The Importance of Injury Prevention for Sportspeople

No matter your chosen sport, the risk of injury is ever present. Being in pain and undergoing rehabilitation can put you out of action for quite some time, so it is important to work on strategies to limit the risk of experiencing a sporting injury. Over the past decade there has been rigorous discussion amongst physiotherapists and exercise scientists on the benefits of Injury Prevention Programs (IPP) and Performance Enhancement Programs (PEP). Many local sporting clubs and professional organisations in Australia have now adopted such strategies to reduce participants risk, improve sporting performance and promote good physical and mental health.  

Sport is a great way to improve your health and fitness, but it’s important to be aware of your limits. Whether you’re sport of choice is rugby, netball, football, cross fit or something else entirely – here’s a few ways an injury prevention plan can reduce your risk of injury. 

Who Experiences Sporting Injuries? 

Sporting injuries can occur amongst people of all ages, although they are more common amongst younger age groups who participate in sports which involve frequent direction changes. Ligament damage is particularly common amongst footballers, AFL players and netball players; with sprained ankles, ruptured ACL’s and muscle injuries being the most common types of injury.  

Females have a three times greater risk of experiencing an ACL injury than males. Orthosports Physio regularly treat people of both sexes for ACL tears, most of whom are between the age of 15 and 45.  

How Can an Injury Prevention Program Help? 

We’ve all heard mention of the phrase ‘Prevention is better than a cure’, and having an IPP in place is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of injury. IPP’s should be tailored to each particular sport, with specific emphasis on muscle strengthening, dynamic joint stability and appropriate movement patterns to benefit players performance. Sporting demands can be both mentally and physically taxing on the body, but by preparing for these demands both the incidence and severity of sporting injuries can be reduced.  

IPP’s can be implemented alongside the warm-up process which takes place either before a game or during training. The programs typically run for around 15-20 minutes and do not require the use of any specialist equipment.  

To develop a successful IPP, you will need to consider the following: 

• Identify the Risks – determine the most common injuries for your chosen sport, their risk factors and mechanisms.  
• Evaluation – Determine how injuries are managed and brainstorm some prevention strategies to minimise their risk and improve treatment outcomes. 
• Intervention – In consultation with your team, physiotherapists, sports scientists and academic research you can plan and introduce a number of injury prevention strategies to benefit the performance and health of your team.  

Preventative Physiotherapy can Reduce Risk of Injury – Contact Orthosports Physio Today 

Orthosports Physio have a wealth of experience in the assessment and treatment of common sporting injuries, and our team can equip you with skills and strategies to reduce the incidence of injury or re-injury. Call today on 9744 2201 to book an appointment at our Concord physio clinic.