Sports Injuries - physiotherapy

Sports injuries are injuries caused by playing sports. The injuries can vary in severity, from a sprained ankle to a dislocated shoulder.

Causes of sports injuries:

• Overtraining and overuse
• Under training
• Poor training practices
• Wearing incorrect training equipment
• Not warming up and stretching

Ideally physiotherapists should see injuries while they are in the acute phase (this is the first 48 to 72 hours).

Initially sports injuries should be treated with the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation).

The sports injury should then be assessed by a physiotherapist who will accurately diagnose and treat the injury.

An injury is a setback and is disruptive to normal training routines, so having your injury looked at immediately is important.

It is important that if you injure yourself playing a sport, stop playing, use the RICE principles mentioned and make an appointment with Physio at Work.

Most injuries will resolve with some physio treatment, however worst case scenario the injured player may need to be referred to a sports physician.