Sample Response (Sport Medicine – Rehabilitation)

Resource Description

Justify the rehabilitation procedures used to manage specific sporting injuries, referring to a variety of sports.

After sustaining injury, it is important for athletes to follow rehabilitation procedures to prevent further injury, prevent reversibility and return to play as quickly as possible. Rehabilitation procedures include progressive mobilisation, graduated exercise, training, and the use of heat and cold. The procedures differ for various injuries and sports but are highly effective when adapted to individual needs.

Progressive mobilisation involves gradually increasing the range of motion after an injury to prevent stiffness, increase blood flow and stop the formation of scar tissue. For a hamstring strain sustained by a rugby player, appropriate methods may include light walking as it is non-strenuous, preventing further injury, and will help maintain the muscle elasticity and increase the range of movement (ROM). This would differ from a netball player who sustained a broken ankle, who could use gentle ankle rotations to re-strengthen the tendons surrounding the ankle while remaining pain-free. Both athletes could combine this with the use of cold, e.g. with an ice pack, to decrease swelling around the injury and promote recovery + the removal of waste products. A gradual increase of movement is effective in regaining initial strength and increasing the ROM while use of cold is effective for faster recovery and pain relief in the management of different injuries.