The Five Stages of Complete Injury Rehabilitation!!

When you are injured and keen to make a complete recovery back to your normal activities, adhering to a proper rehabilitation framework and schedule is critical.

Your rehabilitation will vary according to the type and severity of the injury, however we believe that the following framework should be followed to give you the best rehabilitation possible.

Phase 1 - Rest and Protect the Injury

The first phase of recovery is about minimising further damage and allowing the body to begin the healing process. We talk about active rest in this period - resting from the things that aggravate the injury, but contiuing to remain active. For example, if you sprain the ligaments in your ankle, you may be able to continue walking (maybe with tape or an ankle guard), but running and sport activities are ceased.

Pain medication and ice to help with pain relief can be important in this phase to help you remain active.

What will your physio do?

Manual therapy is proven to be an effective pain modulator and will be a large focus of early managment. Your physio will also prescribe some exercises that help keep you moving but don't aggravate your pain. They may also recommend some taping or bracing.

Optimal treatment is usually two to three times per week during this phase.

Phase 2 - Recover Movement

It is important to get your range of motion back. We often see people who are keeping their injured joint in one position. Doing this for too long can cause stiffness that is difficult improve.

Specific stretching exercises will hel pyou recover your lost range of motion. We still have to be careful that we don't stretch too far as the injury is still in the early stages of healing.

What will your Physio do?

Manual therapy will continue and they will guide you through progressions of your range of motion exercises. They may start as passive exercises and progress to active ones during this phase. Taping and bracing will be weaned off in this phase and heat is often used.

Optimal treatment will be one to two times per week during this phase.

Phase 3 - Recover your Strength

Only a short time of immobilisation or period of inactivity from an injury can lead to substantial muscle weakness. Injuries like muscle tears and tendinopathy will also exhibit muscle weakness. For sports people, maintaining cardiovascular fitness in this time is also important.

Muscle groups around the injured area will need be strengthened and other muscle groups not directly related to the injury may also need some work.

What will your Physio do?

Some manual therapy will continue, however the focus of treatment will switch to regaining muscle strength in preparation to return to your normal activities.

Optimal treatment will be one to two times per week down to fortnightly during this phase.

Phase 4 - Recover your Function

Whatever your activity, you will have a goal that you want to get back to. It might be playing netball again, your normal gardening or being able to hold your grandchild. In this phase your strengthening exercises will focus on the activities you want to get back to.

For sports people it will involve actvities related to your sport, like running, jumping and passing. If you are trying to get back to work, it may involve some lifting or reaching exercises.

What will your physio do?

Your physio will work with you to progress your strengthening exercises and incorporate specific skilled exercises that you need for your activity. For sports people, we will help you plan training sessions so that you are only performing activities that you are capable of and not returning too quickly. For workers, we will advise your doctor of your capacity so that you can make a graded and successful return to work.

Phase 5 - Prevent Recurrence

This is the phase that gets missed most and is therefore the reason why we see people returning for treatment. When patients miss out on this phase there is a higher chance of re-injury to the same body part whether it's for sportspeople or workers.

Preventing recurrence is all about pushing your strength that bit further so that you are able to cope when you do more than what you are capable of. It may be that you are capable of gardening for one hour, but that day when you want to do a bit more and you work for ninety minutes, puts an increased load on your body. If you do phase 5, you will cope much better and reduce your risk of injury.

What will your physio do?

Your physio will develop an exercise program to continue strengthening and help prevent injury recurrence. Your physio may want to see you on a regular basis (every 4-6 weeks) to help you maintain your strength.

Our experienced physiotherapists will guide you through your rehabilitation to ensure that not only do you get back to the activities you love, but you also reduce the risk of the injury recurring.

Book an appointment with one of our physios by calling 9838 8449 or click on the button below to book online.

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