Injury rehabilitation

Question 1

Why would a performer rush recovery (rehabilitation)?

Answer 1

As the longer you are injured for, the greater the effects of reversibility are, such as:
- Atrophy (loss of muscle mass)
- Loss of VO2 max (aerobic capacity)

Question 2

What decreases due to a reduced VO2 max?

Answer 2

• Decreased glycolytic enzymes
• Reduced triglyceride and glycogen stores
• Decreased myoglobin levels

Question 3

What are the 5 methods of rehabilitation?

Answer 3

• Hyperbaric chambers
• Cryotherapy
• Hydrotherapy
• Proprioceptive training
• Strength training

Question 4

What is a hyperbaric chamber?

Answer 4

A highly pressurised chamber that delivers 100% pure oxygen to the body, which reduces recovery time

Question 5

What are the physiological reasons behind hyperbaric chambers

Answer 5

• Increased oxygen levels
• Haemoglobin levels are fully saturated
• Excess oxygen is absorbed into the plasma
• Dissolved oxygen reduces swelling and increases the rate of cellular repair

Question 6

Which athlete benefits from hyperbaric chambers?

Answer 6

Soft tissue, tendon, or ligament damage

Question 7

What is cryotherapy?

Answer 7

Involves a subject entering a cryogenic chamber that has been cooled by liquid nitrogen to a temp below -100 degrees.
Last 3 mins
Reduces pain and inflammation

Question 8

What are the physiological reasons behind cryotherapy?

Answer 8

• Freezing gas surrounding the body is detected by thermoreceptors
• This stimulates the vasomotor centre
• The vessels in the arms and legs vasoconstrict
• This process shunts blood towards the core to protect the internal organs
• On leaving the chamber, the arms and legs vessels vasodilate and the rate of cellular repair increases

Question 9

What athlete benefits from cryotherapy?

Answer 9

Athletes with soft tissue, tendon, or ligament damage

Question 10

What is needed for recovery?

Answer 10

Oxygen!!!

Question 11

What is hydrotherapy?

Answer 11

Takes place in warm water (35 degrees) and is used to improve blood circulation, relieve pain and relax muscles

Question 12

What are the physiological reasons behind hydrotherapy?

Answer 12

• Buoyancy of the water helps to support body weight
• Allows the athlete to train on weak joints
• Exercise against the water resistance helps too strengthen the injured area
• Includes BA or underwater treadmill

Question 13

What athletes benefit from hydrotherapy?

Answer 13

Athletes with weight bearing injuries

Question 14

What is proprioception?

Answer 14

The body’s awareness of its limbs

Question 15

What are proprioceptors?

Answer 15

Receptors that detect the body’s position and speed of movement, which allows for smooth and controlled movements

Question 16

What does proprioceptive retraining involve?

Answer 16

Involves teaching the body how to control itself again

Question 17

What is used in proprioceptive retraining?

Answer 17

Wobble board

Question 18

What is strength training?

Answer 18

It rebuilds strength in or around an injured area - and prevents it from happening again

Question 19

What does resistance come from in strength training?

Answer 19

1) Therabands (different colours=different resistance)
2) Machine and body weight (core strength and posture, also from a machine)
3) Free weights (body has control)