About Sports Injury Rehabilitation
This information is intended for general information only and should not be considered as medical advice on the part of Health-Tourism.com. Any decision on medical treatments, after-care or recovery should be done solely upon proper consultation and advice of a qualified physician.
What is sports injury rehabilitation?
It is a safe approach that assists athletes and sports enthusiast to successfully diagnose and treat pain so as to return to normal function or realize optimal performance.
How does the program work? Sports injury rehabilitation combines treatment with detailed flexibility and strengthening exercises. The exercises are included gradually to the rehabilitation program to ensure that the injury site regains its full function. Sports injury rehabilitation will involve a team of healthcare professionals who will assist in developing tailored programs for each individual as well as giving advice on various aspects of the healing.
Rehabilitation programs understand that everyone is different and that response to various exercises is not the same. They aim at restoring muscle strength, balance, power and endurance, proprioception and improve flexibility.
What are the benefits of sports injury rehabilitation? - Mobility deficiencies are improved through tailored exercise programs
- Targeted exercises are used to aid your return to function as before the injury
- It aids in achieving peak performance
- It helps decrease vulnerability to additional sports related injuries
What injuries or conditions does sports injury rehabilitation treat? - Strains
- Muscle, ligament and tendon repairs
- Hand injuries
- Acute sports injuries
- Sprains
- Tendonitis
- Foot or ankle dysfunction
- Shoulder dislocation
- Post surgery rehabilitation
- Meniscus tears
- ACL reconstruction
- Bursitis
- Rotator cuff repair
- Musculoskeletal injuries
Stages of rehabilitationSports injury rehabilitation has three recognized stages which are:
- Early stage: This stage involves gentle exercise so as to allow damaged tissue to heal. This stage is crucial and if rushed leads to poor healing leaving you prone to re-injury.
- Mid-stage: This stage involves gradually loading the bones, muscles tendons, and/or ligaments. This develops tensile strength and heals the tissue enabling it to withstand regular exercise and strain.
- Late stage: This is the final stage and it involves using functional drills and exercises to stress the tissue and this enables it to adapt.
How long will the rehabilitation program last? The severity and degree of the injury is the main determining factor on how long the rehabilitation will last. The method of therapy used also determines the length of the program. In addition, the willingness of the patient also affects the success and length of the program.
How soon can I start rehabilitation? Exercises should start after the initial inflammatory phase which is usually 3 days. Most times, it should be painless. Pain is the body’s reaction and it should signal that you need to slow down or stop. However, some injuries such as Achilles and Patella tendon injuries have rehabilitation exercises that are not pain-free.
It is important to seek medical advice before beginning a sports injury rehabilitation program. For a successful rehabilitation program the following tips are crucial:
- Start rehabilitation as soon as possible, after the inflammation stage has passed.
- Be aware of how and why you are doing the exercises or treatment
- Follow a particular but tailored exercise program
- Make the most of the accessible facilities
Procedures and techniques used in sports injury rehabilitation programs include: - Bracing and taping
- Modalities
- Fabrication of protective pads
- Manual therapy
- Functional activities
- Proprioceptive training
- Muscle reconditioning
Learn more about Sports Injury Rehabilitation