Stop the cycle of recurring injuries

Do you suffer from the same old injuries again and again?

You are not alone. Many people are plagued by recurrent injuries due to incomplete rehabilitation, poor warm-up, neglecting symptoms of pain or weakness and overuse among other causes.

Ballito physiotherapist Alison Stephenson of In Touch Therapy said the root causes of recurrent injuries are most often an imbalance in the body, one area becoming weak and another tight or restricted.

“When we treat a recurring injury we test to see whether some muscles may be over-active and others under-active, putting strain on the area in question.

“A recurrent hamstring injury, for example, could be caused by a weakness in the back or buttock region, alongside tightness in the hamstring muscles.

“This is common in people who spend most of their day in front of a computer and then, for example, head out for a game of action cricket.

“Specific rehabilitation exercises in this case may involve improving the ability of the trunk muscles (the core) to resist the pull of the hamstring muscles, as well as strengthening the gluteal muscles to decrease the load taken by the hamstrings while running.

“In this way you improve both flexibility and strength, and help minimise the risk of recurrence.”

Stephenson said treatment and motor control rehabilitation is crucial to put a stop to the cycle of injury.

“We can use manual treatment to release muscles that are restricted and prescribe patient specific exercises to help strengthen the weak areas.

“Dry needling can be a useful tool to help lengthen shortened muscles, and to help kick-start muscles that have become weak or lazy.”

In Touch Therapy is the umbrella covering three physios and one chiropractor who work in conjunction with each other at the Sanhall office park.