Seeking immediate first aid when experiencing a sports injury goes a long way to preventing further damage, allowing you to recover faster and return to exercise. A common question people have is whether to use heat or ice to treat the injury. Read on to learn about their differences, as well as other physiotherapy treatments available at physio clinics in Singapore.
How do heat & ice differ in treating sports injuries?
Using heat or ice depends on whether the sports injury is acute or chronic. Acute injuries result from sudden trauma such as falling or crashing during sports, while some injuries are due to prolonged, repetitive motion that result in overuse. Sports physiotherapy in Singapore provides diagnosis for one’s presented symptoms, and follows up with effective treatment to maintain an active lifestyle.
Heat therapy usually consists of pressing heat packs or hot water bottles to the affected area for a short duration. Generally, heat therapy is utilised for chronic injuries, helping to increase blood flow, relax tightened muscles, and relieve aching joints. Heat is particularly useful for alleviating symptoms of arthritis which can impact one’s ability to engage in sports, along with conditions such as tendonitis and back pain.
Ice therapy consists of applying ice wrapped up in cloth or towels or cold water bottles to the affected area. It is important for acute injuries, as the lowered temperature constricts blood vessels which helps numb pain, relieve inflammation, and reduce bruising and swelling. It also plays a part in early injury management, with the latest guiding principles of PEACE and LOVE encompassing immediate care as well as subsequent management.
Both heat and ice treatments can be used in conjunction with one another, such as in the case of muscle strains and sprains. Ice is used first to ease inflammation and reduce pain, and heat is used later on to relieve muscle stiffness. Generally, heat and ice treatments provide temporary relief and facilitate healing, and patients experiencing more severe injuries should seek prompt sports physiotherapy treatment at physio clinics in Singapore.
What other physiotherapy treatments are used in treating sports injuries?
Sports physiotherapy plays a key role in treating various conditions that patients in Singapore present. Manual therapy techniques such as joint mobilisation and soft tissue massage are often utilised by physiotherapists to help relax muscles, improve circulation and healing, and reduce inflammation and pain, amongst other benefits. Sports physiotherapists also utilise strengthening and rehabilitative exercises to help patients regain their strength, range of motion, and reduce likelihood of a recurrent injury at the affected area.
As each patient has differing symptoms, conditions, backgrounds, and treatment goals, sports physiotherapy in Singapore aims to create a tailored regime best suited to each patient’s needs. They range from helping ‘weekend warriors’ return to occasional exercise safely and confidently, to helping national athletes quickly return to their previous training intensity and reduce their recovery downtime. Physiotherapists also educate patients on methods to avoid future injury, ranging from proper warm-up and cool-down exercises prior to sports, or whether one’s training regime may result in increased risk of injury.
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