Pdhpe

For an athlete the rehabilitation procedures aim to restore the athlete to their pre-injury level of fitness and range of movement. The general aim of rehabilitation is to return the injured athlete to the field of play, restore their performance and prevent any chance of re-injury of the same site. The speed of managing an injury correctly using the rehabilitation techniques may greatly reduce the rehabilitation time for the athlete. The Rehabilitation procedures include: - progressive mobilisation of the injured part - graduated exercise which incorporates stretching, conditioning and maintenance of total body fitness - training to re-establish readiness for competition - use of hot and cold therapies. Any injury involving the muscular or connective tissues surrounding a joint will restrict movement of that joint. Joint mobilisation is the freeing of hindered joints to allow improved range of motion. The process is known as progressive mobilisation because the range of movement is gradually increased over time until the full range of movement is restored. Joint mobilisation can be achieved through active exercises such as plantar and Dorsiflexion or through the athlete performing inversion and eversion movement. This can also be achieved through passive methods such as being helped by someone else. Mobilisation of the injured part should begin soon after the injury because joint inactivity can increase the formation of scar tissue. Then second part of the rehabilitation procedure involves the use of graduated exercise. This incorporates the use of stretching, conditioning and maintenance of total body fitness. Loss of flexibility occurs as a result of injury to muscle and connective tissue, and the formation of scar tissue. A degree of flexibility will be returned to the site through progressive mobilisation however, attention needs also to be paid to stretching exercises An athlete who has finished a treatment and rehabilitation program is not ready to return to full competition. Even though the athlete might have a full active range of movement and flexibility, and even though the person’s strength might have returned to normal and total body fitness might have been maintained, the athlete is not ready for competition The application of heat and cold to an injured site is important in the healing process. Cold is used for the immediate treatment of injury as it prevents swelling due to internal bleeding. It can be applied by using ice packs, ice contained in plastic and wrapped in a towel or cool water/ice baths and immersion for short periods. Cold will also be useful after exercise and training when the injured area has been through a workout. Heat should not be used in the early stages of injury while bleeding at the injured site is still occurring. It may help in promoting movement and blood flow and relaxing the muscles through rehabilitation.