With the Paris Olympics still fresh in everyone’s minds, interest in track and field events will likely surge among younger people.
Seeing superstar athletes on the biggest sporting stage of them all tends to have that effect.
Before embarking on the track and field journey, however, it is important to recognise that different disciplines carry different injury risks. Let’s look at some examples:
Sprints: Hamstring strains, quadriceps strains, ankle sprains, Achilles Tendinopathy (repeated stress on Achilles tendon), and shin splints.
Distance running: Shin splints, Runner’s Knee (kneecap pain), IT Band Syndrome (irritation or inflammation of the iliotibial band), Plantar Fasciitis (inflammation of the plantar fascia), and Achilles Tendinitis.
Jumping events: Ankle sprains, knee injuries, Achilles Tendinopathy, hip flexor strains, and lower back pain.
Throwing events: Rotator cuff injuries (common in throwing sports due to the significant overhead motions involved), elbow injuries, wrist and hand injuries, shoulder impingement, and back injuries.
Ultra Sports Clinic physiotherapist James Olasunkanmi says irrespective of the discipline, coaches and athletes should emphasise proper training, warm-ups and cool-downs, as well as strength and conditioning programmes to help mitigate the risk of these injuries.
“Treatments for injuries within these sporting events with be largely similar. The differences lie in the severity of the injury,” James says.
“In the acute stages, individuals would be advised to undertake pain management techniques including ice, compression, rest and elevation. Following this, a strength-based rehabilitation programme can be started which will differ depending on the athlete involved and the sport that they take part in.”
He stresses that exercises need to ensure the athlete can return to the levels of functionality they had prior to the injury.
The length of rehabilitation will depend on the severity of the injury.
James gives the example of muscle injuries, which can be classified into three grades.
Mild strains (Grade 1), where there has been slight tearing of muscle fibres and minor pain, usually take between one and three weeks to heal.
Moderate strains (Grade 2), where there is more significant tearing of muscle, greater loss of functionality and moderate pain, can take between three and six weeks to recover.
Severe strains (Grade 3) involve complete rupture of muscles or tendons, with little or no functionality available. These injuries can leave athletes sidelined for months and may even require medical intervention or surgery.
James says it is possible for athletes to contribute to their rehabilitation journey at home.
“To support recovery from home, the focus would be on following the provided home exercise programme that will ensure adequate healing, improved functionality and therefore result in less pain. Ultimately, it will allow the athlete to return to competitive athletics within the desired timeframe.”
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