1. David Smith MS ATC Sports Medicine 1
Basics of injury rehab
David Smith MS ATC
Sports Medicine 1

2. Everybody always tries to prevent injuries, but they will happen
Very few tend to be life threatening
Most are not serious and have a rapid recovery
Since sports are competitive it makes it necessary to be aggressive in rehab
Thin line between holding the athlete back or returning the athlete too soon
A mistake in judgment may hinder the athletes return in the long run

3. Goal of Rehab
To return the injured athlete back to activity as soon as safely possible

4. Goals of Rehab
Provide First Aid and control swelling Control Pain Restore ROM Restore Strength, Endurance and Power Reestablish Neuromuscular control and regain balance Maintain Fitness levels Functional Progression Functional Testing

5. More Goals Additional Goals for Long Term Rehab are: Daily Goals
Weekly Goals
Monthly Goals

6. First Aid and Control Swelling
How the injury is managed initially is essential to return
Must control the swelling at the time of injury
RICE

7. Controlling Pain The extent of pain varies Control pain using
Severity of Injury
Athlete’s individual pain levels
How in-depth the surgery may have been
Control pain using
RICE
Ice, Heat, Electrical stimulation
?Meds?

8. Restore ROM Must get ROM back ASAP after surgery Ways to get ROM back
Active
On your own
Passive
Someone else doing it for you
Usually it is painful process to get full ROM back

9. Restore Strength, Endurance and Power
Isometric Exercise
Isotonic or Progressive Resistance Exercise (Concentric and Eccentric) Normal weight lifting
Isokinetic Exercise (later in rehab) Cybex, Biodex
Plyometric Exercise
Spinning

10. Reestablish Neuromuscular Control
This is the brains attempt to teach the body conscious control of a specific movement.
Following injury, rest and immobilization the CNS forgets how to put information together.
Need to reeducate the body since it hasn’t been used
Contraction, Balance, Reaction

11. Regain Balance
Vital to re-teach the Neuroreceptors in the body part that is injured
If you fail to address balance problems this may predispose the athlete to reinjury

12. Maintain Cardio Fitness
This can be difficult depending on immobilization
Bike
UBE
Pool
Treadmill
Elliptical
Stairmaster

13. Functional Progression
The purpose of any Rehab program is to restore normal function following injury
These involve a series of gradual progressive activities to assist in return to sport
If NO pain then can move on to more advanced skills

14. Functional Progression
Example:
Walk
Jog/Walk
Jog
Run/Jog
Run
Sprint
Acceleration/Deceleration
Lunges
Shuffles
Carioca
COD

15. Functional Testing Agilities Vertical Jump Broad Jump
Shuttle run, Figure eights, Carioca, Fwd/Bkwd, Side to side, any other sport specific movement
Vertical Jump
Broad Jump
Hopping for Time (Jump Rope)
Test for Quads and Hamstring Strength
Are they 70%,80%,90% of unaffected leg?

16. Return to play Do they have to see the doctor to get clearance?
When do you let the athlete play again?
How do you know?
Is there a test?

17. Criteria for a Full Recovery
The decision to return to play is the final step
Doctor, ATC, Coach and Athlete should all be involved in clearing the athlete to play
Doctor has final decision
Doctor will listen to the rest of the Primary sports Med team to get feedback
All should be confident in the return to play
Gradual Return To Play
Athlete needs to regain confidence playing