Common Sports Day Injuries that may require Physiotherapy

Sport can be a force for good and a great joy (for some!) but unfortunately it can also be the source of much pain and discomfort following injury.  Sporting injuries are more likely to occur in someone who participates sporadically or who spends all week being sedentary then goes all out at the weekend.

School and corporate sports days are a good example of this and often culminate in some participants injuring themselves and requiring treatment and physiotherapy.

Typical Injuries

1. Achilles tendon rupture. This most commonly occurs in any sport which involves running or jumping. The injury happens when you push off with your feet while your knee is straightened.  Quite a painful injury, this can sometimes require surgery followed by physiotherapy.
2. Hamstring strain. This is a very common injury among sprinters and can be a result of not warming up sufficiently or being fatigued.  It can also occur through playing on a slippery surface and losing grip.  The pain can range from mild to severe but quick treatment is advisable in order to avoid a repeat injury.  Physiotherapy treatment can help with reducing pain and inflammation and strengthening the muscles.
3. Knee ligament injuries. These can happen through landing wrongly after a jump, being tackled hard in football, or changing direction sharply.  Injuries to cruciate ligaments can range from a mild sprain to a severe tear.  Either way will cause an amount of incapacitation and the most severe cases will need surgical repair followed by intense physiotherapy.
4. Back pain. This covers a huge spectrum from simple muscle strain to a slipped disc and can occur during just about any type of sport from running to netball to rugby.  Back pain can be extremely debilitating and in the worst cases can entail time off work.  Physiotherapy helps immensely with all types of back pain, helping to ease pain, reduce inflammation and strengthen core muscles to prevent further injury.
5. Tennis injuries. Because of the erratic movements involved in tennis – pivoting, jumping, sprinting, etc., – the most common injuries tend to occur in the lower limbs but the elbow, wrist and shoulder is also vulnerable because of the repetition of movement involved in playing tennis.  Any overuse of a limb can lead to painful injuries and physiotherapy treatment is often the best way to counteract any long-term effects.

When embarking on any sporting activity it helps to remember not to over-do it.  But if you do sustain an injury, call us to see how physiotherapy can help.