As all athletes know – weekend warriors or pros – injuries such as sprains and strains happen. At times these are unavoidable, such as landing on someone’s foot and twisting an ankle. However, some risk factors are avoidable:
Muscle imbalance – for instance, if the quadriceps are too strong compared to the hamstrings, a hamstring strain can occur just by kicking a ball.
Poor control/ weakness – leads to poor technique and overloading of structures. For instance a hip weakness can lead to someone putting too much pressure on their ankles and result in an ankle sprain.
Fatigue – many strains and sprains are picked-up at the end of games or training sessions due to fatigued muscles and decreased control. This can also apply to the days after a heavy workout or game.
Stiffness and tightness – both can limit the range of motion of a joint. This limitation can be a result of previous injuries or our lifestyle and needs to be addressed to prevent further injury.
Ill-fitting equipment – the body has to compensate, putting it under a greater strain. Some equipment changes are easy (adding an extra grip to a tennis racket) but others need to be more tailored – standard golf clubs are made for a 5’10 male and 5’4 female, so customised clubs may be needed to reduce pressure and pain.
Warming-up – done incorrectly can cause many muscle strains, even before you play the game!
If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment with an experienced physiotherapist, just get in touch!
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