The aim in rehabilitation would be to have the injured person get back to their full function.The majority of injuries sustained in sports are not serious and are most likely to impact the muscle and skeletal system. This includes muscles, bones ligaments, tendons as well as soft tissue.These all play a role in supporting the body weight and allowing mobility. In the event of injury, appropriate care must be taken when recovering since one wrong move could result in a re-injury as well as the recovery process taking longer. A lack of rehabilitation could result in injuries that are not serious becoming chronic , which could negatively affect the player’s performance and capacity to return to game. In order to ensure an effective recovery, it’s recommended to follow a planned rehabilitation plan. This includes adhering to specific routines and exercises with proper attention. Although not all injuries will be treated in the exact same method, there are general guidelines to abide by to maximize the chance of a speedy recovery.
Stages of Rehabilitation
1. Rest and protect the injury
The first step towards rehabilitation is to ensure that there is no further injury. This will enable healing to begin and assist during the physical reactions to injuries. Pain and inflammation are the usual first reaction. Inflammation is a body’s defensive reaction to harm and helps in the removal of dead or damaged tissues, replacing them by the growth of normal tissue. It is important to minimize the sensation of pain and protect the area that has been injured to ensure no further injury or discomfort occurs.
A procedure like applying a bandage or a cast over the affected location is a smart option to cover the wound and avoid infection or injuries. These steps can assist in preventing the body from moving to encourage rest and start the process of healing. The application of an ice pack may aid in relieving inflammation and reduce swelling. In addition, taking an anti-inflammatory or analgesic medication could also be a good option to ease pain. It is recommended that a professional physiotherapist or doctor may help in determining the severity damage, and how to safeguard it during take a break, and also in prescribing any medication required.
2. Recuperation of joint Mobility and range of Motion
Given the period of rest to take care and allow pain and swelling to decrease The following step will be to attempt to regain the entire range of motion in the joint that is affected. The return to flexibility can be completed without causing major discomfort. A certain amount of discomfort could be expected, which makes it more difficult to move in the same way you were before your injury.
This process involves muscles stretching, joint mobilisation and therapeutic exercises to aid in this process. Whatever treatment is used, it must be done with care to prevent any further injury. Your physiotherapist can to provide guidance on stretching exercises that can assist in recovering your mobility and enhance performance.
3. Rebuilding Muscle Strength
this point, emphasis is paid to strengthening muscles and building endurance. Dead or damaged tissue is replaced with new tissue that isn’t as durable. So, after recovering from an injury, you’re likely to suffer from muscle fatigue and loss of energy. The longer time you spend in a non-training environment, the longer recovery can take in this stage. The conditioning process must start to remodel and build the tissue that has been created, allowing the individual to return to peak fitness.
It is likely that your physical therapistwill likely recommend cardiovascular or aerobic exercises to maintain endurance. It usually starts by doing gentle exercises such as swimming or cycling stationary bikes. By ensuring proper form and low impact, your muscle groups will be in good shape and this will lead to greater recovery. The concept of load progression can be utilized to gradually build the endurance and strength of this muscle, and to avoid overloading, which can cause setbacks.
4. Recovery of Coordination
Sports activities tend to involve a variety of complex actions that require spatial awareness as well as the position of limbs at any moment. In the case of sports injuries, lesion may occur on the musculoskeletal structure, which can cause changes in the proprioceptive mechanism. They may affect an individual’s ability to control muscles correctly and keep the balance.
The ability to perform this task is impaired when recovering, however it can be restored with specific exercises to address issues such as balance and hand-eye coordination. Restoring neuromuscular control and spatial awareness will decrease the chance of injury recurrence and boost the chance of being able to compete again. The exercises a physiotherapist would use will be based on the way the patient performs during a movement assessment.
5. Recovery of specific technical movements
For each sport comes with its unique unique range of movement. The way football players move is completely different than how basketball players move. The final stage of recovery is aiding the person in regaining their ability to execute complicated movements that are unique to the sport they are playing. In this stage, the emphasis is on various aspects of movement like speed as well as coordination, agility and balance. They could range from simple to more complex tasks such as kicking a football through the net, or the juggling of it.At this point the player should be able to be able to return to full training and intensity, as well as an increase in game time until their strength and coordination are restored. The decision to resume full-time playing could depend on the evaluation and suggestions from the doctor trainer, physiotherapist, and coach. The opinions of the athlete should also be considered due to the fact that their perception of physical and mental health can affect their ability to return fully to playing.
