Most athletes find themselves dealing with sports injuries from time to time. Whether you’re a professional athlete or someone who likes to keep fit in your spare time, the path to recovery after sustaining a sports injury can be very challenging.
Physiotherapy can play a crucial role when it comes to sports injury rehabilitation. There are many physiotherapy treatments available which can help boost your mobility, restore the function of the affected area, and help you reduce pain. Sports injuries which physiotherapy can help with include ankle sprains, medial collateral (MCL) injuries, anterior cruciate (ACL) tears, calf strains, Achilles tendon pain or tears, shoulder dislocations, and muscle contusion.
Let’s take a look at how physiotherapy can help you complete the process of recovery after a sports injury.
Initial Assessment and Diagnosis
Before you start your rehabilitation program, you’ll need to undergo a detailed assessment and get a diagnosis from a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist can let you know how serious your injury is and tell you more about it. This information is essential when it comes to developing an efficient, customized rehabilitation plan.
Pain Management
There are various techniques you can use to reduce pain and inflammation. These include manual hands-on therapy to mobilize your joints and soft tissue. Heat, ice, and ultrasound can also be used to promote healing and help you manage pain. Your physiotherapist might also recommend medication.
Restoring Mobility and Flexibility
Once the pain is under control, you can start thinking about restoring mobility and flexibility. You may achieve this via stretching exercises to boost the range of motion and flexibility. Strengthening exercises can help you rebuild muscle strength and support the area that’s been injured. Balance training can help you improve your coordination and reduce the chances of sustaining injuries in the future.
Functional Rehabilitation
Once your mobility and strength have improved, you can move onto functional exercises. These exercises may be similar to the movements and activities you carry out during sports. The purpose of these is to make sure the area is once again ready for sport without a strong likelihood of re-injury.
Preventive Strategies
Your physiotherapist can provide detailed information and help you develop a tailored strategy to reduce the chances of further injuries. They may introduce you to new warm-up and cool-down routines to help you prepare your body for exercise and create tailored programs to address muscle imbalances and weaknesses.
Psychological Support
It’s important to remember that rehabilitation is a psychological process as well as a physical one. It’s common for physiotherapists to work closely with sports psychologists to deliver holistic treatments that help you feel better physically and mentally.
Getting over a sports injury can be tough, but an experienced physiotherapist and comprehensive rehabilitation program can make the process a smooth one. As all athletes are unique, it’s essential that the plan is closely tailored towards your specific needs. This is why choosing a physiotherapist with a custom approach is so important.
Contact Us
At Stittsville Sports Physio, we can help if you require in-person or virtual physiotherapy assessments and treatments. You can reach us by calling (613) 435-9100, or by sending an email to reception@stittsvillephysio.com.