Role of Physiotherapy in Sports Injuries Treatment -- Advanced Physiotherapy

GURGAON, India - Sept. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- Role of Physiotherapy in Sports Injuries Treatment (http://www.gurgaonphysiotherapist.com)

For the sports needing sustained activity, the conditioning phase exercise scheme should mimic the same movements against resistance (e.g. long distance running, marathon etc.)

(b) Strength Training

To improve strength, the principle of overloading the cardio-respiratory system through properly graded progressive resistive exercise is the rule of the thumb. It is achieved through the following major modes of exercise.

(i) Bench press - Strengthens mainly deltoid, triceps and pectoral muscles.

(ii) Squat – For quadriceps, glutei and trunk extensors.

(iii) Power clean – For strengthening the body’s major muscle group (i.e. upper extremities, lower extremities and trunk). Power clean is important to improve speed co-ordination, timing, balance as well as explosive power.

© Free weight training

The great advantage of this modality is the, busies strengthen the prime movers. It strengthens the synergistic as well as stabilizer muscle- groups, tendons and ligaments. As it involves the need to balance resistance during the movement which puts overload on the ligaments and tendons, it improves their excursion and tensile strength (e.g. weight training with barbells or dumbbells). Whereas, strength training with machines improves only the strength of the prime mover muscle group.

(d) Agility Training

Agility training develops balance co-ordination and mobility at a faster pace. It includes specific agility drills like jumping rope, combination of forward running- turning, bending and running backwards. Two leg hops, one leg hop cross over run are also extremely helpful in improving over agility in sports.

(e) Speed strength or power training

It is also known as polymeric. It is the most important component of the sudden burst of explosive power. It requires to condition neuron muscular system to react quickly and at the same time forcibly during stretch shortening actions. An athlete’s speed strength or power depends upon how fast the muscle action switches from an eccentric contraction to a concentric one. It can be achieved best by a series of progressive exercise that will mimic principal movements involved in relation to a particular sport. The exercise must be done fast with sudden burst of energy.

Begin with speedy jumps, hops, bounds or running drills, Progress gradually to against graded resistance by using heavier objects than those used in a particular sport (e.g. using heavier bat in cricket) . This has been proved by the little blaster master SachinTendulkar (who uses a heavy bat).

Strength base for polymetric is an ability to perform one repetition maximum (1RM) in the squat of one and a half times the body weight.

(f) Techniques of relaxation following vigorous sport.

(a) Use of adequate well fitting protective clothing and equipment (e.g. guards, helmets etc).

(b) Using comfortable. Light weight, flexible foot wear as per the demand of the particular sport (e.g. runners shoes should have excessive cushioning to absorb impact of ground reaction forces, excessive flexibility to toes, heel wedge and ½ inch rocker under forefoot to facilitate toes off).

(c) Not to undertake vigorous sports in extremely high or low temperature with excessive humidity (higher than 42 degree (107 F) with 100 percent humidity.

Besides these, guidance on certain precautions is necessary like:-

· Sustained lower extremity impact exercise should not be practiced on hard concrete surfaces or soft glossy surfaces. The floor base should be tough.

· Practice sessions should have short breaks to avoid overuse injury. Especially in the initial phase of conditioning.

· Appearance of pain or swelling following every vigorous game is a warning signal for future permanent copulitis or arthritis. Hence, such situations should be avoided by adequate rest.

· Use of chewing gum, which has become a common habit on the field, should be strictly avoided. Several deaths have been reported in complicated sports injuries due to asphyxia as a result of inhaled chewing gum.

2. Treatment of Injury

The sports injury (http://www.gurgaonphysiotherapist.com/sports-injuries.html) could be simple, just a contusion, sprain, strain, open wound or a simple fracture. But, it could be serious or even life threatening in high speed and high power contact sports, e.g. injury to the head, neck or back. The treatment depends upon the gravity of the structural involvement.

Fortunately, majority of sports injuries are simple in nature and, therefore, can be managed effectively with appropriate orthopedic and physiotherapy procedures. As a rule of thumb, the treatment begins by following the principles of Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (RICE). On the whole the methods of treatment follow the same lines as described in the chapters under respective headings. However, certain modifications are needed due to the alterations in the demands of the athlete.

Modification in the therapeutic approach

· The sports person needs 100% recovery in the shortest possible period as compared to 60-80 percent recovery which may be acceptable in an average individual, who needs pain free activities for daily routine.

· Ensure that the basic principles of early treatment (RICE) are adequate and correct.

· Avoid detoning of the body, which sets in early and progresses rapidly by rest and immobilization. Start early vigorous exercise to the body parts free from immobilization, avoiding stresses over the injured area.

· Begin early mobilization of the injured area by relaxed passive movements strictly in a pain free range to avoid developing adhesions.

· Progress rapidly to assisted active and active resistive mode with carefully graded resistance, to minimize the loss of muscular strength or endurance.

· Instead of a regular routine of treatment of once a day or on every alternate day treat the injured athlete 2 to 3 times a day.

· Maximum emphasis has to be given to improve the psychological trauma of injury through an encouraging physiotherapeutic approach.

· Discourage early resumption of sport without physical fitness test to avoid recurrence or breakdown and increased morbidity.

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