Sports related injuries are a common cause of impairment in athletes affecting performance and enjoyment of their sport. Helping athletes excel depends on the proper management of injuries in order to reduce chances of disability. A quick recovery is also a must with the competitive athlete who does not want to lose his/her edge, or the young athlete that can’t wait to get back to the game.
Causes
Sport related injuries occur when the load exerted on a tissue exceeds it’s tolerance. This can occur suddenly over a single loading cycle (ACL tear/ bone fracture) or can happen over a length of time when a smaller load is applied repeatedly to a tissue causing an accumulation of microtrauma and eventually failure (stress fracture from running). Contact injuries are often associted with whiplash and concussions injuries, however direct contact isn’t always necessary to cause these types of injuries. For example, falling hard on your back could cause your neck to whip back resulting in a whiplash and if severe enough, could even result in a concussion.
Prevention
Preventing sport related injuries from happening in the first place is important. Performing sport specific drills, increasing body proprioception and coordination can help. Limiting activity when recovering from an old injury, avoiding activities when fatigued or tired, wearing appropriate equipment/bracing can also prevent injuries from occurring.
Rehabilitation
If an injury has occured rehabilitation protocols and management strategies should be implemented as soon as possible. This can help speed up recovery time, decrease disability and decrease the risk of recurrence.
Common injuries we can help with
- Ligament sprains/ tears
- Muscle strains/ tears
- Bone fractures/ bruising
- Torn cartilage/ labrum/ meniscus
- Unstable joints
- Whiplash
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Concussion
Treatment
Treatment approaches will vary depending on the type and severity of injury. Laser therapy, chiropractic care, instrument assisted soft tissue, acupuncture and rehabilitation protocols are the most common forms of treatments offered at the Robichaud-Levesque Clinic and may be used in conjunction with each other to maximise treatment outcomes. Laser therapy in particular is often considered as an important part of the treatment protocol, as it has been shown to improve the healing process and reduce the recovery time of injuries, resulting in faster tissue regeneration without the production of scar tissue.
What’s next?
It is important to note that once an injury has occured you are at an increased risk of suffering from subsequent injuries. That is why once the injury has resolved performing sport specific exercises and rehabilitation can help decrease risk of recurrence.