Treating Common Sports Injuries: A Physiotherapy Guide

If you’re an athlete–or even just a physically active individual–then the last thing you want to deal with is an injury. Unfortunately, they do happen. Sports injury physiotherapy is an approach tailored to the needs of athletes, and our team will help rehabilitate (and prevent) common sports-based injuries.

The good news is that you can resolve many common sports injuries (such as ankle sprains) with physiotherapy alone–no surgery required! Our physiotherapists can assess your injury and develop a personalized treatment plan suited to your needs. We can also give you the tools to return to your favorite activities quickly and safely.

Today, we want to explore some of the more common sports injuries–and the various ways physiotherapy at Strive Fitness and Therapy can help address them. Keep reading to learn more!

Common Sports Injuries Treated by Physiotherapy

Ankle Sprains

• Ankle sprains occur when the ligaments that support the ankle stretch or tear, often due to a sudden twist or fall. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking. Rehabilitating a sprained ankle is especially important because people who suffer one ankle sprain are more likely to suffer another, especially if they don’t improve ankle strength and stability.

ACL Tears

• ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears are quite common in sports involving jumping and sudden direction changes. An ACL tear often results in a loud pop, followed by severe pain and swelling. Athletes who suffer an ACL tear often opt for surgical repair, but physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation afterward.

Meniscus Tears

• A meniscus tear also affects the knee, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the knee. The meniscus is a wedge of cartilage nestled between the femur and the tibia, where it helps absorb movement. Contact athletes are at a particularly high risk of suffering a meniscus tear.

Tennis Elbow

• Tennis elbow is an example of an overuse injury, which is one that occurs from repetitive motions rather than a sudden, acute trauma. It’s characterized by pain and stiffness on the outside of the elbow and stems from overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons. Symptoms include pain and weakness in the arm.
  
  There are several sports-related overuse injuries, many of which are named for the athletes who tend to develop them (i.e., runner’s knee or swimmer’s shoulder). They typically involve pain and restricted mobility, especially during activity.

Rotator Cuff Tears

• Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that wrap around your shoulder joint, and a rotator cuff tear can cause pain, weakness, and limited range of motion in the shoulder. Rotator cuff tears can develop due to overuse or a sudden injury.

How Physiotherapy Treats Sports Injuries

At your first appointment, the Strive Fitness and Therapy team will conduct a thorough evaluation that includes a detailed review of your medical history, an analysis of your injury, and an evaluation of your overall physical condition. Understanding your injury’s specific mechanics and causes is crucial for developing an effective treatment plan.

Once the evaluation is complete, we’ll create a tailored sports injury physiotherapy plan based on your needs. While every plan uses different interventions, they all aim to alleviate pain, restore function, and prevent future injuries. That said, here are a few of the interventions we might suggest:

• Manual therapy to help reduce pain, improve mobility, and promote healing
• Therapeutic exercise to improve mobility and strengthen the muscles around the injured area
• Balance and stability training to help prevent falls (and re-injury)
• Functional training to help you improve sports-specific movements and ensure you’re performing them safely
• A return-to-sport schedule to help you get back in the game as safely as possible

Seeking Treatment? Request an Appointment!

If you’re dealing with an injury and seeking effective treatment, call our sports injury physiotherapy clinic today. The Strive Fitness and Therapy team will help you recover and get back to the activities you love.