Physiotherapy for Sports Injuries

When you think of physiotherapy, you may think of a program designed to help those of average athleticism recover from surgery or a work injury. However, a large part of what we do at Meadowlands is support athletes through sports injury recovery. With proper recovery techniques and guidance, you can be an even better athlete after you’ve recovered from an injury.

The Challenges of Sports Injuries

Sports injuries can be more complex than the other injuries physiotherapists deal with. These types of injuries can be the result of incorrect posture or form while participating in your sport, or they may be the result of over-training. It is necessary to carefully pinpoint the cause of an injury and guide an athlete to change their performance or schedule to support their healing and prevent the injury from re-occurring.

In general, there are two major types of sport injuries:

• Macrotraumatic injuries: Typically, these injuries are caused by exposure to a large force. Examples can be a gymnast falling from a beam or harsh contact in football. Macrotraumatic injuries require rest but also physiotherapy to bring the affected parts of the body back into peak condition.
• Microtraumatic injuries: Typically, these injuries are caused by overuse or improper use of the body. Muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments may all be affected. Any kind of athlete may have a form problem or may overwork themselves into microtraumatic injuries. These may include patellar tendinitis, Achilles tendinitis and more. While these injuries tend to be less serious, they may be harder to resolve, as the athlete will have to change their habits to allow for a full recovery and prevent re-occurrence.

As soon as you suffer either type of sports injury, we recommend getting a physiotherapist involved in your care. While many injuries require an initial period of rest, athletes to tend to push themselves too hard to recover, too late after the injury. Physiotherapists can guide you to start when your body is ready, at a pace that will actually promote healing. Of course, we also know the right movements and exercises that will benefit you most. Without professional guidance, you may develop a chronic injury.

Physiotherapy Treatment for Sports Injuries

When you seek out a physiotherapist to support you through recovery, you can expect them to create a personalized physiotherapy plan. You should know how many times you’ll be coming in for physio and approximately how long recovery will take. Your physiotherapist develops this plan at your first appointment, after reviewing your injury and goals.

Alongside physiotherapy, we may suggest you participate in related activities that will help you reach your goals. Physiotherapy massage, yoga, Pilates, and other activities may be part of your physiotherapy plan.

Sports Injury Physiotherapy from Meadowlands

Meadowlands Physiotherapy can offer you comprehensive treatments as you move through the recovery process. We understand the unique pressures athletes are under to perform, and we take the time to ensure your plan is truly in line with your performance goals. As soon as possible after your injury, reach out to us at Meadowlands Physiotherapy.