Sports Injuries

The physiotherapist is the first port of call for sporting injuries. For example in premiership football you will see the physio straight on the pitch when a serious sporting injury is recognised. When Eduardo Da Silva, playing for Arsenal in February 2008, had a fractured dislocation of the left ankle joint including the fibula bone there was a physio that gave 8 minutes of treatment before he was stretchered off.

Ann Clare as a chartered physiotherapist has been trained to assess and diagnose sporting injuries. Ann Clare has a wealth of experience, firstly in the NHS treating patients for rehabilitation. Classes were taken for patients out of plater for the type of injuries Eduardo had.

“Injury is the result of the application to the body or part of the body of forces which exceed the body's ability to adjust to them. These forces may be applied instantaneously or over a considerable period.”

Injury in sport by J.G.P. Williams

As a physiotherapist we treat patients after surgery to begin their early recovery. For example arthroscopy, anterior cruciate ligament repair and fracture dislocations of bones and joints.

R.I.C.E.S. for the immediate care of acute traumatic injuries. Rest diminishes inflammation as soon as the inflammation starts. Instantly in an injury inflammation is the first physiological response. Inflammation itself can cause a lot of pain and slows recovery.

The ice effect is anti-inflammatory, it slows the blood flow down to begin with and then the response is opening the blood flow to take away pain. Ice ,makes swelling go or stops it forming and is known as cold and compression therapy.

Compression by bandage, taping, strapping and splinting, the firm application gives comfort. Elevation for the ankle and for the knee rests that part of the body, there is no weight through the injury and allows the body to repair itself.

When used properly R.I.C.E.S. reduces the total amount of damaged tissue, swelling, muscle spasm and pain. Thus reducing disability time and allowing for quicker healing of the injury.

Ice packs made of gel, ice crushed in damp lint, cold compresses/limbs wrapped in cold towels, ice blocks from a polystyrene cup, immersion in cold water (in and out of cold water) are all techniques for applying ice.

Immersion in hot water, then cold water then returning to hot water and back to the cold water can be used for reducing swelling (this is called contrast bath). hot and cold towels can be applied to areas such as the back.

If any supports are required to aid recovery and rehabilitation Ann Clare advises and obtains them for the patient.

Jack ACL brace for anterior and posterior ligament injury

Just introduced to Great Britain is the Jack ACL brace for conservation and post operative treatment of ACL anterior and posterior ligament injury. The device controls the safe movement for the mechanics of the knee joint. It can be arranged to preserve the ACL ligament and PCL ligament.

Relief from pain and injury casued by impact shock

Clare house physiotherapy are trained to issue orthotics for footwear. We can help with gait correction and with insoles for footwear such as sorbothane based products.

To contact Ann regarding possible treatment please fill in the form below. Please note that we can only reply to people who would be able to travel to our practice for treatment.