There is no a better day to answer this persistent question than today which is World Physiotherapy Day; with a theme of “Role of Physiotherapists in Prevention and Management of Osteoarthritis”. Osteoarthritis condition is generally called ‘wear and tear arthritis’ which occurs when cartilage cushioning the joints wears down there by allowing bones to rub together; causing joint pain, swelling and limited of joint motion.
Elites or professional athletes are not excepted from this condition. Infact some athletes engaging in physical challenging sports, like contact sports and jumps are at higher risk of getting this condition. From study, ice hockey has a higher risk, followed by soccer, handball, jumpers ( triple and long jumpers) and volley-ballers. Osteoarthritis in hip and knee seem to be the most common.
Physiotherapy has a bigger role in prevention and management of osteoarthritis. Physiotherapist educate by teaching the athletes the strategy technics in training in each specific sports to decrease predisposing injuries. Advise athletes with osteoarthritis to observe long warm-up with a lot of stretching routine before their training.
In the area of prevention, it is important the athletes complete his or her rehabilitation with Physiotherapist before fully return to training. Icing after intensive training, especially after bounding training common with the jumpers will significantly help in reducing athletes from sustaining predisposing injury.
Strengthen the joint stabilizers and stretching or maintaining joint mobilizers and correction of wrong biomechanics go a long way in the management of osteoarthritis.
DiscernSport 