Sports injuries are defined as "damage to the tissues of the body that occur as a result of sport or exercise." (International Olympic committee). Although any part of the body can be injured during sport, the term “sports injuries” usually refers to the musculoskeletal system (bone, ligament, muscle, tendon). Rehabilitation of these injuries is essential to enable return to full function and sports. For example there is evidence that following injuries such as ACL rupture and hip labral tear patients struggle to get back to pre-injury level of sports (see here). Furthermore, previous injury to calf and hamstring muscles appears to increase risk of a further injury, likely due to residual reduced strength (see here). Physiotherapy will be able to identify any ongoing weaknesses and prescribe exercises accordingly.
Acute soft tissue injuries tend to resolve quicker if correct management is applied from the onset. Over the last decade a more active approach to “optimal loading” of the injured tissue in the correct time frame has been suggested. Rather than focusing on rest, which may be detrimental if too prolonged, optimal leading is promoted to improve tissue healing and tensile strength. This new acronym. POLICE (Protection, Optimal loading, Ice, Compression, Elevation) more accurately reflects this change in medical practice (see here). At North shore physiotherapy we can guide you with optimal loading of your injury based on your individual circumstances.
Different soft tissues have various healing time frames, due to multiple factors including severity of injury, blood supply and type of tissue. A mild muscle strain may heal in 2-4 weeks, but a severe one may take up to 3-6 months. Similarly a mild ligament injury may heal in 3 weeks, but a severe one may take 6 months to a year. This is due to the difference in blood supply and properties of the tissues, which can affect their capacity and speed of healing. Ligaments and tendons for example have a poorer blood supply than a muscle belly. Physiotherapy will be able to identify the grade of injury and give you an indication of your prognosis. Time frames will also vary based on various individual circumstances such as age and past medical history factors such as smoking and diabetes.
