WHAT IS SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY?
Sports physiotherapy is a subspecialty of physical therapy that caters to both professional and recreational players who have sustained an injury or persistent issue. Sports physiotherapy is a specialist type of physical therapy that is intended to treat diseases or injuries sustained while participating in sports. Hands-on therapy and rehabilitation are among the techniques. Sports physiotherapy might be a good form of treatment for you, regardless of whether you are a professional athlete or just starting out in your athletic career.
Sports activities, whether they are performed professionally or not, can result in major injuries or even muscular strain. These issues could get worse if correct medical care and treatment are not received. But thanks to the use of sports physiotherapy, these undesirable injuries can now be treated and avoided from happening again. Through a variety of techniques and exercises, you may improve your performance and stave against future ailments. Sports physiotherapy is intended to assist you in returning to your normal activities as quickly, securely, and effectively as possible. The diseases that are addressed by sports physiotherapy range from different musculoskeletal illnesses to nerve, ligament, or muscle injuries.
The Key of Sports Physiotherapy Are:
- Examining and diagnosing injuries
- Identifying the cause of an injury
- Designing an individual treatment plan
- Rehabilitation
- Performance enhancement
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Sports injuries are high-performance wounds that demand meticulous attention. A sports physiotherapist collaborates closely with the team or athlete to pinpoint the demands of a specific activity and maximise performance after injury. For example, a football player in the middle of the field can suffer an ankle injury while playing and require rehabilitation. He receives customised rehabilitation exercises so that he can sprint, change directions, and control the ball as he did before the injury, depending on his sport.A specific rehab regimen is created for each sport to help the athlete return to it. If the injury is related to cricket, such as hypertension in a fast bowler, the bowler is given instructions on exercises to prevent hyperextension or to stabilise the spine, which will help him get back to playing the game.
In reality, sports physiotherapy can offer a variety of therapeutic approaches. Regular patients’ back and neck pain will be treated using a variety of sports therapy treatment strategies, with a focus on movement rehabilitation. For instance, many average people have taken up running as a form of exercise, but often struggle with injuries because they lack instruction or understanding.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SPORTS THAT NEED PHYSIOTHERAPY?
The possibility of injuries to the head, face, shoulder, arm, thigh, and knee exists at all times for players. By making sure that the muscles and joints are adequately warmed up, protective gear is worn, safety equipment is used, and proper cool-down exercises are performed, injuries can be prevented in a number of ways. Exercises should be performed while being supervised by a licenced and skilled physiotherapist.
Sports in which injuries occur most commonly are:
- Soccer/football
- Tennis
- Cricket
- Hockey
- Athletic
- Though there are various other sports that also require physiotherapy treatment like Basketball, Volleyball, Rugby, Badminton, Cycling etc.
WHICH CONDITIONS AND SPORTS INJURIES CAN BE HELPED BY SPORTS THERAPY?
Muscle Strain: One of the most frequent sports injuries, a pulled or strained muscle occurs when a muscle is overextended and torn. Quadriceps, calves, quadriceps, groyne, lower back, and shoulder muscles are the most commonly strained muscles.
Tendonitis:A traumatic injury can cause micro-tears in the muscle fibres, which can lead to tendonitis, an inflammation of the tendon that is often brought on by overuse.
Stress Fracture:Overuse injuries also include stress fractures. It occurs when the muscles are unable to handle the pressure, leading to a fracture. Stress fractures typically affect the lower legs and feet, and female athletes are more likely than male athletes to sustain such injuries.
Contusions:Contusions are wounds caused by a direct blow to the muscle. The severity of the damage, which causes swelling and bruising, increases with the speed at which the player is struck by the piece of equipment. RICE is advised as a course of therapy, while more serious contusions can call urgent medical attention.
Whiplash injury: A sudden or unexpected backward or forward motion of the neck might result in a whiplash injury. The neck becomes strained when someone falls unexpectedly or is struck. It frequently happens in contact sports and results in modest or severe soft tissue damage to the muscles and ligaments in the neck and vertebrae, producing discomfort and numbness in the arms. The extent of the damage determines the player’s recuperation.
Shoulder Impingement:Playing causes repetitive overhead movement, which can lead to shoulder discomfort. High levels of muscle control are needed to preserve the stability of the shoulder joint throughout these recurrent concentric and eccentric movements. Rest, ice, and Kinesiotaping are the first physiotherapy treatments recommended for these problems. The physiotherapist creates range of motion and strengthening exercises to increase the flexibility of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Acromioclavicular joint injury:In hockey, shoulder injuries are very common. Acromioclavicular (AC) joint damage, usually referred to as a shoulder separation, is the most frequent shoulder injury. The direct contact strike to the shoulder that results in this injury. From a sprain to a complete tear of the affected ligaments, there are various degrees of severity. The physical rehabilitation regimen involves isometrics and moderate ROM movements after being immobilised by resting in a sling.
Rotator cuff injury:Repetitive microtrauma, which can happen over time, is the main cause of a rotator cuff tear. When the rotator cuff tendons are repeatedly pinched, strained, caught, or squeezed, bruising or edoema results. The goal of a physiotherapist is to lessen pain and inflammation. Before beginning isotonic exercises and vigorous pain-free strengthening, the therapist advises performing ROM exercises, isometric exercises, and capsular stretching.
Tennis elbow:The tendons on the outside of the elbow are injured by tennis elbow due to overuse and overload from the serve and forehand stroke. Tennis elbow is treated with rest, ice, and Kinesiotaping in physiotherapy. A wrist brace or tennis elbow band may be worn, and it is beneficial to perform specific physiotherapy exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles.
Golfer’s elbow: Tennis elbow Alternatively, medial epicondylitis is brought on by overusing topspin and the backhand stroke, which results in pain and irritation. Kinesiotaping, rest, and ice are all components of physiotherapy treatment. After performing stretches and strengthening exercises, a wrist brace may be worn.
Wrist strain:Wrist sprains, wrist fractures, and shoulder dislocations can all result from falling on an outstretched arm. It can happen when the wrist moves abnormally, twists rapidly, bends backward, or is hit hard. The wrist is stiff and the player experiences warmth, popping, or tearing sounds.
Carpal tunnel syndrome:These accidents happen as a result of the relaxed grip, upward rotation of the palm, and fast wrist rotation during the topspin. Rest, ice, Kinesio-taping, range-of-motion exercises, and strengthening techniques are used in the treatment of various diseases.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY?
The majority of physiotherapy facilities do provide assistance in dealing with various cardiopulmonary problems. They do research on how to help athletes breathe easier and have more endurance so they can go about their daily tasks more effectively. The majority of sports therapists do have advantages when it comes to treating neurological illnesses, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, etc. The necessary tools and information are available to sports physiotherapists to assist in treating chronic, severe, and overuse injuries. They do matter a lot to any athlete’s performance and wellbeing.
Depending on the type of damage, it can take weeks or even months to fully recover. A physiotherapist can assist you with mild exercises that stimulate the injured tissues and muscles to help you regain your full range of motion from before the accident. With the relief of pain, the physiotherapists gradually introduce various stretching and strengthening exercises. In order to better assist the entire recovery process, sports physiotherapists offer personalised rehabilitation plans based on the kind of injury.
