Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation
Many people love sport or keeping fit, however, the potential for damage is high in sports because of very repetitive movement patterns, speed, physical contact or sudden strains being placed on joints not designed to handle them, or not used to them.
We diagnose and treat many of those injuries that may not involve significant damage, but can still cause considerable pain.
Muscle strains are the most common, followed by tendonitis. Using a regular rehabilitation exercise program over a year can help you avoid minor injuries and strengthen you.
Should you present with a more serious problem, such as a torn or ruptured ligament or tendon requiring specialist surgical repair, don’t panic either, we will advise and refer you accordingly.
Who comes to see us?
At The Wimbledon Osteopath we treat a wide range of patients from amateur to professional athletes, gym users and those who just keep fit for fun. Our aim is to help each individual return to performing at their best by overcoming their injury and getting back to their sport.
We commonly see people for:
- Sprained ankles
- Plantar fasciitis
- Shin splints
- Sever’s Disease
- ‘Golfer’s Back’
- Hamstring and other muscle strains
- Compartment Syndrome of the lower leg
- Knee meniscus (cartilage) irritation and minor ACL injuries
- Patellar maltracking
- Lateral or medial collateral ligament sprains
- Hamstring issues
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Osgood Schlatter’s disease
- Fat pad inflammation, impingement, or bursitis
- Tennis elbow and other racket sports’ arm & shoulder pains
- And many more!!!
How can being sporty get you into trouble?
Sports injuries can occur from one specific bad movement or sustained overuse. Whatever the cause of the injury it is sensible to seek suitable advice and treatment, as you may be hurt more than you realise and may be causing more damage. This, in turn, may make the recovery much longer.
At the practice, the Osteopath will diagnose the severity of your sports injury and provide expert treatment and advice. Early treatment of an injury will give better rehabilitation and healing. The Osteopaths can refer to their wide personal experiences in sport and other forms of keep-fit. Krystyna has extensive insight into yoga and Pilates as she has practiced for over 25 years and enjoys keeping fit. Massage is also used primarily as a deep tissue treatment aimed at restoring normal muscle length and tone as well as balance within the body. It is used in the sporting environment both as an injury prevention and rehabilitation tool.
We have a wealth of experience at our fingertips
Krystyna has a special interest in treating professional dancers, yoga students and teachers and tennis players. She has great results in improving golfers handicaps through treatment and advice on their swing. Give her a go. You’ll be delighted with the results.
What happens to muscles specifically?
When we exercise, our muscles sustain micro-tears and produce a waste product called lactic acid. Micro-tears and lactic acid can cause our muscles to feel tender or sore one to two days after exercise and can continue for up to 45 days if severe. You may have heard this feeling described by sports people as DOMS (delayed onset of muscle soreness). DOMS is completely normal, and on its own does not impair performance. However, the heavy, lethargic feeling you experience with DOMS can have negative impacts on your training and confidence and sports massage, which we offer, is often used to minimize this.
Don’t forget that minor injuries to children should always be checked
…Especially if they do not seem so bad at first, but later the area affected starts feeling painful. Often what appears like a sports injury, such as a muscle strain or tendonitis in a child, could very well be a bone injury that may require immediate attention.
Clinical Sports Massage
Would you benefit from regular sports massages?
Anyone could benefit from a good quality massage such as that offered at the Wimbledon Osteopath. This treatment uses deep manipulation of the soft tissue to correct problems and imbalances caused by strenuous physical activity.
Sports massage is an effective way to release tension and restore balance throughout.
If you are a serious athlete then incorporate regular massages into your training plan as these can support training and recovery and will often prevent minor injuries from occurring.
Remember, you don’t have to be a professional sportsperson to benefit from this kind of treatment. It’s a great form of relaxation for stressed and tired muscles and tissues as well.
Treat yourself to some bodywork and have your tension massaged away.
How does massage actually help?
Our clinical sports massage can help you with muscular aches and pains by reducing tissue tension thus promoting a deeper level of relaxation. Our kind of soft tissue work can be both firm and relaxing, focusing on problem areas that are causing you pain and dysfunction. Our approach works very well as it is tissue specific and not simply a generic standard massage.
Sports massage has been shown to:
- Improve circulation and lymphatic drainage
- Improve muscle length, tone and balance
- Improve recovery rate after exercise
- Reduce pain and swelling
Sports massage is also ideal for pre and post-sporting event preparation and recovery. We get lots of patients training for marathons, cyclists, golfers, tennis enthusiasts (well this is Wimbledon of course) and dancers. Before a competition, a gentler approach to improving tissue tone can help you perform more comfortably as you prepare for the big day. After a competition, a varied approach can help with symptoms of overuse and soreness which can benefit you by allowing you to return to training faster.
At the Wimbledon Osteopath we believe that you should consider sports massage a critical component of your chosen sport or hobby, as well as a way to just feel great!
Come and try us out!
