Physiotherapy for Sports Injuries

Be healthy, play sport and do more exercise– lifestyle advice and initiatives such as ‘Fit 4 Life’ are everywhere.

With more and more emphasis on getting people moving (and in the wake of the London 2012 Olympics,) there is an increasing uptake in sports participation nationwide.

My name is Rebecca Wyatt and I am a Chartered Physiotherapist at Lilliput Health based in Poole, Dorset. This blog is going to focus on sports injuries and their relation to physiotherapy, outlining some of the most common problems which can occur when participating in a sport or hobby.

Exercise is good for you and is enjoyable on all levels whether it is activities such as running, a weekly game of squash or as part of a local sports team.  However within this positive growth of mass participation, there are an increasing amount of sports injuries occurring.

Injuries of all forms are hampering at the best of times, but when you are the member of a team or have an important event (e.g. a marathon) speedily approaching the effects can seriously impede on your performance and/or prevent further training.

There are several reasons why a sports injury may occur:

  • Due to an accident (e.g. a rider who falls from their horse)
  • Use of improper or unsafe equipment, or even not following correct procedures
  • Poor training practises and preparation (common in first time runners)
  • Poor technique (e.g. when using weights in the gym)
  • Ineffective warm ups and cool downs
  • Being in poor shape or “out of practice.”

A recent return to sport after a previous injury can also make you susceptible to further problems if it hasn’t been a gradual return to activity or if the injury hasn’t been rehabilitated thoroughly.

Physiotherapy is the key for all sports related injuries and problems no matter how big or small. A Physiotherapist can help identify and diagnose your problem through a thorough assessment and then provide you with all the necessary information as to why it may have occurred and what can be done to get it better.  Physiotherapy for sports injuries provides rehabilitation and treatment to regain your normal function, and with the help of a Chartered Physiotherapist a graded return to sport and activity can be implemented.

Common types of sports injuries include:

  • Muscle strains and tears
  • Ligament sprains (i.e. from twisting your ankle)
  • Swelling and inflammation
  • Contusion
  • Stress fractures and other fractures
  • Joint dislocations
  • Hyperextension injuries
  • Repetitive injuries such as tennis and golfer’s elbow
  • Achilles tendon injuries and
  • Rotator cuff injuries, the list is endless.

If you are suffering with an acute injury it is important that you stop the activity immediately and apply ice to the area to effectively manage any bruising or swelling.  Appropriate pain relief may be required depending on the type of injury sustained.  It is then advised that you seek guidance from a Physiotherapist or in the case of severe injury seek help from a medical professional, GP or Accident and Emergency centre.

For further information and advice – or to speak directly with one of our experienced Chartered Physiotherapists in Poole, contact our team at Lilliput Health based in Poole, Dorset on 01202 725090 or contact us here.

If you are based in Bournemouth and would prefer a more local appointment then discover more about our Bournemouth physiotherapy team today.