Do you have that pinchy shoulder? Little niggle in the knee? Or that back that just didn’t let you pick up the ball as easily as you should? Then the off season is the perfect time to get your body sorted! Don’t let short term issue become big problems and act on them now.
How your physio manages your injury
Physiotherapy management of injuries follows a three stage process. Firstly, management of the acute injury, followed by the sub-acute phase and finally the rehabilitation phase. Although hands-on physiotherapy intervention is used in each stage, self-management is key in the rehabilitation phase as physiotherapists aim to guide you more with a hands-off approach.
How long do injuries take to heal?
Some injuries such as tendon issues, take time to heal and need a structured exercise program to recover. Rest isn’t going to fix the underlying issue and in most cases can actually make the injury worse.
After extended rest you may not feel the pain anymore but you have left yourself predisposed to reinjure the affected structure. Gradual loading after injury will enhance tissue formation and build tissue loading capacity.
Specific therapeutic exercise and training is key in rehabilitation, therefore it requires a specific structured approach.
Physiotherapists focus initially on restoring range of motion in the joint or muscle (think of this as your flexibility). After regaining this range, you can commence strength and endurance training tailored to your goals/sport.
Get it sorted before next season!