Physiotherapy for Injured Athletes

25th, Jan 2024

The Role of Physiotherapy for Injured Athletes

Physiotherapy plays an important role in the rehabilitation of sports injuries in athletes. Physiotherapists have the knowledge necessary to promote flexibility, and can help recover from minor to severe injuries and return to physical activity safely and effectively. A professional physiotherapy centre in Mississauga employs the ideal rehabilitation program depending on several factors, such as the severity of the injury, how old the injury is, the type of sports you play, the level of physical endurance you need, etc. Learn here the role of physiotherapy for injured athletes.

Sports physiotherapists use various techniques to treat sport-specific injuries, such as; shoulder, knee, back, ankle injuries, etc. Besides sports injury recovery, physiotherapists also help prevent future injuries through active rehabilitation. They typically work in collaboration with doctors, trainers and other health professionals to ensure that the athlete receives the best treatment.

The benefits of physiotherapy in sports injury recovery

A sports injury physiotherapy centre can help an injured athlete in various ways.

• Pain Relief: The techniques used by expert therapists relieve pain and inflammation, allowing for a faster and more comfortable recovery.
• Improved mobility: Thanks to physiotherapy, better mobility of the joints and muscles affected by the injury can be achieved. Mobility helps prevent stiffness and loss of movement.
• Strengthening: Physiotherapists develop rehabilitation programs that consist of performing specific exercises to strengthen the muscles and tendons that are affected by the injury. This helps prevent future injuries.
• Injury prevention: When you see a physiotherapist to recover from a sports injury, they will provide you with valuable information about how to prevent future injuries.
• Return to sport safely: A physiotherapy centre allows injured athletes to return to sport safely, avoiding complications and ensuring a full recovery.

Types of common sports injuries

Knee injuries: ACL sprain or meniscus sprain

Physical therapy can help reduce pain and inflammation caused by these types of injuries, as well as increase mobility and strengthen knee muscles to prevent future injuries.

Shoulder injuries: supraspinatus tendinitis or dissociative shoulder

Shoulder injuries are very common injuries in athletes who practice repetitive arm movements. In this case, physical therapy helps reduce pain and improve the mobility of the shoulder joint.

Back injuries: Low back pain or herniated discs

Low back pain or herniated discs are very common in athletes who play sports that require repetitive movements or excessive efforts. Physical therapy can help reduce pain and improve mobility, as well as strengthen muscles to prevent injury.

Ankle injuries:

Ankle sprains are very common injuries, especially in athletes who practice high-impact and contact sports. Physiotherapy exercises are essential for the rehabilitation of sports injuries.

Physiotherapy exercises in sports injury rehabilitation

A reliable physiotherapy centre often develops specific exercise programs for each injury, taking into account the individual needs of each patient. Below we list some examples of common physical therapy exercises in sports injury rehabilitation –

Strengthening exercises:

Essential to help affected muscles and tendons recover and return to normal strength. Some of them are: weight lifting, resistance bands and stretching exercises.

Mobility exercises:

Important to help joints return to their normal range of motion. Examples: stretching, joint mobility exercises and balance exercises.

Stabilization exercises:

Help affected joints return to normal stability. Examples: core training exercises and balance exercises.

Cardio exercises:

They are vital to help improve circulation and cardiovascular endurance. Examples: walking, running, swimming and cycling.

The benefits of massage therapy in sports injury rehabilitation

Body massage therapy in Mississauga plays a crucial role in sports injury rehabilitation, offering several benefits. Firstly, it aids in reducing muscle soreness and inflammation, promoting faster recovery. The manipulation of soft tissues helps improve circulation, delivering nutrients and oxygen to the injured area while facilitating the removal of metabolic byproducts.

Body massage therapy also enhances flexibility and joint range of motion, preventing stiffness and promoting proper biomechanics. Additionally, it can break down scar tissue, preventing adhesions and promoting optimal tissue healing. Beyond the physical aspects, massage therapy can alleviate stress and anxiety.

How physical therapy is integrated into a complete rehabilitation plan

The best physiotherapy centre can integrate physical therapy into a full rehabilitation plan in several ways –

• Evaluation;
• Treatment;
• Strengthening and mobility exercises;
• Education;
• Coordination with other health professionals.

Why is physical therapy essential?

Physiotherapy is essential in the rehabilitation of sports injuries because in addition to relieving pain and reducing inflammation, it helps to regain mobility and flexibility and strengthen muscles. It also helps athletes identify and correct injury risk factors to prevent future injuries. A renowned physiotherapy centre not only helps heal sports injuries, it can also help with prevention.

A physical therapist is vital when a sports injury occurs because they monitor and adjust the treatment plan as the patient recovers. Visit Real Rehab if you have a sports injury. Our experts makes sure you recover from an injury as fast as possible and go back to your normal day to day practice. Call our physiotherapy centre now and book your consultation!