Sports Injury Rehabilitation: Types, Rehabilitation Stages and Benefits

What Is Meant by Sports Injury Rehabilitation?

Sports injury rehabilitation is a constructed program designed by the physical therapist for persons who are injured while playing sports. The physiotherapy for each person varies depending on the type of injury and the area of injury. Sports injury rehabilitation can happen during any type of sport like running, lifting, swimming, throwing, jumping, stretching, etc.

Sports injury rehabilitation is described as restoring the optimal function and form of a sportsperson after a sports injury. It helps the injured athletes to return to their pre-injury fitness level and in preventing re-injury. Proper sports injury rehabilitation includes pain management and effective exercises to increase the range of motion, mobility, flexibility, balance, and coordination of the injured athletes.

What Are the Types of Sports Injuries?

Sports injuries usually occur while playing sports and other physical activities. The types of sports injuries include:

• Strains - A strain happens when the muscles overextend causing stretch or tear. Some examples include abdominal strain, hamstring strain, and back strain.

• Sprains - A sprain occurs when ligaments tear or stretch. Ligaments are the parts that connect bones and stabilize the joints. Sprains usually occur in the knees, ankles, and wrists.

• Cartilage Tear - Cartilage is a flexible absorber that cushions the ends of the bones. It occurs in joints such as the shoulders and knees.

• Broken Bone - Bone fracture happens when force is applied to bones suddenly.

• Tendinitis - The inflammation of tendons is known as tendinitis. Tendons are the parts of the musculoskeletal system that connect muscles to bones. It is caused by repeated movements. An example of tendonitis is patellar tendonitis(jumper's knee).

• Dislocation - It happens when the end part of the bone moves from its normal position in a joint.

• Concussion - It is a brain injury that happens due to a blow to the head.

Which Parts Are Most Commonly Affected in Sports Injuries?

Sports injuries can happen in any part of the body but most commonly, the parts which get injured are:

• Ankle - The junction of the leg and foot is said to ankle. It has three joints, many bones, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons. The most common sports injury is an ankle sprain.

• Elbow - The junction of the upper and lower arm is said as the elbow joint. Overuse of it causes an injury.

• Achilles Tendon - Achilles tendon is a cord that connects calf muscles to the heel. It helps in walking movement. Inflammation and tearing of the tendon can be caused by a sports injury.

• Head - The head is an important part of the body. The type of sports injury that happens in the head is a concussion.

• Shoulder - It connects the upper arm to the body's trunk. It has a rotator cuff, which is a group of muscles and tendons that connect the upper arm to the shoulder socket. Inflammation and tear of the shoulder parts are caused by a sports injury.

• Knee - It is a joint that connects the thigh and lower leg. It contains muscles, bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. Inflammation and tear in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments are caused by sports injuries.

What Are the Injuries That Can Be Treated Through Sports Injury Rehabilitation?

The sports injuries that can be treated through sports injury rehabilitation exercises include:

• Chronic injuries or recent injuries.

• Stress fractures.

• Rotator cuff injuries.

• Shoulder separation or dislocation.

• Anterior cruciate ligament tear in the knees.

• Frozen shoulder syndrome.

• Pulled hamstrings.

What Are the Stages of Sports Injury Rehabilitation?

The time taken to rehabilitate a sports injury depends on the severity of the injury. The stages of sports injury rehabilitation are:

Stage 1: Reduction of pain and swelling.

Stage 2: Improving range of motion and joint mobility.

Stage 3: Regaining endurance and strength.

Stage 4: increasing coordination skills.

Stage 5: Gradually returning to sports activities.

Reduction of Pain and Swelling -

With all types of sports injuries, the first two symptoms are pain and swelling in the injured part. The physical therapist is first involved in reducing the swelling and pain by rotating ice or heat on the injured part or even recommending massage therapy. After reducing the pain and swelling, the physical therapist moves on to the next stage.

Improving Range of Motion and Joint Mobility -

When the pain and swelling subside, the physical therapist suggests the person perform a range of motion exercises as their joints and muscles may be stiff due to prolonged time of immobility or the nature of the injury. It reduces the stiffness of the joints and long-term damage.

Regaining Endurance and Strength -

After improving the range of motion of a person, the physical therapist is involved in regaining their strength and endurance by suggesting some strengthening exercises which reduce the risk of recurrence of the injury while getting closer to the athletic ability.

Increasing Coordination Skills -

An athlete needs to maintain proper body coordination. The physical therapist is involved in re-teaching the person by stimulating their proprioception and achieving their balance and coordination. Proprioception is nothing but the body's ability to understand its position in space without looking. Improving the proprioception of a person helps them in preventing an injury from recurrence.

Gradually Returning to Sports Activities -

In this final stage, the physical therapist is involved in suggesting exercises related to their sports activities. After this stage of rehabilitation, the person gains the confidence to compete in sports without fear.

What Are the Benefits of Sports Injury Rehabilitation?

Specialized musculoskeletal physiotherapists are involved in performing sports injury rehabilitation programs. The benefits of sports injury rehabilitation include:

• Restoring the full function of a person in a short period.

• Initiates a faster recovery and returns to normal sports activities.

• Helps in strengthening weakened muscles.

• Involves reducing swelling and pain in the injured part.

• Helps to maintain cardiovascular fitness.

• Helps in minimizing future injuries.

• Improves a person's coordination and balance.

• Improves a person's flexibility.

• Helps concerning equipment and correct footwear.

• Helps in breaking scar tissues and promotes the healing process.

• Reduce stiffness and muscle spasms.

• Increases the nutrition and lubrication of injured joints and normal joints.

Conclusion

The person who is involved in sports activities for prolonged periods gets depressed if they are not able to play sports due to an injury. There comes a remedy called sports injury rehabilitation. The physical therapist helps the sports persons return to their activities and take them out of depression.