Physical Therapy Programme – A One Solution for All Athletic Injuries
If your back hurts and the pain has lasted between two to six weeks, opting for physical therapy can be your ticket to relief. In cases where the pain is severe, physical therapy is recommended immediately as it eases the pain and helps you move better. Also, it can help you avoid surgery and in instances of surgery, physical therapy for back pain can help you recover. A physical therapy for back pain programme focuses at decreasing pain, increasing mobility and providing training on how to avoid further recurrences. The physical therapy programme for back pain includes two components: 1. Passive Physical Therapy The aim of this therapy is to focus on decreasing the pain. The modalities are called passive since they’re done to the patient. Some of the modalities include:
Heat/ice packs- These packs help in reducing muscle spasm and inflammation. They are applied for 10 minutes in every two hours to provide relief.
TENS units- A method of electrotherapy, A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) unit uses electrical stimulation. This electrical stimulation modulates the sensation of the lower back pain by overriding the signals of pain that are being sent to the brain. .
Iontophoresis - In this method, steroid is applied to the skin which migrates under the skin when an electric current is applied. These steroids produce an antiinflammation effect that helps in relieving acute pain.
Ultrasound- During this method, sound waves are applied to the skin that cause deep heating to penetrate into the soft tissues and help in repairing them
2. Active Physical Therapy Apart from the passive therapies, active exercises are equally important to rehabilitate the spine. The exercises included in this programme are:
Stretching for back pain exercises- Stretching the hamstring once or twice a day provides relief from back pain. Making this exercise a part of one’s daily routine can help in alleviating the lower back pain. Low-impact aerobic conditioning- They help in long term pain reduction. Walking, swimming, water therapy, bicycling, aerobics for 30-40 minutes can help in reducing the pain. Strengthening for back pain exercise- Dynamic lumbar stabilisation or other core muscle strengthening exercises should be done at least 15-20 minutes every day. An athlete who is injured or is experiencing difficulty in performing daily activities, should immediately see a physical therapist. Depending on the type of pain, a physical therapist will chalk out a programme for the athlete so that they can regain their neuromuscular control and return to sports with a reduced chance of injury.
Physical therapy has a lot of benefits for athletes:
Functional Testing- The physical therapist will create a series of routine tests for an athlete to test his/her mobility and discover the areas of weakness and pain. Rebuilding Strength- A physical therapist for athletes can help you strengthen your muscles, joints and ligaments so that you can reach your full potential and withstand high physical stress. Treatment for Athletic Injuries- A physical therapist will create a treatment plan that guarantees quick recovery by providing tools and exercises that help maintain balance, improve strength and fitness.
Immediate Pain Relief- Therapeutic exercises, manual techniques, and physical therapy techniques such as hot and cold packs, taping of damaged parts, and ultrasound may help in keeping the pain at bay and prevent further recurrences. Preventing Surgery- An effective physical therapy programme may eliminate the need for surgery. Improving Mobility- Stretching and strengthening exercises are prescribed to restore mobility. A flexible body may also prevent injuries from recurring. Cardiopulmonary Benefits- Physical therapy may increase cardio fitness of athletes, by including cardio workouts in the physical therapy programme. This contributes to the overall wellness and fitness of the athletes.
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