Sports Injury Rehabilitation
The ever growing popularity of sports world wide has made the “sports industry “extremely competitive and financially lucrative for athletes with many striving for professionalism. This has consequently intensified the physical and emotional burden of sports, increased the training and practice regimens required and exposed those involved in this quest to a higher risk of injury.
In modern competitive sport, injured athletes are under pressure to return to competition as early as possible, which is often a demand for both sports person and the team management. Athletes also stand a chance of losing their place in the team due to the highly competitive scenario and naturally come under higher pressure to return.
Thus compared to traditional rehabilitation after injury, sports injury rehabilitation requires more care, a highly structured and sports specific approach, which should prepare both athlete and the injured tissue for the following physical and psychological demands at the highest level of sport.
Physiotherapy interventions
Rehabilitation after sport injury is a crucial aspect to ensure full recovery, minimize time off from sports and to prevent further injury. Stages of sports injury rehabilitation
Acute phase
Promote tissue healing and avoid reconditioning traditionally, clinicians have been employing protocol inclusive of protection, rest, ice, comparison and elevation. (PRICE). Introductory loading should involve a return to full weight bearing, which can also be achieved through hydrotherapy or weight assisted treadmills. Owing to its pain inhibitory effects, isometrics exercises makes another excellent option as the first line of tissue loading. Low intensity pulsed ultrasound and NMES (neuromuscular electric stimulation) are still used in the clinical sitting in an attempt to manage inflammation and promote healing.
Reconditioning phase
Rehabilitation involving strength and conditioning in athletes could be highly variable as compared to the general population.
Return to sports
Once the rehabilitation criteria for the reconditioning phase have been fulfilled, a decision to return to sport need to be taken. A collaborative decision needs to be made by entire rehabilitation team.
Prevention of injury
A previous injury is the highest predictor of risk of injury. Injury prevention programs used to improve muscular strength, flexibility and proprioception balance.