The Physiotherapy at Sport service offering
All of our physiotherapists have experience in and are actively involved with sport and conditioning. We are passionate about rehabilitative exercise and helping athletes achieve optimal athletic performance. It is our goal to safely rehabilitate and improve our clients functional ability in the fastest time by utilising the latest research based treatment techniques and equipment in the environments that they are required. Due to the nature of sport specific physiotherapy, the majority of our equipment (i.e. plinth, TENS, Ultrasound) is portable – for on-site injury management.
At Physiotherapy @ Sport we pride ourselves on supplying a professional service at all levels of competition and through all phases of rehabilitative sports medicine, from acute injury management to post-operative rehab and return to sport.
Our services:
Our physiotherapists are team players and would easily fit into, and add onto, any existing support medical staff. We are also part of an extensive referral network and if required our clients will have access to numerous members of the multi-disciplinary team, including a sports physician, biokineticists, personal trainer, sports masseur, dietician and even nursing sister.
Pre-Season
- Pre-season screening (fitness testing and injury vulnerability assessment).
- Postural assessment
- Biomechanical video movement assessment and measurement.
- Development of individualised Prehabilitation programs for ‘at risk’ athletes.
Training Sessions
- The dedicated physiotherapist is at your club during all training sessions. Available to assist with training, assess injuries and manage player’s rehabilitation programmes.
- Report back to coaching staff with regards to athlete progress.
Game-day
- The dedicated physiotherapist will be present at all team games both home and away.
- We will supply our own portable plinth as well as other necessary electrotherapy modalities.
- Pre-match responsibilities of the physiotherapist would include: player strapping and any last minute minor player adjustments (massaging/stretching).
- During the Game the therapist would work with medical staff in ‘on-field’ assessment and treatment of players as well as provide advice on whether it is safe for the athlete to continue playing.
- Post-match physiotherapy would comprise of injury assessment, for both new and known injuries, as well as adequate recovery in the form of massage or hydrotherapy (as available).
Additional game day services could include team warm-up and cool down protocols if required. We also offer our service at events.
Event Galleries
Golf day hole sponsorship – Bergvliet Highschool Golf Day – Westlake Golf Course – 2021
Over 50’s Cricket World Cup – Official match day physiotherapists, sponsored by Evergreen Lifestyle – 2020
Cycle Tour sponsorship for Hillsong Africa Foundation – 2020
Supporting Adidas runners at 2 Oceans Marathon – 2019
Fives F5 World Cup at Fives Futbol Century City – Onsite physiotherapy support – 2018
TrailFun Run Event Support – 2018
Physiotherapy support services for Western Province Cricket – 2016
Sports injuries and the role of Physiotherapy
If you are actively involved in professional sport or an enthusiastic amateur athlete, then you will no doubt have suffered from some type of injury at some point. It is therefore the focus of all athletes to reduce the recovery time by choosing the right treatment therapy and implementing prevention techniques. This is where physiotherapy and exercise therapy come into the picture. Physiotherapy and therapeutic exercise therapy as a treatment option against sport injuries is preferred as they can help individuals rebuild strength and movement in parts of their body after an injury.
Common Sport Injuries
Sport injuries can occur when partaking in sporting events, training sessions, fitness activities and / or while exercising. The reason for a sports injury could be anything from improper training, lack of warm up, accidents or lack of proper gear.
Most common type of sport injuries include:
– Ankle sprains / strains
A sprain is an overstretched or torn ligament caused by falling, twisting or getting hit. Sprain injuries on your ankles and wrist are the most common places for such an injury. A strain is an overstretched or torn muscle or tendon. Back and hamstring strains are some of the most common in sport but others such as ankle and calve are common as well
– Shin splints
Medial tibial stress syndrome is the medical term for shin splints. Usually, this pain is caused by tension exerted on the shinbone and the underlying connective tissues. Shin splints are painful and frequently debilitating, but by wearing proper footwear, warming up before exercise, and strengthening the muscles of the leg, ankle, and foot you can prevent them
– Dislocation
Dislocation injuries are caused to the joints of your body which force the ends of your bones out of position. The most common dislocation injuries occur in the ankle, knee, shoulders, hips, elbows and jaw.
– Knee injuries and other disorders
The knee joint is a complex structure made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments and fluid. Damage to any of these components causes injury to the knee joint.
– Stress fractures
Tiny cracks which appear on the bone’s surface which are caused by repetitive overloading.
– Fractures
A fracture signifies a break, crack or shattering, usually of bones. If the broken bones protrude out of the skin, then it is called an open or compound fracture.
Physiotherapy treatments after injury
In a normal process of healing, each injury goes through the acute, sub-acute and chronic phase. The acute phase involves taking care of the injury with the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) treatment. The sub-acute phase is also a control motion phase which involves performing strengthening and range of motion exercises in an assisted mode. The chronic phase involves the individual returning to their pre-injury physical activities with little or no consultation being involved, with self-managed prescribed exercises to ensure return of strength and physical condition.
Physiotherapy and exercise therapy for injury prevention
Physiotherapy and conditioning exercise therapy programs are being used by many athletes and sports enthusiasts to ensure they are at the peak of their physical health. It is also advisable to see a physiotherapist before an injury becomes severe, as they can examine and address the issue before it gets worse. Physiotherapists can implement new ways in which to treat and prevent the common sport injuries mentioned above.
Our Physiotherapy at Sport services are also available at our HNA physiotherapy practice at the rooms of Dr Ranchod in Wynberg
Please contact us at info@hnaphysiotherapy.co.za or 087 236 6518 to enquire about our range of Physiotherapy @ Sport services
