Athletic Training The Healing Process and the tools used to control it

Healing process When an injury occurs, the body immediately begins the process that eventually results in healing Mobilization of defenses Clearing out of damaged tissue and debris so that new tissue may be laid down Construction analogy

All the fluids and dead cells that have resulted must be removed This is done by the circulatory and lymphatic systems Once the dead cells have been removed oxygen and nutrients supplying capillaries will assist repair ****Removal of waste products is crucial to repair

Inflammation Pain Swelling Redness Heat Loss of function

Modality Anything used to treat an injury You are trying to control the inflammation process (not stop it) o Body does everything to extremes o Symptoms may be worse than the injury You must understand what the modality will do to the body

Gate Theory for pain control If you stood up and hit you head what would you immediately do? Each nerve can either sense “touch” or “pain” When you stimulate the touch part of the nerve…you close the pain channel When you rub your head you feel the rubbing instead of the pain

Pain Spasm Cycle Bodies natural reaction to an injury is to cause the surrounding structures in spasm o Natural splinting of the body Spasm most powerful for of contraction (100%) Problem o Injury causes spasm o Spasms hurt o Pain causes spasm o Spasms hurt Through use of modalities you can either stop the pain or the spasm

Cryotherapy Application of any cold therapy Ice bag (20 minute treatment time) Ice massage (15-20 minute treatment time) Cold Whirlpool (50-55 degrees for 20 minutes ***Water based cryotherapy cannot cause cold injuries (frostbite) ***People may be allergic to or have adverse reactions to cold

Effects of Cryotherapy Immediate Vasoconstriction o Decreases blood flow o Decreases swelling Decreases tissue elasticity o Decreases ROM = protect the injury Counterirritant o Decrease pain ***ice does not “numb” the area

Heat Therapy Moist Hot Pack (160 degrees for 20 minutes) Warm Whirlpool ( degrees for 20 minutes) o Over 120 is scalding

Effects of Heat Therapy Immediate Vasodilatation o Increase blood flow Increases tissue Elasticity o Increase ROM Counterirritant for pain o Decrease Pain

When to use Ice or Heat Ice o First hours post injury almost always use cryotherapy to control the inflammation process Heat o Before rehabilitation exercises  Especially ROM exercises o Before exercise o Later stages of injury treatment