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From professional athletes to the stay-at-home mom working out at home, sports injuries can happen to anyone engaging in physically demanding activities. These injuries can range from mild strains and sprains, to severe injuries such as muscle tears, joint dislocations or broken bones. It is important to seek the right treatment to ensure complete recovery from the injury and prevent even more severe damage. Getting the right treatment for your injury will also improve your chances of getting back to your active lifestyle much faster. Sports injury rehabilitation is a vital part of recovering from a sports injury. We discuss the benefits of this approach to injury recovery below.
The benefits of Sports Massage
While there are a wide variety of ways to treat sports related injuries, none are as effective as sports massage in helping athletes recover the potential they had before the injury. Injuries that are not treated properly can result in loss of mobility and strength in the affected muscles. Regular physical therapy is adequate for those patients that only want to recover their ability to perform day to day tasks. However, sports require different movements as well as increased strength and endurance. Sports injury rehabilitation focuses on the specific needs of the sport in addition to recovering general function. For example, an injured weight lifter will benefit from rehabilitation focused on improving strength and conditioning of the affected muscles. A gymnast on the other hand will benefit from therapy focused on improving muscle mobility and strength.
In general sports massage will help to:
Manage pain
Stimulate joint receptors
Prevent muscular atrophy
Strengthen weakened muscles
Increase cell metabolism
Stretch out tight muscles
Improve lymphatic drainage
Increase extensibility of connective tissues and thus improve joint mobility
Increase circulation to the injured area and therefore promote healing.
Stages Necessary for Complete Rehabilitation of Sports Injuries
It doesn’t matter whether your injury is mild or so severe that it requires surgery, there are generally four stages in the rehabilitation of sports injuries that you will need to undergo on your path to recovery.
Rest and protection
One of the first reactions of the body following injury is inflammation. This process increases circulation of blood to the injured site bringing with it oxygen, nutrients and white blood cells to fight infection and aid tissue repair. Resting the body following an injury allows the body to better regulate the inflammatory response.
Rest also helps to protect you from further injury as the recovery process begins. Other forms of protection that may be applied to injuries in the early stages include the application of protective casts, slings or tape to prevent movement and safeguard the injured area from contamination.
Pain management is also important at this stage. Pain medication in addition to anti-inflammatories may be considered for your comfort.
2. Recovery of motion
As the injury heals and the swelling and pain subsides, you will move into the second stage of rehabilitation which involves mobilization training. This is done to recover your range of motion.
Training is carried out under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The activities prescribed depend on your stage of healing. Stretching the muscles too far in the early stages of recovery can slow down the healing process or even cause more damage.
Sports massage therapists apply specific flexibility training that is suited to the particular injury and stage of recovery. This helps to restore range of motion as decreased range of motion can affect your body’s function.
3. Strength recovery
Many people are surprised to find that the injury and the time they have taken off physical activity have resulted in loss of strength and endurance in the affected muscles. Strength recovery is important in sports injury rehabilitation not just to minimize strength deficits but also to minimize muscle loss.
Strength recovery is especially important when the injuries prevent you from participating in physical training for an extended period. Strength training combined with cardiovascular exercises such as cycling on a stationary bike or pool training will help to improve endurance. Sports massage therapists apply exercises that are designed to avoid aggravating the injury. Focus should be placed on maintaining proper form and technique for optimal results.
4. Recovery of sport-specific function
Rehabilitation in the earlier stages is focused on recovery of general function of the affected muscles. This last stage focuses on recovery of sport-specific function. It involves making the transition back into your normal routine including playing sports and exercising.
Your physical therapist will evaluate your ability to perform specific activities or movements before giving you the green light to return to your regular lifestyle. This may include movements that are common for your particular sport such as jumping or a light jog. Your physical therapist will also guide you in recovering the strength and mobility required to make a full return to your sport.
It is important for you to be mindful of your body and your injury. While it is important to return to ‘game mode’ in order to restore performance, you should be mindful not to push your body too hard in the early stages of returning to physical activity as you may end up re-injuring yourself.
Why Higher Health Spine & Sport is the Best Choice
If you have a sports injury and are seeking sport-specific rehabilitation in Bellevue contact Higher Health Spine & Sport. Whether you’re a professional athlete or you work out as part of self-care, we are committed to ensuring our clients are able to recover their potential.
The team at Higher Health Spine & Sport is trained and experienced. Our founding chiropractor is a BASI certified Pilates instructor that specializes in sports injury rehabilitation and Functional Nutrition. We will not only provide you with exercises to help you recover function, mobility and strength in your injured muscles but also guide you in fueling your body for improved athletic performance and an active lifestyle.
Visit our office to receive expert care in a spa-like setting. You’ll be greeted by our friendly staff and receive one-on-one attention right from the first time you make contact with us.
GET ALIGNED AT HIGHER HEALTH
Reset your body and mind with the sports massage therapist in Higher Health Spine & Sport.