If you’re reading this, you’ve made it to the end of another winter sports season. Well done. How did your body hold up? If you were one of the dedicated (and lucky ones) you got through unscathed, but it’s more common than not to finish the season with at least a couple of bumps or niggles.
A little bit of Netflix and chill to reward yourself for another fine season is perfectly fine and rest is recommended after a long season of putting your body through the wringer, BUT spending the whole off-season on your butt is a ticket to an early injury next year. Putting you on your butt even longer.
Believe it or not, the seeds for an injury next season are being planted right now. Doubly so if you are carrying an injury into the off-season that you fail to have properly treated. Most social level players do not understand this or ‘have the time for it’ and by the middle of next season they’re on one leg and expecting miracles from their sports physio the week before finals.
The best approach is to address any issues or injuries now, work on treating them over the summer and hit the ground running next season well and truly rehabilitated.
Be like the professionals and get an in-depth physical assessment and treatment from a physio
As musculoskeletal physiotherapists with in-depth specific knowledge of a range of sports, we are skilled at assessing functional movement patterns, biomechanics, muscle control, muscle strength, and range of motion. These are all critical aspects of any sport and deficiencies in any of those areas can heighten your risk of doing yourself a mischief.
During your assessment we will analyse the way you move and the way in which your muscles and skeletal system are activating in relation to your movements. By addressing any deficits in your kinetic chain our physios can help prevent issues arising next season by implementing a prevention plan with appropriate exercises and management.
Seeing a musculoskeletal physiotherapist will help you to:
- Get clear identification and advice about what’s causing your injury
- Understand the activities/movements that cause pain
- Understand a range of exercises that will minimise your risk of an injury
Before next season get a Pre-screening Assessment
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists may not have a crystal ball, but we are trained to see into the future of your possible injuries. Musculoskeletal screening tests aren’t quite perfect but they are becoming increasingly backed up by science. Musculoskeletal physiotherapists test a range of movements and take measurements to create a physical profile that will identify areas that may be more susceptible to an injury. Musculoskeletal screening tests have been shown to be an accurate and reliable indicator of specific injuries in AFL players.[1] Once we have identified any possible deficiencies we can then devise an individualised and sport specific routine to address those biomechanical and muscular issues.
A musculoskeletal pre-screening before next season will help you:
- Get a complete analysis of your movement and risk of injury
- Monitor and understand load management and how to avoid injury as a result
- Find out how to start training minimising your risk of injury
- Undertake corrective exercises prescribed where needed
Train with your physio in a private gym
On top of this, at Fixio we provide access for our patients to our very own private boutique gym during rehab or for strength and conditioning purposes. There we provide end stage rehabilitation, Technical Lifting/Biomechanical Analysis sessions, and can further assist our patients with strength and conditioning programs with a focus on technique.
We have at your disposal;
- NOHrD Slimbeam Pulley system
- TRX suspension bodyweight training system
- Pilates Reformer including jump board
- Pilates equipment including magic ring and long box
- Swiss balls and bosu
- Self myosfascial release tools like rollers and crossfit release balls
If you have suffered an injury during the sports season or want to prepare for next season, don’t shirk your recovery. Speaking with an expert in sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapy and undertaking a custom made rehabilitation program is going to shorten the length of your recovery, minimise your risk of a recurrence of your injury and also help provide you with the knowledge you need to continue to prevent injury independently.
[1] Reliability of common lower extremity musculoskeletal screening tests Belinda J. Gabbea, Bennellb, Wajswelnerc, Finch. Physical Therapy in Sport 5 (2004) 90–97
