REHABILITATION OF

INJURED ATHLETE

Prepared By: Banugan, Casey L.

 Rehabilitation is the act of
restoring something to its
original state.

 The noun rehabilitation comes

from the Latin prefix re-
,meaning “again” and
habitare, meaning “make fit.”

 Rehabilitation of an athlete is his

restoration to the level of his
fitness after an injury.
Principles governing the rehabilitation of the
injured athlete are:

1. Preserve the general 4. Rehabilitation requires

fitness of the body teamwork between the
and prevent sports doctor,
deconditioning. paramedical staff such
as: physiotherapist and
2. Functional recovery sports therapist, and the
can precede athlete.
anatomical healing. 5. The athlete must have
3. It is important to confidence in himself and
diagnose and treat his athletic ability so that
accurately. the pattern of the training
and competition is
restored.
 COMPONENTS OF REHABILITATION
PROGRAM
 Controlling swelling
 R-rest
 I- ice
 C- compression
 E- elevation
 Reducing Pain
 Restoring full range of motion
 Restoring muscle strength, endurance, power
 Reestablishing neuromuscular control
 Regaining balance
 Maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness
 Incorporating functional progressions
Various 1.
Methods of Treatment
Medicines
Systematic medication includes analgesics
and anti-inflammatory agents.
(e.g aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, morphine,
etc)
Topical medications like ointments and
salves have analgesic effect.
Use of steroids with or without anesthetics
should be sparingly and be only with the
hands of experts.
2. Rest of a particular injured tissue.
Rest should be used as little as possible.
3. Surgery
For lesions which do not spontaneously heal
and which are associated with mechanical
derangement, surgery is required. ( eg.
Medial meniscus and Achilles tendon.)
4. Physical Treatment
Cold and heat compression as first-aid
treatment of sports injuries.
 FORMS OF HEAT STIMULATION (MACHINES)

Various forms of
heat are used to
stimulate local
circulation and
relieve pain and
cause relaxation by
a sensory effect.

Infrared Lamp
 Ultrasound combined with  Electrical stimulation:
low volt muscle stimulating Faradism
machine
 Diathermy Machine  Whirl Pool Bath
 Massage
Its sensory ef fects may stimulate or relax the athlete prior to a
competition.

Joint Manipulation and acupressure by experienced experts may

be helpful.
 5. Therapeutic Exercises

 Like conditioning exercises these include exercises for

muscular strength, flexibility, muscular endurance,
coordination, and speed of movement.
Lifting weights to strengthen abductor and extensor muscle:
 KNEE, THIGH & HAMSTRING
EXERCISES ( EA R LY STA G E )

 Heel Slides
 This is a knee mobility exercise to increase
the range of knee flexion at the joint.

 Isometric Quads
 Isometric quad exercises aim to strengthen
the quads by contracting the muscle, with
no, or very little movement of the knee
joint.

 Prolonged Knee Flexion Sitting

 This exercise is used to increase knee
flexion. Sometimes after a knee or thigh
injury or after surgery on this area it is not
possible to fully bend the knee.
 Prolonged Knee Extension Sitting
 This exercise is used to help regain full knee
extension. Often after a severe knee injury
or after surgery it is not possible to fully
straighten the knee

 Sit to Stand Exercises

 This is a simple exercise that works the
quadriceps in the early stages of
rehabilitation after a knee injury. It is also
helpful for the elderly to maintain quad
strength.

Assisted Knee Flexion

 This exercise helps to increase the range of
knee flexion available at the joint. It is
designed for the early stages of
rehabilitation after a knee injury or surgery.
 Isometric Quad Prone
 This exercise strengthens the
quads at the front of the thigh. It
is for the very early stages of a
knee injury or quad strain.

 Static hamstring exercises

 Static or isometric hamstring
exercises can be used in the early
stages of rehabilitation for a knee
injury or a hamstring strain to
help prevent muscle wasting.
 SHOULDER EXERCISES
(STRENGTHENING)
 Isometric Shoulder Exercises
 Isometric shoulder exercises involve
contracting the muscle without moving the
arm. They are used most of ten in the ver y early
stages of rehabilitation where exercises
involving movement may cause pain.

 Scapular Squeeze Shoulder Exercise

 In a sitting position with the elbows by the side
the athlete squeezes the shoulder blades
together, holding for 5 -10 seconds. This
strengthens the rhomboids and middle
trapezius.

 Diagonal Plane Exercises

 The athlete holds one end of a resistance band
star ting with the arm raised out to the side
above shoulder height. The arm is pulled down
across the body so that hand reaches the other
hip. It is impor tant the athlete maintains joint
stability.
 Lat Pull Down Shoulder Exercise
 The band is anchored at a high point
with the ends held in each hand. The
athlete then pulls down.

 Standing Chest Press Shoulder Exercise

 Athlete anchors the elastic band at chest
level and holds one end in each hand.
Athlete pushes straight forwards until
the elbows are straight.

 Push Up against a Wall

 The Push-up performed against a wall
strengthens the chest muscles as well as
the scapula muscles. It is an easier
version of the normal press up. It can
also be performed explosively later in
the rehabilitation program.
 Chest Pass
 The athlete stands one meter from a rebound
net or par tner and forcefully throws a medicine
ball from chest height with both hands then
repeat.

 Extension in prone with dumbbell

 Shoulder extension in a prone lying position (on
the front) to strengthen the posterior shoulder
muscles and the back . Keeping the scapula
depressed the athlete moves the arm and weight
out backwards and upwards.

 Front Raise Shoulder Exercise

 This front raise requires a resistance band and
strengthens the front of the shoulder. The
athlete places one end of the elastic band under
one foot and lif ts the arm for wards and
upwards.
 Upper Extremity Ball Stabilization
 The athlete lies on a massage table and
balances with one hand on a large swiss
/ gym ball. Increase difficulty by moving
the arm in a circular motion.

 Hand Walking on Treadmill / Stool

 The athlete walks on their hands either
supporting their weight on the stool or
walking on their hands on a treadmill in
the gym.

 Wobble Board for Shoulders

 Wobble board exercises for shoulder
stability. Various exercises can be done
by placing the weight through the arms
on a wobble balance board.
 Lateral Raise Shoulder Exercise
 The arm is kept straight and raised
out the side, then lowered. Band can
be anchored under the foot.

 Wood Chops shoulder exercise

 The wood chop shoulder exercise
improves the upper body strength
and explosive strength.

 Reverse Fly Shoulder Exercise

 Athlete holds the resistance band or
pulley slightly below shoulder level
and pulls towards chest by pulling
arms backwards.
 WRIST & HAND EXERCISES

 Rehab exercises for the wrist and hand

should always be done pain free. The
number of repetitions will depend on your
injury or strengthening aims and stage of
rehabilitation.

 Assisted Supinator Stretch

 This stretch requires the help of a partner
or therapist to stretch the muscles which
supinate the wrist (turn the hand over ).

Finger Exercises with Rubber Band

 Rubber band exercises are a great way
for strengthening the finger extensors
and is commonly used in treating tennis
elbow injuries as the same muscles
causing pain at the elbow, also control
finger extension.
 Prolonged Wrist Stretc hes
 This exercise aims to increase the range of motion
into pronation and supination. Pronation is the
movement of turning the hand so the palm faces
downwards.

 Putty Exercises (Various)

 Putty can be used to strengthen the small muscles
of the wrist and hand. This is useful af ter injuries
such as fracture to any of the small bones in the
hand or a wrist, thumb or finger sprain.
 Wrist Extension
 it is a great exercise for rehabilitation of injuries
such as tennis elbow and sprains/fractures of the
wrist.
 Wrist F lexion
 This wrist flexion exercise can be per formed with a
dumbbell as shown, or with a resistance band. It is
great for strengthening the wrist flexor muscles of
the forearm af ter wrist and elbow injuries.
ANKLE REHABILITATION EXERCISE PROGRAM

I. Stage 1 IV. Stage 4

A. Flexion A. Repeat range of motion exercises
B. Extension B. Hopping exercises
C. If able to do A and B, you may now do
C. Inversion
the following:
D. Eversion 1. Active jogging and walking with the
II. Stage 2 uncle strapped.
A. Foot Circles 2. Sprint at full speed and run circles.
B. Alphabet 3. Run zigzag course.
4. Test on the right angle quick cuts,
III. Stage 3
both to right and left.
A. Towel Exercise
B. Pick-Up Exercise
C. Toe Rise
 Return to Play

 Before the athlete can return to regular athletic competition, several

goals must be met.
First, the athlete must be completely free of pain and weakness and
must regain full range of motion of the neck.
 Second, the diagnostic tests such as the EMG and/or MRI should
not reveal any active nerve damage or severe nerve compression.
 Third, the athlete must be reconditioned for the sport especially if
he has not competed for a while.
 Fourth, improvement in the athlete's playing technique (such as
blocking and tackling) and equipment modifications should be made
to protect the athlete from further injury.
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