Sports Injuries

Common Injuries
- Bruises.
- Ligament sprains.
- Joint injuries.
- Over-use injuries.

What Goes Wrong
Most sporting injuries are a result of a direct blow (bruise or contusion) or an indirect force like a twist (sprains, strains, tears). Some injuries are due to over use stresses (tendinitis, stress fractures).

How Can You Minimise Injury?
- Correct warm up and warm down procedures.
- Protective strapping or bracing.
- Correct footwear and sporting equipment.
- Specific conditioning for your particular sport.
- Good aerobic fitness.
- Good muscle control and reactions.

Getting Back Into Action
Before you can safely return to your sport it is essential to regain strength, mobility, balance and co-ordination. Our physiotherapists will assess these areas and show you how to improve them.

How Physiotherapy Can Help
Our principal physiotherapist, Neil Bowler, is highly qualified and trained in the assessment and treatment of sports injuries. During his career, he has been appointed to sports teams to monitor the rehabiliation of injured players and assist with preventing injuries.

What Should I Do After An Injury?
As soon as possible, and for 72 hours after injury, use the RICE method:
Rest - Take it easy and only move within your limit of pain.
Ice - As soon as possible, and for 20 minutes every two hours, apply ice or a frozen gel pack wrapped in a damp towel. This helps to control bleeding and pain and reduces secondary tissue damage.
Compression - Firmly bandage the injury. This helps to control swelling.
Elevation - As much as possible, elevate your injury higher than the level of your heart to reduce swelling.

See one of our physiotherapists especially if there is pain and swelling after 24 hours.

Rehabilitate
Recovery can start very early after an injury. Physiotherapy rehabilitation techniques will help reduce the time that your injury is painful and movement is restricted, so that you can safely return to sport faster. Rehabilitation also facilitates a good quality repair and the return to normal muscle and nerve function.
Avoid any of the HARM factors in the first 48 hours to prevent increased swelling and help your recovery:
- Heat,
- Alcohol,
- Running,
- Massage.