Playing sport is exciting. The thrill of the chase, the intensity of focus, the glory of a win. But with the heightened stakes comes heightened risk of injury.
While injuries that occur while playing sport are often obvious; a tumble on a field or a pull of a muscle on a court, it’s the stealthier injuries we need to look out for. The less dramatic signs of injury, those twinges that may not present until well after the final whistle.
You might dismiss these less dramatic sporting injuries because they hurt less, or even not at all, however it’s important to listen to what your body is telling you.
Perhaps you’re wondering, how does physiotherapy help in these situations? As physios, we want to empower you to listen to your body and importantly understand and identify the commonly missed signs of injury.
If you need support in your recovery of injury after surgery – well, we can do that too.
Once we’ve identified the problem, we will work with you to get you back to optimal health – and back out on the field!
Have you missed the signs?
Whether you play sport regularly as part of a team, or are more partial to a solo run, keeping fit isn’t just about doing the activity. It’s also about monitoring how your muscles and bones are feeling post exercise, and keeping a close eye out for commonly missed signs of injury. Maintaining a healthy, strong body that is free from injury is essential to ensure you can continue to play the sport you love, and live a long and healthy life.
No one knows your body as well as you do, and everyone’s signs of injury are different. But if you are experiencing any of the following, it’s likely that you have an ongoing injury and need to see a physio to help identify the root of the issue.
Below are some of the most commonly missed signs of injury:
Ongoing pain
Muscle soreness is a sometimes satisfying after-effect of a workout or rigorous game of sport. But if your muscles are sore for more than 12-24 hours after you’ve worked out, or you have ongoing tenderness around your joints you may have injured yourself.
Swelling
Your body responds to injury by sending white blood cells to protect the affected area. If you have an area that is swollen for a prolonged period, listen to your body and get it checked out.
Limited movement
If you notice that you’re not able to move as freely with some parts of your body, either after an injury or without explanation it is unlikely that this problem will fix itself – best to visit us to see how physiotherapy can help.
Numbness or tingling sensations
Otherwise known as pins and needles; if you unexpectedly have this feeling in any part of your body it could be a sign of injury and shouldn’t be ignored.
How does physiotherapy help?
Ideally, an injury should be treated as soon as possible after it’s happened. But as physiotherapists we can always help you with your recovery from an injury that you may have missed, as well as with your recovery of injuries after surgery.
At Physionorth we offer Sports Physiotherapy with our specially trained Sports Physios; some of us were even professionals in our field in our previous careers – so we understand how important it is to get you back into shape quickly, yet sustainably.
If you have any of the above signs of injury, we will work with you on a tailored exercise plan – taking into account your lifestyle and health goals – to get you back to your best self.
We’ll provide you with guidance on when it is best to return to your chosen sport as well as ongoing support to ensure that you can avoid future injuries.
If you need support in your recovery of injury after surgery, we will guide you through your rehabilitation and build a pre-and-post surgery exercise plan that aligns with your goals and what your body needs.
Book an appointment with one of our Sports Physios today, and we’ll get you back out there.
*All information is general in nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Physionorth can consult with you to confirm if this advice is right for you.