What Is Sports Physiotherapy?

Sports physiotherapy is a division of physiotherapy that helps athletes keep their physical activity at its best level in a safe and efficient manner. 

The main two goals of sports physiotherapy are: 

• Preventing the occurrence or re-occurrence of harm in athletes and active individuals. This is done by providing them with all the tools and information they need to safely exercise.
• Treating and allowing them to return to their normal activity level as soon as possible once they’ve suffered from an injury.

What Are The Most Common Sports Injury? 

The most commonly reported injuries athletes suffer from are usually musculoskeletal. These problems include:

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear: 

An ACL tear occurs when a major ligament is stretched or torn. This usually happens in activities that involve jumping or pivoting. Symptoms of an ACL injury are swelling, pain, stiffness, and knee instability. Treatment options for an ACL tear include physical therapy, bracing, and surgery, especially in activities that involve jumping and running. Treatment includes physiotherapy, and in advanced cases, surgery might be needed as well.

Meniscus tears are a common knee injury that happens when the meniscus, a cartilage piece, is damaged. This damage is usually caused by turning or twisting the knee while carrying weight or by gradually wearing away the cartilage over time. Meniscus tear symptoms consist of pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty moving the knee. Ice therapy and physical therapy are usually very effective treatment options for small tears. But big tears might require surgery as well. 

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a condition that affects the knees while participating in repetitive bending activities such as running, squatting, and cycling. The pain is typically felt at the front of the knee and behind and around the kneecap, or patella. PFPS symptoms include pain around the kneecap, which is noticed while climbing stairs or sitting for a long time.

The treatment is typically a combination of physiotherapy, exercises, and changes in activities to improve muscle strength and flexibility. Surgery is rarely needed for PFPS, yet sometimes you might be ordered to wear braces by your orthopedic to realign the patella. 

Sprains and Strains: 

Injuries that affect ligaments are called sprains, while injuries that affect muscles or tendons are called strains.

Sprains and strains take place due to sudden activities or the continual misuse of a ligament or muscle that causes them to be stretched or torn. 

The main symptoms of sprains and strains are pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty moving the joint for sprains and the muscle for strains.

Usually, physiotherapy, cryotherapy, ice application, and compression are effective methods to relieve sprains and strains. If physiotherapy didn’t help improve strength, flexibility, and the overall range of motion of the affected knee, a cast might be applied, or surgery may be required for complicated cases. 

Tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendon, or the tissue that connects a muscle to the bone. It is caused by the repetitive movement of one or a group of muscles, which results in tears or inflammation.

Tendinitis includes tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, rotator cuff tendinitis, Achilles tendinitis, and patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper’s knee. The names come from where the tendon is injured. 

Pain, weakness, stiffness, and difficulty using the afflicted muscle or joint are the main symptoms of tendinitis.

The treatment involves rest, ice therapy, physiotherapy, and exercises to enhance strength, flexibility, and the overall range of motion. A cast or brace may be indicated for severe injuries or even surgery.

Overuse injuries are caused primarily by repetitive movement or the abuse of a muscle or muscle group without allowing the body to recover. Tendinitis, stress fractures, bursitis, and repetitive strain injury, or RSI, are the most common types of overuse injuries.

Rest, ice therapy, physiotherapy, and exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and overall range of motion are all part of the treatment. A cast or brace may be indicated for severe injuries or even surgery. 

Back pain is the most common condition that not only athletes but many other people encounter at any point in their lives. Back pain can be caused by a lot of different things, like bad posture, strains, sprains, disc herniations, or spinal injuries.

Pain, stiffness, and trouble in moving the affected area are the most common symptoms. 

Treatment of back pain at home usually includes pain management, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and hijama (cupping). Surgery is not usually needed unless there is a spinal cord injury.

These are the most common sports injuries for which sports physiotherapy can be beneficial. 

Head injuries are also a big part of sports injuries, especially concussions, but these conditions need immediate medical care.

Who is a Sports Physiotherapist?

He/she is a licensed physiotherapist specializing in the therapy and rehabilitation of injuries that occur due to exercise, sports, and physical activities.

They usually work with athletes, active individuals, and sports teams to help in the prevention and management of injuries. They also improve their performance by maintaining the best health practices. 

During treatment sessions, sports therapists use a variety of methods, such as manual therapy, exercises, and machines like tens and ultrasound. In some cases, traditional Chinese medicine, which includes acupuncture and hijama, can also help. 

Their main goal is to prevent injuries, reduce pain, stiffness, and range of motion, and help the patient. They are licensed professionals specializing in treating all types of injuries related to sports activities and body movements.

They practice usually at the location of the athletes like home, hotel, club, or gym. Their main goal is preventing injuries, treating any acute condition, and rehabilitating.

Injuries are very common with athletes, as they are always pushing their bodies to enhance their performance. Therefore, having a sports injury specialist is essential to protect them and prevent severe injuries that might risk their future. Their role includes the following: 

• Evaluate and assess the cause of injury.
• Provide immediate and long-term treatment to athletes.
• Make a prevention action plan.
• Maintain athlete’s personal records with data about their treatment plan, condition, and response to the care plan.
• Creating and executing personalized treatment plans for athletes and dynamic people to help them enhance their performance and prevent injuries.
• Control and treat pain by several techniques such as Ten therapy, ultrasound, manual therapy, electrical stimulation, and acupuncture. 

What are the Benefits of Having a Sports Injury Therapist?

Usually, physiotherapy and sports injury therapy are mistakenly confused with each other. A sports physiotherapist is more trained about each type of injury, its treatment and prognosis as well as enhancing functions to recover and go back to normal activity. It is crucial to hire the proper therapist so that your injury won’t worsen.

The main benefits of using the services of a professional sports injury therapist are: 

• Applying preventive plans and programs to prevent injuries and damages
• Helps athletes understand what they are doing wrong and correct it accordingly
• Sports physiotherapists help athletes assess weak points and unhealthy habits, as well as enhance their individual strength and healthy habits, to achieve their personal goals and reach their highest performance levels
• It helps manage pain by using several techniques like tens therapy, ultrasound, acupuncture, manual therapy, and the most advanced equipment
• Sports physiotherapists can use a variety of techniques to reduce pain and inflammation, such as manual therapy, exercise, and modalities like ultrasound and electrical stimulation
• Reduce injury risk by examining senior and junior athletes’ range of motions, activities, strengths, and weaknesses, and coordinating plans accordingly
• Improve the quality of performance by analyzing athletes’ good and bad habits, enhancing personal strength, and highlighting weaknesses
• A sports therapist acts as a coach, trainer, health care practitioner, healer, and overall supportive team member to allow individuals to perform at their best while preventing any condition that can cause harm

FAQ

What are the most diagnosed sports injuries? 

Any injury that results from physical activity is called a sports injury. The most common sports injuries are sprains, strains, and fractures.

Can I prevent getting a sports injury?

Absolutely yes! Proper warm-up, stretching, and using equipment correctly can prevent sports injuries. A sports injury therapist can advise you on how to prevent such occurrences.

What to do if I felt like I got injured? 

Depending on the severity of your condition, you can either go to the emergency room at once or, if symptoms are mild to moderate, you can get the help of a sports injury physiotherapist.

What is the healing time after an injury? 

The healing period varies from days to weeks or even months, depending on the severity of your condition and injury. Your sports injury physiotherapist will advise you after assessment of the exact time needed.

Is chronic pain a result of sports injuries?

If left untreated or if you abruptly stopped your rehabilitation program, then yes, you might suffer from chronic pain. It is crucial to check with your doctor and therapist about the duration of your rehabilitation plan and strictly follow their advice.

What type of treatment does sports injury include?

It includes a combination of treatments like tens therapy, ultrasound, manual therapy, exercises, acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and cupping.

Can sports injury rehabilitation be done at home?

Yes, you can get your therapist to plan your rehabilitation at home, in a hotel, or even in the gym!

Salamati offers the best sports physiotherapy at-home services in Dubai from the comfort of your home, hotel, or gym. Our licensed physiotherapists will provide the most effective treatment using the most advanced equipment.