There is a growing concern about sports-related injuries. The NSC noted about 467 injuries in 2019 sustained in routine exercises. Bicycling had the highest number of injuries (417,000).
Although injury recovery time depends on its severity, rehabilitation can enhance quick healing. Sports injury rehabilitation can lessen the pain to improve mobility after an accident. Moreover, it also strengths the muscle to minimize falling risks during recovery.
Most importantly, injury rehab can you avoid expensive, invasive surgeries. So, what entails sports injury rehabilitation? How do you improve injury recovery? Here are some tips.
1. Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy can rehabilitate spraints of alignment and increase muscular flexibility. This technique entails applying ice to the injured area for a therapeutic effect. Typically, cryotherapy helps in reducing pain and inflammation.
The most prevalent cryotherapy is cryokinetics. Cryokinetics involves cold therapy and stretching.
It works by applying ice to the injury followed by vigorous exercises. This rehabilitation technique can help reduce muscle spasms.
2. Pain Management During Injury Rehabilitation
Injuries can be painful within the first 24 to 48 hours. During this time, you would want to practice pain and swelling management. There are various therapeutic modalities for limiting inflammation or the pain-spasm cycle.
For instance, you can use heat therapy to reduce pain in musculoskeletal injuries. Alternatively, you can opt for OTC painkillers or a sports massage. A sports massage is ideal for alleviating inflammation in soft tissue injuries.
However, shoulder injuries can be pretty challenging to rehabilitate. What do you do if these injury rehabilitation techniques fail? It’s prudent that you visit a shoulder injury doctor.
3. Muscle Conditioning
After going through pain management, it’s now time for muscle conditioning. This rehabilitation entails limiting the impairment to enhance normal muscle functioning. Typically, it realigns collagen fibers for better tissue mobility.
You can perform several physical exercises to improve the injury recovery time. For instance, isotonic exercises can help rehabilitate knee injuries. To perform isotonic exercises, you’ll need gravity-resistance tools such as dumbbells.
4. Functional Training
Functional training helps to rehabilitate a three-week-old injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, this rehabilitation technique can go for up to a year. It is the last rehabilitation that can help you regain full athletic performance.
Typically, functional training involves any vigorous exercise activity for strengthening the muscles. Your rehabilitation routine should transition from general to sports-based exercises. It’s also safe to indulge in cross-training at this stage.
5. Knee Injury Rehab
Knee injuries may include sprains, fractures, dislocations, or even strains. The type of treatment approach for a knee injury depends on its severity. If the injury is severe to the extent of limiting mobility, you may need corrective surgery.
However, for minor accidents, you can use the RICE therapy to enhance the injury recovery time. The RICE therapy entails rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
After resting, you apply ice to control pain and swelling. Then, you compress the area with a bandage before elevation.
Rehabilitation Improves the Injury Recovery Time
Your injury will heal faster through rehabilitation as opposed to ignoring it. Besides employing these injury rehabilitation tips, you’ll need to work with a doctor. That way, you can enhance complete recovery.
Navigate this site for more information on sports injury rehabilitation.
