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Sports injuries

Sports injuries occur differently from sport to sport. Sports injuries are not different from "ordinary" injuries - therefore the term sports injuries can be misleading. What is important is that the goal of rehabilitation after the injury is the return to a specific sport with specific physical requirements. Here it is a good idea to work with a physiotherapist who understands these requirements and can help you with your sports-specific goals.

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What is a sports injury?

Sports injuries can be many things. Common to the various injuries, however, is that they occur in connection with playing sports. There are basically two types of injuries:

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  1. Overuse. These are states where structures become overloaded. This is typically due to the fact that they are loaded too often, too heavily and without the proper recovery compared to what they are used to.

  2. Overload. These are conditions where there is structural damage. It can be, for example, broken bones, torn tendons, etc. This will be trauma of one kind or another, which exceeds the tolerance of the structures involved.

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The individual sports injuries can include:

  • Tennis elbow

  • Jumping knee

  • Meniscus injury

  • Shin splints

  • Torn cruciate ligament

  • Damage to the articular lip

  • Sprained ankle

  • Stress fracture (broken bone - typically in the foot)

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At Hørsholm Fysioterapi & Rygcenter we have special experience with sports injuries from the following sports:

  • ice Hockey

  • Golf

  • Injuries in connection with fitness training

  • Basketball

  • Football

  • Badminton

  • Handball

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Treatment of sports injuries where there is an overload.

In congestion conditions - ie injuries where there are no damaged structures - you will usually adjust the amount of training slightly down for a shorter period. As the pain begins to subside, one will gradually increase the load and work towards the athlete being able to withstand the demands of the sport.  

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A concrete example could be a sprained knee - inflammation of the patellar tendon. Here, the practitioner will be advised to pause activities that include jumps, landings, and hard braking. When the pain level drops and becomes acceptable, heavy strength training of the front of the thigh will typically be introduced. Research has shown that jumper knees - and tendon overload in general - respond very well to this type of training. Training with more explosiveness will gradually be included, such as jumping, changing direction, etc. The training continues with progression towards the athlete's sport.

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Treatment of sports injuries where there is structural damage.

In this type of injury, one often talks about acute sports injuries initially. The acute phase is typically the first seven days.  

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In the past, the RICE principle (stands for; rest, ice, compression and elevation) has been used to deal with acute sports injuries. Today, it has been changed to treat acute injuries with PEACE & LOVE.

When the injury occurs, PEACE treats:

  • P - Protect: Protect the injured body part for the first few days. However, it is permissible to load the area lightly as it appears to increase tissue healing.

  • E-Elevate: Elevate the area so that it is above heart level. This is done several times during the day and helps to lower the swelling.

  • A- Avoid anti-inflammatory: Avoid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ipren. The inflammation is beneficial for healing, which is why we do not want to dampen it. In addition, NSAIDs have been linked to a number of serious side effects.

  • C - Compression: Be sure to compress the affected area. This helps to limit the swelling.

  • E - Educate: It is recommended that, if necessary, seek advice and guidance from relevant healthcare professionals. This had to be a doctor, physiotherapist or chiropractor.

 

After the first 2-3 days, the sports injury must have LOVE:

  • L - Load: Load is introduced here. This helps to strengthen and heal the damaged structures, as well as the surrounding structures. You should usually start at a lower level than you trained for before the injury.

  • O - Optimism: The psychic component must not be forgotten. Fears and worries have been shown to have an impact on rehabilitation. It is important to remember that pain is a protective mechanism and that we experience pain long before the injury occurs. Therefore, pain in connection with. Rehabilitation very rarely means aggravation of the sports injury, but simply that your body is trying to take care of you.

  • V - Vascularization: Pump the blood around! The faster you can introduce high-pulse training, the better. High-pulse training releases pain-relieving hormones. In this way, you open up the body's own "medicine cabinet".

  • E - Exercise: Exercise prevents future sports injuries. Training helps to increase strength, mobility and stability.

 

It is well known that ice is a regular part of the acute treatment of sports injuries. Treatment with ice does not have good research evidence behind it, which is why it is not included in the latest recommendations. However, many people find that ice can relieve the pain, and here it can of course be useful for the individual.

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Do you have a sports injury yourself, or do you know someone who might need help with rehabilitation? Then we are happy to help with your rehabilitation process. At Hørsholm Fysioterapi & Rygcenter, you always get rehabilitation based on the latest research, so you can return to your sport.

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Contact the clinic on 45869400 or write to post@horsholmfys.dk . You can also use our online booking .

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