Sports Injuries

Athletes are superbly dynamic individuals that demand the most from their bodies. As each sport and its athletes are unique, so are the injuries they sustain. Sports injuries can range from repetitive overuse injuries, to traumatic injuries, and everything in between. When it comes to sports injuries, there are three main components. 

First, is the reduction of pain. Pain changes how the muscles of an area function, meaning when we are in pain, we can’t control that area like we should. So if we injure an area, we need to reduce pain to successfully rehabilitate the injury. Pain reduction often uses a variety of components, while the old acronym was RICE, the new one is PEACE.

The second piece of a sports injury is returning to function. This is where we focus on regaining range of motion, strength and control of the injury and surrounding areas. This phase is vital as despite being out of pain, if the athlete cannot control the area well, the likelihood of reinjury is very high. This stage also helps an athlete regain their confidence in their own abilities and trust their injured area again. 

The final piece of a sports injury is entering a prevention program. This program looks at why the injury occured in the first place and addresses any underlying issues such as poor biomechanics, strength deficits, or lack of range of motion. As underlying issues are corrected, the likelihood of reinjury drops and performance starts to increase. This prevention program is combined into the athletes regular training to leave them better than before their injury. 

If you have an issue that you would like some guidance with, give us a call at (616) 301-1702.