What is Injury Rehabilitation?
Injury rehabilitation plays a key role in ensuring an injury does not return. It will determine the speed of return to sport, or to generally feeling like yourself again. Each session will begin with an initial examination and assessment. This is the start of a diagnosis, and the findings of all the tests carried out will determine the best course of treatment. And which rehab exercises will ensure a speedy recovery.
If a joint is stiff and causing pain, range of motion exercises or mobilisations will be prescribed. Once optimal range of motion is achieved, strengthening will begin on weak muscles and ligaments. This is done by using specific injury rehab exercises. Following this the therapy will become more functional. Movements and drills performed in a patients chosen sport or profession are replicated. Throughout this process, sports massage is used to break down scar tissue which may be forming. This helps to realign muscle fibers to ensure optimal recovery, reduce pain, and improve well being.
Injury rehabilitation should be fun and functional. Real Motion strives to ensure that any exercise therapy prescribed is just that. Exercise programmes are carefully chosen to meet rehabilitation needs and be manageable for busy lifestyles. Patients can therefore be certain of a return to full functional fitness. That’s as long as the exercises are completed!
Joint Mobilisations?
Joint mobilisations are a form of manual therapy. Gentle passive movements work through Maitland’s grading system. This helps restore joint movement, function, and reduce pain. Following an examination and assessment, the restricted joint is mobilised with the aim of increasing its movement. They may sound daunting but the results can be fantastic.
Maitland Concept:
There are 5 grades of motion. Each determines the amount of movement targeted during the treatment.
- Grade 1 – small movements of the spine or joint within the joints resistance.
- Grade 2 – larger movements of the spine or joint still within the joints resistance.
- Grade 3 – large movements of the spine or joint performed into the joints resistance.
- Grade 4 – small movements of the spine or joint performed into the joints resistance. Normally at end of range.
- Grade 5 – a high velocity movement performed into the joints resistance. Also know as joint manipulation.
The grade of mobilisation used depends on the severity and irritability of the joint pain. All joint mobilisations are performed in a pain free manner. Constant re-assessment throughout the treatment ensures the chosen joint mobilisation is having the desired effect.
Benefits of Joint Mobilisations:
There are many known effects of joint mobilisations, including the following:
- Reduced joint stiffness.
- Reduced joint pain.
- Increased range of motion at a joint.
- Realigns joint structures following an injury.
Joint mobilisations can help with lower back injuries, frozen shoulder, neck pain, or ankle stiffness, and can help restore movement and reduce pain for a wide range of injuries. So, don’t ignore that niggle or accept having a bad knee. With a thorough examination and assessment, the correct injury rehabilitation and exercise prescription, you can achieve pain free functional fitness.