Sports Injury Management

At NorthWest Physio + we will​

• Identify any previous injuries that have not healed.
• Teach correct techniques for warming up and stretching.
• Prescribe an injury prevention programme specifically tailored to you and your sport.
• Give you a biomechanical screening assessment.
• Prescribe an individual functional training exercise programme to correct any muscle imbalances and improve your movement patterns.

Injury Rehabilitation

The first 48 hours after an injury is the most critical time for the management of acute sporting injuries to avoid further damage that could later lead to impaired healing. Proper management in the early stages of injury can significantly reduce the time it takes for you to return to your sports or recreational activity.

The length of rehabilitation will vary based on your individual needs and progress. Some phases of your rehabilitation will also vary. Factors that influence the length of time in rehabilitation include:

• Level and type of injury
• Cause of injury
• Type and degree of any resulting impairments
• Wound healing and pain management
• Progress towards functional goals

​ A full rehabilitation and strengthening program is essential to ensure full recovery and prevent your injury reoccurring.

​ It's important to understand that everyone is different and will respond to different exercises and treatment regimes at different rates. It's important therefore to seek our professional advice at NorthWest Physio + in order to get the specific treatment, programme and advice that's right for you.

Stages of Rehabilitation

There are 3 stages of rehabilitation:

• First stage rehabilitation involves gentle exercise, allowing for the damaged tissue to heal. This stage should not be rushed as it will result in poor quality healing and the site will be prone to re-injury.
• Mid stage rehabilitation involves progressively loading the muscles/tendons/bones or ligaments to develop tensile strength, producing a healed tissue that will be able to withstand the stresses and strains of everyday life and exercise.
• Final stage rehabilitation is where the tissue adapts and is stressed using functional exercises and drills to ensure the body is ready to return to normal function.

*Learn more about the different phases of rehabilitation that you can expect within each stage here.

Here are some tips to help prevent injuries. 

1. Start off slowly
2. Balance between training and recovery
3. Don’t train through pain
4. Warm up and stretch
5. Cross train
6. Get the right gear
7. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Some of the most common sports injuries.. ​

• Sprains—tears to the ligaments that join the ends of bones together. The ankles, knees, and wrists are commonly affected by sprains.
• Strains—pulls or tears of muscles or tendons (the tissues that attach the muscles to the bones)
• Back pain - often felt as soreness, tension or stiffness in the lower back, but it can be felt anywhere from the neck and shoulders down to the buttocks and legs.
• Stress fractures – bone pain caused by a tiny crack that develops in a bone as a result of repeated stresses (for example, during high-impact activities like distance running)
• Shin splints—pain caused by inflammation in the tissues surrounding the shin bone along the outside front of the lower leg, (commonly seen in runners).
• Hamstring injuries - tears to the tendons or large muscles at the back of the thighs. They are common among athletes.
• Achilles tendonopathy or rupture of the Achilles tendon—These injuries involve the large band of tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel.
• Tennis elbow - a type of tendonitis that affects the outside of the elbow, caused by repetitive movement of the muscles in the lower arm. Golfer’s elbow is similar, but the swelling occurs on the inside of the elbow..
• Cartilage damage – where a piece of cartilage breaks off and affects the movement of your joint. 
• Fractures and breaks of the bones.
• Dislocation of joints.

At NorthWest Physio + we have extensive knowledge of sports related injuries. Remember - early intervention will get you back to full fitness quicker.
​Call us without delay on 09 412 2945 or leave your details on our contact page or make an online booking.