Splits: It affects the insides of the lower leg or shin area and is an overuse injury and also a common injury found among runners. Athletes having flat feet are more susceptible to this form of injury.
  • Stress Fracture: Stress fractures are also a form of overuse injury. It takes place when the muscles are no longer able to absorb the pressure, thus resulting in a fracture. Stress fractures usually effects the lower legs and feet and women athletes are more prone to such injury than men.
  • Plantar Fasciitis: Plantar Fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament that connects the heel to the front of the foot. Putting too much strain and stress are the major reason behind this form of injury and is usually treated with rest, ice, non steroids anti – inflammatory drugs and stretching exercises. However in severe cases cortisone injections, sports physiotherapy and surgery might be needed.
  • Sprained Ankle:  Ankle sprains take place when the ligament that supports the joint gets overstretched due to incorrect stepping or stepping on an uneven surface or due to twists and rolls. Usually ankle strains heal with RICE – rest, ice, compression and elevation. But, more severe form of the injury needs brace or cast for few weeks to help in the healing process.
  • Tennis Elbow: Tennis elbow is also an overuse injury that affects the tendons located on the outside of the elbows. Racket players and cricketers are more prone to this type of injury. Rest and anti – inflammatory medicine usually help in the healing process, but, can require surgery in some severe cases.
  • Achilles tendonitis: Achilles tendonitis is the inflammation of the lower back of the leg just above the heel. Physical activity worsens the pain and is usually treated with some rest, ice, stretching and anti – inflammatory medicine, followed by sports physical therapy.

Besides the above mentioned sports injuries there are still several injuries that have not been discussed like Concussion, Lower back injury, Runner’s Knee and Hip Bursitis among others. More or less sport injuries treatment involves sports physical therapy along with proper medication to bring relief to the athletes. In fact physiotherapy in sports injury has proven to be quite useful in the rapid recovery of the athletes and is one of the most trusted forms of treatment.

What to expect?

Physiotherapist-doing-a-lumbosacral-evaluation-on-a-seated-woman-manipulating-the-muscles-and-spine-of-the-lumbar-and-sacral-regions-of-her-lower-back-with-his-hands-in-close-up

On your first visit, you will be asked about your current problem and the impact on your life and activities. Your physiotherapist will want to know about previous injuries, your general medical heath, and your physical goals.  They will then perform a physical examination to establish what anatomical structure/s are the source of your pain, and what underlying factors might be contributing to the problem, such as weakness or biomechanical issues.  From here, your physio will discuss the findings and consider the treatment options with you to achieve your specific goals.  The treatment plan is tailored to you.  Follow-up sessions will continue the treatment process and any adjustments, based on how you present, can be made to the plan.

What forms of treatment can be offered?

Physiotherapist-giving-massage-and-stretching-to-athlete-male-patient-on-the-couch-in-sports-medicine-clinic.

  • Manual therapy: including joint mobilisations or manipulations and soft tissue techniques such as massage.
  • Exercise rehabilitation: to strengthen, mobilise, and stretch specific areas.
  • Movement analysis and correction: to improve alignment, movement patterns, reduce the load on sensitive tissues, and improve performance.
  • Acupuncture/needling: can be helpful in relieving pain and relaxing muscles.
  • Education and advice: one of the most important and effective aspects of rehabilitation is to understand more about the problem and the best ways to facilitate and take part in your own recovery.  You will be given a clear explanation of the diagnosis and any other underlying causes, and we will discuss what is required to address these issues and reach your goals.
  • Cycle clinic: if you have problems specifically related to cycling, this is the place for you.
  • Ultrasound Guided Injections: these can be very useful if pain is not settling down in a timely fashion by using other means, and where it is interfering with your ability to undertake your specific rehabilitation exercise

Prevention From Sports Injury

Apart from conducting physical therapy, sports physio also provide athletes with the education to prevent future injuries.  Here are a few pointers to keep in mind to prevent sports injuries to a certain extent.

  1. Get proper sports gear and equipment as per the needs of the sport and maintain them. Many injuries are caused due to the use of improper gear or the lack of one.
  2. Always spend some time to warm up, before heading for any sort of sports of heavy physical activity.
  3. Undertake training under the watchful eyes of an experienced trainer to train in a proper manner to avoid over exertion and to learn the right techniques.
  4. Take regular breaks to let your body rest and heal. Over training or over exertion will definitely lead to muscle strain and or other injury.
  5. Begin slowly, sudden high level of activity puts a lot of strain on the bones, muscles and joints leading to injuries.
  6. Learn to listen to your body. Back off at the first sight of discomfort or pain to avoid further aggravation of the injury.

How Can We Help?

Depending on the kind of injury, it takes a number of weeks or months for one to recover completely. Our physiotherapist helps one with gentle exercises that stimulates the tissues and muscles of the injury for the restoration of complete physical movement prior to the injury level.

The physiotherapists gradually introduce various stretching and strengthening exercises with reduction of pain. Our physiotherapists offer customized recovery program as per the type of injury, so as to better facilitate the entire recovery process.

So if you are on the outlook of a trained sports physiotherapist then just get in touch with us. You can also just type sports injury treatment near me to find us.

So if any of your weekend misadventure is bugging you or if you are an athlete in need of a sports physio  search for sports physiotherapy near me and avail Portea’s world class physiotherapy treatment at the comfort of your home.