Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries

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Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries

• Goals of Rehabilitation

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Over All Goals of Rehabilitation

• Full Range of Motion, both active and passive.
• Normal strength and power.
• Normal coordinated patterns of movement with
  injury compensated movement (limping) eliminated.
• Pain free movements during activity.

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Review Stages of Rehabilitation

• Stage one Joint Immobilization-Tissue Healing
• Stage two Pain Free Weight Bearing (removal of
  all forms of immobilization)
• Stage three Increased Resistance

• Stage four Functional Progression Exercises.
• Stage five Sports Specific Activities

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Criteria That Should Be Measured Prior to
Rehabilitation.

• Strength
• Power
• Endurance
• Balance between antagonistic muscle groups

• Flexibility
• Proprioception
• Functional Use of the extremity
• Sport Specific Skills

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Common Mistakes on Rehabilitation

• Often concentrated on single limb or muscle
  group.
• Rehab is incomplete and athlete returns too soon.
• Postural defects are neglected.

• Exercises for developing proprioception are
  forgotten.
• Functional Progressive exercises and specific
  sports skills are not introduced.

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Rehabilitation Programs should be designed to

• Monitor progression
• Ensure safety of athlete
• Allow periods of evaluation
• Have cooperation and input of coach
• Provide good psychological climate

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Rehabilitation Programs should be designed to

• Fulfill the needs of the athlete returning to
  pre-injury levels
• Prevent de-conditioning of total body
• Rehabilitation of the body part without hampering
  the healing process

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Effects of Immobilization on Muscle-Atrophy and
Fiber Changes

• Loss of muscle mass
• Greatest atrophy occurs in type I (slow twitch
  fibers)
• Overtime, slow twitch muscles develop fast twitch
  characteristics

• Muscle immobilized in lengthened or neutral
  position tensed to atrophy less
• Immobilization in a shorten position encourages
  atrophy and loss of contractibility

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Atrophy and Fiber Changes (cont.)

• In a lengthen position, isometric contraction and
  Electro-muscle Stimulation can be done
• Protein is lost from muscle, protein synthesis is
  reduced lt35
• Motor Neuron discharge decreased lt5 to 15

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Effects of Inactivity Short Term and Long Term

• Loss of physical fitness
• Loss of muscle strength
• Loss of endurance
• Loss of coordination

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Short Term Goals in Rehabilitation

• Should be determined for every treatment.
• Usually established for a one-week or two week
  period.
• Are redefined at the time of every evaluation so
  that change/progress can be made.

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Long Term Goals in Rehabilitation

• Provide DIRECTION to the treatment plan.
• Determine WHAT MUST be accomplished so athlete
  returns successfully to full athletic
  competition.
• Determine the overall efficacy of the
  rehabilitation program

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Reasons for Goal Setting

• Provides motivation to athlete.
• Provides incentive to attain a certain physical
  condition in a defined amount of time.
• Provides realistic timetables for athlete, coach,
  family

• Prevents unnecessary pressure on the Athletic
  Training staff.
• Allows the athlete to rehab without additional
  pressure from coaches

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Rehabilitation Goals Need To Be

• Realistic
• Objective
• Measurable
• Provide direction
• Allow evaluation
• Signify progress

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• Thank You for your Attention