Sports injuries can be caused by external factors such as an accident, fall or heavy blow or they can also be caused by repetitive strain, not warming up correctly, using inappropriate equipment, poor technique or pushing yourself too hard. Unbalanced training or a training schedule that doesn’t allow adequate rest can also result in an injury. Sporting injuries can effect any part of the body.
Sports injuries can vary in severity, more often than not it is best to get them checked as soon as possible to ensure the recovery period is as quick as possible so you can get back to your sport.
Common sports injuries include:
Ankle sprain
Groin pull
Hamstring strain
Shin splints
Knee injury: ACL tear
Knee injury: Patellofemoral syndrome
Tennis elbow (epicondylitis)
Injuries can present themselves in many different ways. You may have immediate pain, tenderness, swelling, bruising and restricted movement or stiffness in the affected area. Sometimes symptoms may only be noticeable several hours after exercising or playing sports. This can often happen if the injury occurred during a competition as adrenaline can mask the pain.
If you feel pain stop the exercise. Regardless of whether your injury happened suddenly or you’ve had the pain for a while. If you continue to exercise while injured, you may cause further damage as well as slow your recovery.
With any sports injury, there is a degree of pain and discomfort. Some injuries will subside after one or two days of rest. However if there is any bruising or swelling after 1-2 days and/or you’re continuing to feel discomfort, it is time to seek additional help. Equally if you can’t weight bare or move as you normally would, this is also an indication you need to rest and seek professional assistance.
At Comfort Health a typical appointment involves a detailed assessment of your injury, diagnosis, a bespoke treatment suiting your needs, and a series of comprehensive exercises and advice to help you manage your injury. We also look at your medical history and training habits.
If you have a severe injury, such as a broken bone, dislocation or serve head injury, go straight to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department as soon as possible.
Minor injuries can usually be treated at home, however if you are unsure of your injury and are in pain, it is best to go to your local doctor or Physiotherapist to get it checked out.
If your injury is worrying you, or is lasting more than a few days, book yourself in to see one of our team to have an assessment. The sooner you receive the correct treatment the sooner you can go back to your sport.
If your injury is linked to running we now offer gait analysis in clinic where you can have your running analysed to identify the cause of injury and a treatment plan to correct any issues.
At Comfort Health we offer a range of treatments from sports massage, physiotherapy and acupuncture, along with a variety of other services to aid all types of sport injuries. For sports related chronic tendon issues such as an Achilles Tendinopathy and Patellar Tendinopathy, shockwave therapy can be highly beneficial.
Our therapists have worked with a wide range of athletes from various sporting backgrounds, including; runners, triathlon athletes, squash, cricket, golf and rugby players as well as footballers and dancers to name just a few.
If you feel like you could benefit from a treatment from one of our practitioners – Click Here and book in today.