Sports Rehab

With Fall sports already in full swing, we can only anticipate some of the injuries we might see in clinic!

While not all injuries are preventable, here are a few things you can do to help prevent some injuries, as well as make sure your recovery goes as quickly and smoothly as possible should you get hurt!

1. Get adequate sleep and nutrition – All of the cells in our body rely on hydration, nutrient dense foods with vitamins and minerals, and rest! If your tissue is compromised at a cellular level, it can be compromised at a higher level as well. The healthier your body is, the healthier your tissue is and should you get injured, you will recover faster.
2. Prepare for your sport! – While many people think a proper warm up is key for injury prevention (which it is!), this preparation should start well in advance of game-time. This means, weeks prior to your sport beginning, your body will benefit from both endurance and sport-specific training. An example might be, hopping on your stationary bike and working your quads prior to getting back on the ice for hockey! Or, performing some hip, legs and core specific strengthening.
3. Proper equipment – This seems obvious, but it isn’t always! Having equipment that fits properly to YOUR body can help prevent repetitive strain type of injuries. An example of this could be having good quality running shoes that aren’t 4 years old. This applies not only to sport, but also to day to day activities such as kids playing recess or walking to school in good quality shoes vs. crocs or a retail worker wearing good quality shoes to stand all day.
4. Proper training – This refers to both the volume and type of training. In some cases, athletes are pushed too far in training. While there are definite benefits of dry-land training, strength training, and extra ice or field time, there is also such thing as doing too much. Over-training and fatigue are two causes of injury in athletes of all ages.
5. Listen to your body – You know your body best. Only you can feel the sensations, strains, and pains in your body. If you’re starting to feel something and it isn’t subsiding but escalating, take a rest. Let your trainer or coach know, and reach out to a healthcare professional to get checked out!

Have any other tips on injury prevention? Let us know!

Whether you’re having aches and pains and want to prevent an injury, or if you’ve suffered an injury and are looking to get back into your sport or hobby as soon as possible, we are here to help!

Let us help your recovery be FUN and EFFECTIVE.