Accelerating Sports Injury Recovery with Physiotherapy
Sports injuries are frustrating for any athlete. Even a minor ankle sprain can keep you from your typical training sessions, and more serious injuries can have you on the sidelines for months. Fortunately, you do have a tool in your pocket for more efficient sports injury recovery: physiotherapy.
At Choice Health Centre, we know you want to get over your injury as quickly as possible. While truly accelerating sports injury recovery isn’t possible–your recovery will take as long as it needs–we offer several techniques that can facilitate the process and reduce your risk of future injuries in the long term.
To explore the role of physiotherapy in addressing sports injuries, let’s look at the story of Alex (not his real name), an avid soccer player who successfully rehabilitated after a hamstring strain.
How Physiotherapy Helped Alex Recover from a Hamstring Strain
Alex was in his mid-twenties when he strained his hamstring while playing a particularly tough soccer game with his recreational league. He took off in a sudden spring to chase the ball, only to be waylaid by a sharp pain in the back of his thigh that took him out of the game.
A visit to urgent care confirmed that he suffered a moderate hamstring strain. His medical provider referred to him Choice Health Centre to aid in his recovery.
Laying the Foundation for a Good Recovery
We focused on reducing Alex’s pain and inflammation during the initial stages. We advised him to rest his injured leg and avoid strenuous activities.
However, early movement is critical for recovering after an orthopedic injury, so we guided him through physiotherapist-led range-of-motion exercises to help facilitate his body’s healing processes. Other manual therapy techniques, like soft tissue manipulation, helped release tension and improve blood flow to the injured area, further facilitating recovery.
We also showed Alex some acute pain management techniques, such as occasionally icing his injury. We taught him the importance of listening to his body and avoiding movements that could aggravate the injury.
These early interventions helped Alex manage his pain while preparing his body for the next stage of rehabilitation.
Building Strength and Mobility
Once Alex’s pain was less intense, we incorporated more intense strength and mobility exercises to help him restore function in his affected leg.
For example, we guided him through several dynamic stretches to help prepare his hamstring muscles for more intense movement. We began his strengthening program with isometric hamstring contractions that activated the injured muscle without causing pain. As he improved, we added resistance bands and light weights to his prescribed exercises.
Gradual Return to Sport
As Alex regained strength and mobility, it was time to prepare him for his return to the soccer field. Balance exercises like single-leg stands helped Alex regain his stability, making him less prone to injury.
We also guided him through functional training exercises. These exercises were designed to mimic the movements he needed for soccer, such as jogging and sprinting. By practicing these movements in our physiotherapy clinic, he was more prepared to get back in the game.
Finally, we provided Alex with a personalized return-to-sport schedule, outlining specific modifications and movements to help him ease back into suffering without risking re-injury.
By the end of his physiotherapy program, Alex had not only recovered but also felt stronger and more confident on the field.
Take the First Step Toward Recovery with Choice Health Centre
Are you sitting on the sidelines? Sports injury recovery with Choice Health Centre can help get you back to doing what you love. We’ll create personalized care plans tailored to your specific sport and injury to help facilitate your body’s natural healing process.
Schedule an appointment at our Dartmouth, NS, Halifax, NS, Bedford, NS, and Fall River, NS clinics today to get started!