Rehabilitation Procedures for a hamstring tear
2
Justify the rehabilitation procedures an athlete would undertake after tearing a hamstring. To ensure an athlete can return to play as soon as possible following a hamstring injury, a variety of rehabilitation processes should be implemented. These include progressive mobilisation, graduated exercise (including stretching, conditioning and total body fitness), training and the use of heat and cold. When each step is correctly addressed, it will increase the likelihood of a speedy reintroduction to sport. Before the rehabilitation process occurs, effective immediate treatment of the hamstring tear, such as the utilisation of the RICER method, is essential for successful long term healing. Bandaging and taping may be helpful in restricting internal bleeding, but should be used minimally or under the direction of medical personnel during rehabilitation as they restrict full movement of the site. Progressive mobilisation is necessary to enhance the range of movement available at the hamstring. A hamstring tear causes severe damage to muscle and connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments, leading to scar tissue formation and immobilisation. Active and passive movement techniques should be introduced soon after the injury to prevent muscle inactivity, for example, flexion and extension of the knee by the athlete and physiotherapist. It is important that the athlete is ready to undertake this phase by ensuring the movements are slow, circulation to the area is increased beforehand and movement remains pain free. Therefore progressive mobilisation is a key stage in the initial rehabilitation process as it prevents muscle stiffness at the injured site. After the injured site has been mobilised, graduated exercise is introduced in the form of stretching, conditioning and total body fitness. Stretching is beneficial as it reduces muscle tension, increases circulation and improves the range of motion at the injured site. Stretching can be in the form of PNF stretches, such as the hold-relax stretch, as well as static stretches. Gentle hamstring stretching may include sitting down with legs in front, slowly bending forward till the point of tension, or attempting hamstring curls. Therefore, it is imperative that strength in the muscle is regained and the muscle slowly overloaded with further resistance through stretching to initiate return to pre injury levels. Conditioning, following the overload and progression principles, targets overall cardiorespiratory health as well as the local muscular endurance around the injured area, consisting of intermittent periods of recovery. Conditioning is critical in preventing muscle atrophy. Functional exercises are used as early as possible to avoid a loss of conditioning, and it is common to see AFL players doing light jogging 48 hours after a mild hamstring tear. When the inflammation settles gradually more difficult agility tasks are added. They may include backward and zig zag running. Adding rapid acceleration and
description
Sample answer for rehabilitation procedures (yr 12 PDHPE HSC) following the syllabus.
Transcript of Rehabilitation Procedures for a hamstring tear
Justify the rehabilitation procedures an athlete would undertake after tearing a hamstring.
To ensure an athlete can return to play as soon as possible following a hamstring injury, a variety of rehabilitation processes should be implemented. These include progressive mobilisation, graduated exercise (including stretching, conditioning and total body fitness), training and the use of heat and cold. When each step is correctly addressed, it will increase the likelihood of a speedy reintroduction to sport.
Before the rehabilitation process occurs, effective immediate treatment of the hamstring tear, such as the utilisation of the RICER method, is essential for successful long term healing. Bandaging and taping may be helpful in restricting internal bleeding, but should be used minimally or under the direction of medical personnel during rehabilitation as they restrict full movement of the site.
Progressive mobilisation is necessary to enhance the range of movement available at the hamstring. A hamstring tear causes severe damage to muscle and connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments, leading to scar tissue formation and immobilisation. Active and passive movement techniques should be introduced soon after the injury to prevent muscle inactivity, for example, flexion and extension of the knee by the athlete and physiotherapist. It is important that the athlete is ready to undertake this phase by ensuring the movements are slow, circulation to the area is increased beforehand and movement remains pain free. Therefore progressive mobilisation is a key stage in the initial rehabilitation process as it prevents muscle stiffness at the injured site.
After the injured site has been mobilised, graduated exercise is introduced in the form of stretching, conditioning and total body fitness.
Stretching is beneficial as it reduces muscle tension, increases circulation and improves the range of motion at the injured site. Stretching can be in the form of PNF stretches, such as the hold-relax stretch, as well as static stretches. Gentle hamstring stretching may include sitting down with legs in front, slowly bending forward till the point of tension, or attempting hamstring curls. Therefore, it is imperative that strength in the muscle is regained and the muscle slowly overloaded with further resistance through stretching to initiate return to pre injury levels.
Conditioning, following the overload and progression principles, targets overall cardiorespiratory health as well as the local muscular endurance around the injured area, consisting of intermittent periods of recovery. Conditioning is critical in preventing muscle atrophy. Functional exercises are used as early as possible to avoid a loss of conditioning, and it is common to see AFL players doing light jogging 48 hours after a mild hamstring tear. When the inflammation settles gradually more difficult agility tasks are added. They may include backward and zig zag running. Adding rapid acceleration and deceleration, changes in directions at speed and jumping will also make the training more specific to the sport, as well as the individual; conditioning should cater to the athlete’s age, sex and physical predisposition.
Total Body fitness is the final step in the graduated exercise process. The choice of total body fitness exercises will depend on the type and severity of the injury, and should gradually overload the muscle groups and energy systems. In the case of a hamstring tear, some fitness exercises might include swimming and running on the treadmill, which will strengthen the fibres and tendons surrounding the injury, as well as increasing the elasticity of fibres. Total body fitness is essential, as the pre injury levels of physical and mental health are reaffirmed. After total body fitness has been achieved, the injured athlete can return to full training, including warm up, drills, skills development and cool downs.
The use of cold is vital in the initial treatment of a hamstring tear, and is used continuously throughout the rehabilitation process after training the injured area as it reduces swelling, while the use of heat is helpful for promoting movement of blood flow and relaxing of muscles at the injured site. However, thermotherapy, such as the use of heat packs shouldn’t be used for at least 3 days.
It can be seen that rehabilitation procedures are vital to ensuring an athlete is at their peak when returning to play following a hamstring tear.
