Sports Injuries & Physiotherapy
Overview of common sports injuries, acute care, rehab and physiotherapy roles.
Injury Types
Muscle Injuries
- Strains (hamstring, quadriceps, calf, groin)
- Contusions (muscle bruises)
Ligament Injuries
- Ankle sprain (lateral ligament)
- Knee ligament injuries (ACL, MCL, PCL, LCL tears)
Joint Injuries
- Shoulder dislocation or instability
- Meniscus injuries (knee)
- Labral tears (shoulder / hip)
Tendon Injuries
- Tendinopathies (Achilles, patellar tendon, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow)
Bone Injuries
- Stress fractures
- Acute fractures (managed initially by orthopedics, later rehab with physio)
Overuse Injuries
- Shin splints
- IT band syndrome
- Plantar fasciitis
Role of Physiotherapy in Sports Injuries
- Prevention: screening athletes for muscle imbalance, flexibility, and posture
- Warm-up, stretching, and strength training programs
- Taping, bracing, and protective equipment advice
Acute Management
- R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Pain and swelling control (cryotherapy, electrotherapy, manual therapy)
- Initial mobilization strategies
Rehabilitation
- Range of Motion (ROM) exercises
- Progressive strengthening
- Proprioception and balance training
- Sport-specific functional training
- Return to Play (RTP) & functional testing before clearance
- Plyometric and agility training
- Injury recurrence prevention programs
Physiotherapy Modalities Used
- Manual therapy: joint mobilization, soft tissue release
- Electrotherapy: ultrasound, TENS, laser therapy
- Exercise therapy: strengthening, stretching, neuromuscular training
- Hydrotherapy: pool-based rehab for low-impact recovery
- Taping & bracing: support during return to sport