Sports Injuries
Anyone can have a fall, twist or collision, particularly when doing sport. Most of the time the injured muscles, ligaments and even bones can heal themselves fully. The best long term results are usually obtained by an initial short period of rest with icing and elevation to help swelling, followed by early, gradual return to activities. Good physiotherapy attention is very helpful. Naturally, some injuries, such as a locked knee or broken ankle, might need surgery or a plaster cast at the outset to enable recovery and minimise the chances of long term problems.
Another type of sports injury can occur more subtly when an athlete changes running distance, type of shoe or even running surface. Tendons, such as the Achilles, can become inflamed and painful.
These injuries are more common when the person’s natural foot posture is not ideal (shallow arch for example) and can be just as slow to recover as a sudden, major injury.
Occasionally, surgery is needed to repair a tendon or remove a prominent area of bone. Most often, however, a skilled physiotherapist can ease the athlete back into the sport, correcting any postural problems and ensuring the tissues are gradually strengthened without reinjuring them. After any injury, the body’s subconscious control of the position and co-ordination of the limb (proprioception) is reduced. This function can be trained back up, reducing the chances of repeating the injury.