Finger injuries are generally known as a ‘jarred finger.’ It commonly occurs in sports such as netball, AFL, oz tag and rugby. Quite often they are left untreated and can lead to swelling, stiffness, pain and finger deformities. Here we take a look at the most common finger injuries and how a hand therapist can help.
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A room filled with long, lean ballerinas, some with their leg extended vertically up against a wall, some casually chatting to their friends while they sit so deep in the splits, they’ve placed blocks under their heels to intensify the stretch?
Well, think again. If you walk into the halls of the Australian Ballet, you’ll not find stretching apparatus anywhere. And that is because of one core belief: Strength trumps stretch.
In the early 2000’s the Australian Ballet was plagued by an alarming number of lower limb injuries. There needed to be a change to the way in which these dancers were training.
The theory behind it was quite simple:
Why were dancers passively stretching their (already very flexible) muscles to such extreme ranges of movement, putting excessive load through their joints and tendons, when what they really needed was the strength to lift, hold and propel their limbs?
Fast forward to 2021, where the injury rates are so low at the AB that their physiotherapy team has now conducted loads of research into the area.
Turns out, you do not need to spend all your time stretching to be flexible. Strong muscles have less need to become “tight”, therefore, in many ways, strength begets flexibility.
Don’t worry! We’re not saying to completely forget about stretching altogether; however, it must be done appropriately. Strong muscles help protect and support your joints, which mean they can handle whatever load you throw at them. Muscles that are genuinely tight should be adequately warmed up, moved through a good range of movement, and dynamically stretched to prepare them for whatever activity you are about to do. An extensive study in 2014 reviewed over 26,000 subjects, and the results were gobsmacking: It was found that improved strength reduced injury by nearly 70% while stretching did not reduce injuries significantly at all. [1]
Physiotherapy techniques including muscle releases, joint mobilisations, dry needling, and massage therapy can also be useful to treat muscle tightness where it is a problem. However, it pays to remember – tight muscles are often weak muscles.
Start with a gentle warm up, a brisk walk, a gentle jog, or some squats. Then do some dynamic stretches, such as lunge walking, arm swings, or leg swings. Remember, the goal is to warm your muscles up to make them respond better to whatever activity is coming.
Strength should be approached carefully and methodically – and under the watchful eye of your physiotherapist. A good strength program to help prevent injury is specifically designed for the individual. Taking the time to address your strength deficits is crucial for injury prevention.
Did you know that our team at Q Pilates is comprised of a group of dedicated physiotherapists, who are passionate about injury prevention and rehabilitation? We also run physiotherapist-led exercise classes, where each individual is assessed and provided with a specific, personalised program to work on their own weaknesses.
If you are serious about taking care of your body, we would be delighted to work with you to build your strength, and, in turn, improve your flexibility and decrease your risk of further injury.
References:
[1] Lauersen JB, Bertelsen DM, Andersen LB. The effectiveness of exercise interventions to prevent sports injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br J Sports Med. 2014 Jun;48(11):871-7. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092538. Epub 2013 Oct 7. PMID: 24100287.
Hydrotherapy or Aquatic Physiotherapy is therapeutic exercise in a warmed pool, supervised by a physiotherapist. The pools are often shallow, making them ideal for exercise and rehab.
If you are going to be working from home, it’s important to set up your workstation as best you can to ensure you are comfortable and are avoiding awkward postures. Setting up a home workstation doesn’t have to be expensive – some simple tips and tricks can work really well.
Listen to Allsports Director Tony Ganter talk Sports Injury & Physiotherapy Management in this radio broadcasted interview.
New year, a better you!
We’re officially a whole month into the New Year already! On the first of January, you sat down with a pen and piece of paper and started brainstorming your resolutions for 2017. Work fewer hours and spend more time with the family? Save up so this time next year you can be jetting off to some fantastic destination? New Year’s Resolutions differ for everybody, but a common theme is that by February, they’re just distant memories. Regardless of whether you can keep a resolution or not, you should continue to make your health a priority in 2017- especially after an exorbitant amount of champagne at your New Years function. Here are some top suggestions to keep your health in check this year!
Water. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, water should never be far from reach. Try to cut down on high-calorie soft drink, sugary fruit juices and energy drinks and substitute lemon and mint-infused water.
Wear a pedometer. Aim for 10,000 steps each day to lower blood pressure and maintain weight.
