Most sports injuries can be effectively treated or prevented by your Chartered Physiotherapist, enabling you to return to your sport as soon as possible.
Common causes of injuries:

• Poor preparation for sport

Warm up allows you to increase body temperature and blood flood to the muscles and joints of the limbs in preparation for exercise. Post- exercise cool down and stretching will help reduce next day stiffness.

• Doing too much training too soon

Your body needs time to adapt and strengthen during your exercise programme. Listen to your body- pain during or after exercise may be a signal that you are doing too much.

• Unsuitable equipment

Your sports gear needs to be in good condition and suitable for the sport. For example, helmets, racquets, shin guards, gum-shields and footwear need to fit properly.

• Returning to sport too soon after injury

Any injury will predispose you to injury in the future. Make sure you see a chartered physiotherapist so that you will undergo appropriate rehabilitation and receive the right advice to help prevent this.

Injured?

Severe pain, swelling and bruising are signs of serious injury and should be reviewed by a medical professional.
More mild aches and pains apply the PRICE principles.

PRICE

P- Protect the injured part with a support bandage, sling or crutches as required.
R- Rest the injured area to allow healing and to avoid further injury.
I- Ice apply an icepack wrapped in a damp cloth (to avoid an ice burn) for 10 minute periods.
C- A compression bandage will help control swelling. Take care that it is not too tight.
E- Elevate the injured area above the level of the heart if possible.

Avoid any of the harm factors

Heat increases bleeding in the injured tissues.
Alcohol (and dancing) increases swelling.
Exercising too soon makes the injury worse.
Massage in the first 24hours may disrupt healing.

Getting back in the game

Before you can safely return to sport the injury should have healed. It is essential to regain sufficient strength, mobility, balance and coordination for your sport.
Chartered physiotherapists are experts in the assessment and treatment of sports injuries. With a comprehensive knowledge of biomechanics, tissue pathology and healing, chartered physiotherapists are appointed to many sports teams to oversee the fitness and rehabilitation of injured players. They also play a key role in injury prevention via pre-participation screening.

Start stretching now!

Lunges are great preparation!

More information coming this week January 11th

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