Injuries are part of life, especially when you’re an active person and involved in sports activities. So it becomes crucial to take the right treatment that helps you recover effectively. One of the most effective ways to recover from common injuries is through physiotherapy.
Read on to understand how physiotherapy plays a vital role in healing common and sports injuries and aids in better well-being.
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession that helps with the recovery of common injuries, pain, sprains, and more. They use a variety of techniques and methods, which include exercise, manual therapy, and various exercises, to recover patients of all ages and improve their overall health and wellbeing.
It can be widely used for problems such as:
- Back pain
- Sports injuries
- Movement problems
- Rehabilitation of heart disease
- Chronic diseases( asthma, cystic fibrosis)
8 Types of Common Injuries Treated By Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists are experts who help people regain their strength and heal from physical injuries.
Let’s have a look at eight types of injuries commonly treated by physiotherapists:
Sports injuries
From sprained ankles to muscle strains, sportspeople go through all of them, so physiotherapy helps to regain strength by using different methods such as:
Pain Management: Physiotherapists use techniques such as ultrasound and electrotherapy to give relief from pain and inflammation.
Strengthening Exercise: personalized exercise can help the person regain strength and flexibility.
Movement Improvement: physiotherapy can help sportspeople restore normal joint and muscle movement, making them more confident.
Back Pain
It is a common problem faced by most people of every age at some point in their lives. Techniques like massage and joint movement release muscle tension and reduce pain.
Hence, physiotherapy assists in spinal alignment. It provides better support for the spinal cord and strengthens the core muscles, which aids in giving relief from back pain.
Sprain
Sprains are often caused by overstretching or tearing ligaments. Treatment of sprains are done by using RICE formula that goes like rest, ice, compression, and elevation to speed up recovery process and slow consistent movement helps to regain joint and flexibility.
Fractures
Fractures can be painful and require careful rehabilitation after the plaster removal. Physiotherapy involves a smooth recovery that helps to regain mobility. They use techniques like stretching, massage, and some exercise to bring back full activity.
Knee Pain
Sports that involve jumping and handling heavy loads may impact the muscles and structure of the knee. Knee pain is also associated with medical conditions like arthritis, although knee pain can be due to the wear and tear of ligaments from daily activities. It is advised to run under proper guidance and with proper mechanics, or it might become one of the causes of knee pain.
Groin Strain
It is the wear and tear of muscles in the inner thighs. It generally happens due to high-speed activities such as kicking and changing directions suddenly. Groin strain can be mild, moderate, or severe. Applying ice to the inner thighs can help reduce the inflammation, and tailoring exercise can heal the injuries.
Tennis Elbow
If you believe this injury only happens to tennis players, think again. It is a common problem that causes pain in the arms when using it for prolonged gripping and lifting. This can strain the muscles and the tennis elbow. It is treated using methods such as therapy, education, stretching, etc.
Neck Injuries
It can be a neck strain, a neck sprain, a neck fracture, or a cervical spinal cord injury. It is one of the most common sports injuries, and the majority of the time it is related to muscles, ligaments, and joints. Physiotherapy treatments range from ice in mild cases to surgery in some severe cases.
Types of Physiotherapy Specialities
Neurological Physiotherapy
It helps people with neurological disorders such as
- Brain injury
- Parkinson’s disease
- Sclerosis
- Alzheimer’s disease
The treatment works to improve limb responsiveness, movement, and strength.
Orthopedic Therapy
It includes treating musculoskeletal injuries related to bones, ligaments, tendons, etc. Fractures, sprains, and chronic health problems are some of the conditions it is used for.
Geriatric Therapy
This can help older people treat mobility and physical health-related issues such as arthritis and osteoporosis. This type of therapy reduces pain and helps to restore mobility.
Vestibular Therapy
Includes balance-related problems that are due to inner ear abnormalities. It includes various exercises and manual therapies that help the patient recover coordination and balance.
Wound Care Therapy
This practice helps to ensure that the healing wound is receiving proper blood supply and oxygen. Wound care may include compression therapy and manual therapies.
How Does Physiotherapy Help You Heal From Injuries?
Physiotherapists use various effective methods and techniques to help you regain your flexibility.
- Regain Strength: Physiotherapy helps to regain strength and includes exercises that fit your needs.
- Improving Flexibility: It helps to improve movement and flexibility by using specific exercises.
- Preventing Re-injury: Educating people to stay cautious and how they can prevent injuries is an important part of physiotherapy.
- Recovery From Pain: Physical therapy helps to reduce pain and aids in fast recovery by using various methods and techniques.
How Can I Prevent Sports Injuries?
Preventing injuries is important to keep the athlete safe and ensure that they enjoy sports. Here are some strategies for injury prevention:
- Warm Ups: Always consider doing a proper warm-up first. This should include light exercises and stretches to prepare your muscles for intense exercise.
- Proper Rest: Give your body enough time to recover between intense competitions. Moreover, ensure that you get enough sleep to allow proper time for repair.
- Strengthening Exercise: Include strengthening exercises in your daily workout routine. Strong muscles and flexible joints can better bear the demands of the muscles.
- Proper Nutrition and Hydration: keep yourself hydrated before, after, and during the physical activities. Take the essential nutrition necessary for energy.
Final Thoughts
Physiotherapy helps to heal injuries, whether they are from sports or medical conditions. Physiotherapists use various techniques, like manual therapies, exercises, and stretches, to strengthen the muscles. It is used to treat various injuries like strains, sprains, fractures, back pain, and more.
Moreover, they educate and advise people to prevent future injuries. To avoid injuries, there are many things that need to be followed, for example, warming up before intense exercise and keeping your body hydrated during sports.
So if you ever face an injury, remember that physiotherapy can help you recover and bring back your active and healthy life.
