Physical Rehabilitation For Athletes

Athletes that compete at high levels are prone to an array of injuries. It is the job of coaches to make sure that players train for every game. Injury prevention begins with extensive workouts that are done off the field or court. Fitness trainers and physiotherapists may work closely with athletes that must be in great shape for competitive games. Unfortunately, even the best sportspeople can get injured very suddenly. However, physical trauma shouldn’t hinder the long term goals and performance of talented athletes.

Sports medicine facilities are available to help players fully recover. There are different techniques that can be used to strengthen any injured body parts such as muscles, tendons, bones and joints. Injury implies that excessive exertion has been placed on the body. This should be a guide as to the physical limits of a particular player. In other words, athletes should be aware of their optimum performance levels. Doing too much during training can actually hurt a player. Understanding the body’s limits is essential in optimizing performance in sports.

Stress tests can be done to evaluate the fitness levels of athletes. For example, the heart rate can be monitored from rest to intense workouts. Similarly, the respiratory rate can also be recorded as a player engages in exercises. These parameters give an indication as to the physical capabilities of other body parts. Physical tests can also be used to evaluate the abilities of the body. For example, flexibility tests can indicate the range of motion within certain joints and limbs. Coaches should never try to pressure players to overload themselves with workouts.

Physical therapy for athletes may involve traditional methods such as heat and compression. More aggressive sports therapy could include resistance workouts that help to strengthen muscles, ligaments and tendons that have been torn apart. Hydraulic therapy is perfect for rehabilitation of the entire body. In water, it is much easier to move around the legs, feet, arms and legs due to buoyancy. Therefore, players can start doing simple motions in water and then progress towards practicing much more intense maneuvers outside of water. Sometimes, acupuncture and other traditional techniques can be applied for a healing process in athletes. However, the ultimate goal is to strengthen the body rather than to just provide temporary pain relief. Sports people that suffer from chronic pain at a continuous basis should not be competing at a high level.