Sports Physiotherapy

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 Sports rehabilitation is a treatment modality often recommended for injured or weak athletes of all ages suffering from any sports injury. Rehabilitation program helps in quick recovery, reduces pain, promotes movement of the stiffed muscles at injured site, restores normal function of the injured site, and prevents recurring damage to the injured tissue. Rehabilitation procedures are performed by a multidisciplinary team that comprises of physical therapists, orthopedic physicians/surgeons, athletic trainers, and massage therapists.

Athletes and individuals who play sports regularly are more prone to develop sports injuries and some of the common sports injuries are tennis elbow, ankle sprain, strain, fractures, herniated disc, knee injuries, Achilles tendon, dislocation, and tarsal tunnel syndrome. These injuries occur from various sports such as golf, football, basketball, athletics, and tennis.

Rehabilitation program is recommended for people who cannot resume to their sports activities following a sports injury or following a surgery. The rehabilitation team works on various physical activities and flexibility exercises that help to regain the strength and motion of the muscles in injured site.

The most common and immediate treatment modality that provides relief from pain is the RICE treatments which means the treatment comprised of rest, ice, compression, and elevation. The RICE treatment is used for acute injuries such as sprains, strains, bruises, and contusions. Crutches, splits, or wheelchairs are used as immobilizers to provide support and prevent movement of the injured joints. Medicines such as ibuprofen are used to relieve pain. Rehabilitation program include stretching and bending exercise, massage techniques, stability exercises, physiotherapy, heat therapy and much more. 

Various techniques employed in rehabilitation program have significance of their own in improving the physical performance and restoring to normal activity.

• Stretching and bending exercises improve flexibility of the muscles at injured site
• Massage techniques relieves the tension of the muscles and improves the blood flow to the site of injury
• Stability exercises restores the functions and movements of the broken or injured joints
• Use of appropriate gears corrects biomechanical dysfunction for an instance, specially designed running shoes are recommended for sports individuals with foot injury. These shoes have a harder material inside of the sole which prevents the foot from rolling in.

Practicing several measures may help you obtain better results of rehabilitation program

• Gradually increase the time and intensity on exercises
• Exercise and walking regularly
• Choose correct footwear
• Do not work on empty stomach and drink plenty of water before workout

Prevention

Although medical intervention and/or rehabilitation program helps in treating the condition and restoring to normal activity, it is always advisable to practice certain preventive measures to prevent the incidence of injury.

• Regular and sufficient warm-ups before any sports activities are must.
• Avoid overuse when you are tired and feel pain.
• Use necessary sports gear.
• Practice always under the guidance of trained tutors.