Table of Contents
- Written By Daniel Muntz (Physiotherapist)
- Last Updated On 15 Aug 2023
Physio For Sports Injuries
In the dynamic world of sports, where passion and athleticism converge, the exhilarating pursuit of victory often comes with its fair share of risks. Sports injuries, the silent adversaries of athletes, can wreak havoc on their careers, dreams, and physical well-being. Understanding the complex nature of these injuries and finding effective strategies for prevention and rehabilitation have become crucial endeavors in the realm of sports medicine. We’ll break down the basics of sports injuries, from how they happen to how we can prevent them. So, whether you’re a budding athlete or just someone curious about sports, join us as we explore the world of sports injuries and learn how to keep the game going strong.
What Are Sports Injuries?
Sports injuries are those that occur during or as a cause of sports or athletic activities. These injuries can happen to professional athletes, recreational sports enthusiasts, or even individuals engaging in physical activities for exercise or fun. Sports injuries can affect various parts of the body, including muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues.
Sports injuries can be painful and depending on the injury and its severity, can put athletes out of training for long periods of time. Since they are mostly musculoskeletal in nature, medical professionals often recommend physio for sports injuries as an effective way to treat, relieve pain and restore mobility to the affected area.
Physio for sports injuries encompass not only just localised treatment but an entire program built around post-injury rehabilitation, coaching, conditioning, and education around strengthening and injury prevention. Health professionals are often required to take a slightly different approach with sports injuries as they need to ensure the athlete can return to peak performance post injury.
So if you’re an athlete currently down with an injury due to sport, a doctor may refer you to sports injury physio to ensure you’re getting the right treatment and support needed to help you return to peak performance in the future.
At Pro-Form Physiotherapy, our team of physiotherapists come from various sport backgrounds with some being ex-athletes as well. From extensive training and personal experience, we’re able to understand your injury and everything you need to help you return to peak shape. Chat to one of our sports injury physios today to learn more about how we can help support you in your journey to recovery.
Types of Sports Injuries
Now that we’ve understood what sports injuries are how they are caused, let’s delve into the most common types of sports injuries:
- Sprains: This occurs when ligaments (connective tissues that join bones) are stretched or torn, often due to sudden twisting or impact. Ankle sprains are particularly common among basketball and tennis players and sports that involve extreme agility.
- Strains: Strains involve the stretching or tearing of muscles or tendons, which are the fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones. Strains are commonly seen in the hamstring muscles and the lower back due to activities like running and lifting weights. The treatment for hamstring tears and lower back injuries include manual therapy but are also supplemented with coaching and correction of technique to prevent it from occurring in the future.
- Fractures: Fractures are broken bones resulting from direct impact, such as falls or collisions or due to repetitive overuse of an area . Common fractures in sports include wrist fractures, ankle fractures, and stress fractures (hairline cracks in bones due to repetitive stress). Fractures are seen commonly in high contact sports such as rugby, football, AFL etc.
- Dislocations: Dislocations occur when the bones in a joint are forced out of their normal positions. They can be very painful and often require medical attention to put the joint back in place. The most common dislocations include shoulder and knee for athletes. Hip dislocations are often seen in older individuals.
- Concussions: A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or a violent shaking of the head and body. It can result in temporary loss of brain function, leading to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, confusion, and memory problems. Concussions can occur in high contact sports like football. While a physio for sports injuries can help with musculoskeletal rehabilitation post injury, concussions are often referred to qualified doctors or neurosurgeons for an in depth assessment and treatment.
- Overuse injuries: These injuries develop gradually over time due to repetitive stress on a particular part of the body. Examples of overuse sports injuries include tennis elbow, runner’s knee, and shin splints that are generally referred to a sports injury physio.
- Muscle cramps: Muscle cramps are sudden and involuntary contractions of one or more muscles, often caused by dehydration or electrolyte imbalances. For athletes, muscle cramps are most commonly seen in the lower body such as in the hamstring or calf. In most cases, muscle cramps can be relieved by manual therapy and stretching by a qualified sports physio.
It’s important to note that the severity of sports injuries can vary widely, ranging from minor strains and sprains to more severe injuries requiring surgery and prolonged rehabilitation.
At Pro-Form, you can expect to be assessed by a trained physio for sports injuries, to determine the cause and extent of your injury based on which appropriate treatment will be advised.
At Pro-Form, we understand sports injuries and we take into consideration your needs and goals and work closely with you to develop a program that gives you long lasting results and helps you achieve peak performance.
Chat to a sports injury physio at Pro-Form today to learn more about how we can help you kickstart your journey to recovery.
What are the most common sports injuries seen in athletes?
The most common sports injuries can vary depending on the specific sport or activity. However, some injuries tend to be more prevalent across a range of sports. Here are some of the most common sports injuries:
- Sprained Ankle: Ankle sprains occur when the ligaments that support the ankle joint are stretched or torn, often due to a sudden twisting or rolling motion. They are common in sports that involve running, jumping, and quick changes of direction like basketball and tennis.
- Hamstring tears: Hamstring tears are the straining or tearing of the muscles located in the back of the thigh and are often seen in runners, especially sprinters. The hamstring muscles consist of three muscles: the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus, all play a crucial role in bending and straightening the knee . Hamstring tears can occur due to several reasons including sudden forceful movements, overstretching or weakness or imbalances in the muscles surrounding the hamstring. The treatment for hamstring tears often include rest and physiotherapy and in some rare cases surgery depending on the intensity of the tear.
- Knee Injuries: Knee injuries can range from minor sprains and strains to more severe ligament tears. Common knee injuries include ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears, patella tendinopathy (jumper’s knee), meniscus tears, and patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee). These knee injuries often occur in athletes who engage in sports like soccer, cycling, gymnastics, basketball and tennis.
- Tennis Elbow: Also known as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow is an overuse injury that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons of the forearm muscles. It is often associated with repetitive gripping motions, not necessarily limited to tennis. Physio for tennis elbow includes a comprehensive program of manual therapy, treatment around the elbow n and exercises that can help relieve pain and improve mobility. Your physio for tennis elbow may also suggest rest, ice and taping as immediate measures to help relive pain.
- Shin Splints: Shin splints refer to pain along the shinbone (tibia), usually caused by overuse and repetitive stress on the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue in the lower leg. They are common in activities that involve running or jumping.
- Shoulder Injuries: Shoulder injuries can range from rotator cuff strains, bursitis, shoulder impingement, and tendonitis to dislocations and labral tears. They can occur due to direct impact, overuse, or poor technique in sports such as swimming, baseball, tennis, and weightlifting.
- Stress Fractures: Stress fractures are small cracks in bones that are caused by repetitive impact and overuse. They commonly occur in weight-bearing bones such as the tibia (shinbone) and metatarsals (foot bones) and are often seen in activities like running and jumping.
Remember, the frequency and type of injuries can vary depending on the sport, level of competition, training techniques, changes in footwear and other factors. It’s important to prioritise proper warm-up, conditioning, technique, and safety measures to minimise the risk of sports injuries.
How Effective is Physio For Sports Injuries?
Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries. At Pro-Form, most of our physios come from a sports background or are ex-athletes themselves. Drawing from training and experience, we understand sports injuries and equip you with tools you need to return to peak performance.
Here are some ways in which Pro-Form physiotherapy can help with your sports injury:
- Pain Management: Sports injuries can be painful. The first thing we would do after a thorough assessment is use various techniques to alleviate your pain. This may include manual therapy, such as joint mobilisation, dry needling and soft tissue massage, as well as other modalities
- Restoring Range of Motion and Flexibility: Sports injuries can result in limited joint mobility and reduced flexibility. You may not be able to move your injured or surrounding joints the same way as you used to post injury. Therefore, we may prescribe specific exercises, stretching techniques, and manual therapy to restore normal range of motion and flexibility in the affected area.
- Strengthening and Conditioning: Physiotherapy, especially physio for sports injuries involves strengthening and conditioning the affected muscles to prevent re-injury. At Pro-Form, we work with you to design personalised exercise programs to strengthen muscles, tendons, and ligaments affected by the injury. These exercises target the injured area as well as surrounding structures to promote stability, and enhance overall performance. We also work closely with you to perform these exercises with the right technique to ensure you are getting the most out of your rehabilitation program.
- Rehabilitation after Surgery: In cases where sports injuries require surgical intervention, physiotherapy plays a vital role in the post-operative rehabilitation process. Our physios for sports injuries work closely with your doctor to guide you through progressive exercises and treatments to help you regain strength, mobility, and function following surgery.
- Balance and Proprioception Training: Sports injuries can affect balance and proprioception, which is the body’s awareness of its position in space. Here is where we work with you to incorporate specialised exercises and techniques to improve these aspects, reducing the risk of future injuries and enhancing athletic performance.
- Functional Training and Sports-Specific Rehabilitation: Since every sport is different and requires the body to move in different ways, we work with you to tailor your rehabilitation program to the specific demands of the sport or activity you participate in. We provide you with exercises that replicate movements and stresses encountered during sports performance and inturn help you regain your skills and confidence.
- Injury Prevention Strategies: More than treating the injury, it’s important that you prevent a relapse. In addition to treatment, we educate you on proper body mechanics, warm-up and cool-down techniques, and injury prevention strategies. Our sports injury physio team at Pro-Form provides you with guidance on training modifications, equipment selection, and conditioning programs to reduce the risk of future injuries.
- Return-to-Sport Assessment: Nothing gives us more joy than getting you sports ready! Finally, we perform comprehensive evaluations to determine your readiness to return safely to your sport. We are careful to assess strength, flexibility, stability, and functional abilities, and develop a gradual return-to-sport plan to minimise the risk of re-injury.
Overall, we at Pro-Form physiotherapy aim to optimize your recovery, restore function, and facilitate a safe return to sports activities. By addressing the underlying causes of the injury and providing tailored rehabilitation programs, we play a vital role in the holistic management of sports injuries.
If you’re dealing with a sports injury right now, why don’t you chat to one of our sports physios today?
Frequently Asked Questions on Physio For Sports Injuries
Starting physiotherapy soon after an injury is generally advisable. In many cases, beginning within a few days to a week after the injury can be beneficial. Early intervention helps prevent muscle stiffness, joint immobility, and compensatory movements that can lead to long-term issues. However, it’s essential to follow medical advice. In some cases, particularly if the injury is severe or there are fractures, a brief period of rest and medical assessment might be necessary before beginning physiotherapy. Consulting a healthcare professional ensures the timing aligns with your specific injury and overall health condition.
Experiencing increased pain after physiotherapy is not uncommon. It’s often due to the muscles and tissues being worked on, which can temporarily cause soreness. This discomfort is known as “post-exercise soreness” and typically subsides within a day or two. However, if the pain is severe, worsening, or persistent, it’s important to inform your physiotherapist. They can adjust the treatment plan accordingly to ensure you’re progressing without exacerbating the injury.
Physiotherapy is beneficial for a wide range of injuries. Common ones include sprains, strains, and fractures, where it aids in regaining mobility, strength, and function. Joint injuries like dislocations or ligament tears can benefit from physio to improve stability and prevent future issues. Post-surgery, physiotherapy accelerates recovery by guiding you through exercises that promote healing and restore normal movement. Chronic conditions such as back pain, arthritis, and tendonitis can be managed through tailored physio programs that alleviate pain and enhance quality of life. Sports-related injuries like muscle tears or overuse injuries benefit from physio’s targeted exercises and techniques. For any injury, a physiotherapist can create a personalized plan to facilitate healing and restore optimal function.
Immediately after getting injured, follow the R.I.C.E. principle: Rest to prevent further strain, Ice the area to reduce swelling, Compress with a bandage to provide support, and Elevate the injured part to minimize swelling. Avoid using the injured area excessively and refrain from activities that exacerbate the pain. If the injury is severe or doesn’t improve with basic first aid, seek medical attention promptly to ensure proper assessment and treatment.
Yes, you can often take over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for mild to moderate sports injuries. These can help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. However, it’s important to follow the recommended dosage and guidelines on the packaging. If the pain persists or the injury is severe, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional before using OTC medications to ensure they are appropriate and safe for your specific situation.
