When we look at swimmers their most common injuries are found in their shoulders. Swimmers shoulder is and inflammatory condition caused by the mechanical impingement of soft tissues. This condition is most often caused by the repetitive overhead arm motion of the freestyle stroke. The pain associated with the swimmers shoulder may cause by two different sources of impingement in the shoulder. Swimmers may feel shoulder pain from many reasons; firstly I can say poor swimming technique, this is a main reason why swimmer may feel shoulder pain. A second reason may be that the swimmer is training too much and constantly using the tiring muscles. This is because as the muscles being to tire they will work less efficient and effectively and this may lead to 2 negative outcomes. Firstly the muscle may need to wok harder when it is weakened and secondly the swimmer may need to do more strokes to cover the same distance, which is overusing already fatigued muscles.
Things we need to be aware to treat patients safely and efficiently, therapist must be aware of contraindications surrounding treatment. A contraindication in sport massage is where the massage should not be carried out. If the massage is carried out, this can sometimes further damage the injury. Massage should be carried out if in the short or long-term effect the therapist or the clients i.e. skin disease or a skin disorder, cuts or warts. If the client has any of these orders the therapists should not carry out the therapy because these diseases may be passed on from the client to the therapist. The contraindications to massage our body temperature of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or feeling unwell, cuts and abrasions, skin disease or disorders, warts or skin tags, recent or extensive bruising, or recent operations. There are many other contraindications to massage including bone fractures, swollen, hot or painful joints, cancer epilepsy and diabetes. However, diabetes’s not strictly in contraindication but it should be advised that massage has the same effect as exercise on the clients blood sugar levels, and so therefore the appropriate medication that is needed should be available to hand.
I will choose the hamstring injury from task one and talk about a strategy for a client that is suffering from this injury. The first treatment that should be done to the client is the R.I.C.E schedule. This stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. There will be a possibility of bleeding and swelling will also occur so the athlete should no longer take part in the activity. If the athletes returns to the event it may cause further damage to the hamstring causing haemorrhage, this will prolong the recovery from the injury. The hamstring will have to be rested for 2-3 days; you should be applying the R.I.C.E. treatment. Using a pack of ice, apply to the injured area to decrease the swelling and stop the bleeding and also stop the pain. This should be applied for the first 24 hours. Finally elevate the injured hamstring above the level of the heart. This will also help to reduce bleeding and swelling. If the pain hasn’t settled after 2-3 days you may need to get crutches when walking. If the pain continues to stay the same, medical attention is need. The long term treatment for a hamstring can involve sports therapy. This will be really useful; it will help speed up the recovery of the muscle. There are 2 categories of massage that are predominantly used for clients that are involved in the activity or sport. Almost all the massage techniques push the pressure towards the heart, this makes sure that no excessive pressure of blood is being pushed against closed valves causing damage to the blood vessels. The only time that the pressure will be pushed away from the hear is when the aim of the massage is to stretch the muscle fibres and this doesn’t cause damage because the stokes are limited which means there is no possibility of pressure building up.
The best massage to use for a pulled hamstring would be effleurage. This would be because there is less pressure being used and this would prevent any discomfort and damage to the muscle. Whereas Petrisage uses more pressure and there for may cause discomfort. Effleurage consists of a variety of stroking movements using the palm of your hand; effleurage is always used at the start and end of a massage session. Effleurage had many purposes; it introduces the touch to the client making the client fell at ease, warming the tissues, increasing the blood flow, stimulating peripheral nerves and muscle relaxation.
Petrisage is another massage technique this should only be applied to the client after a few massage sessions so that the pressure being built up to the hamstring can be built up slowly. Petrisage is used on deeper tissues for mobilising fluids, stretching muscle fibres, and brining and feeling of relaxation. Pestisage can be carried out with finger tips, both hands and even one hand.
In massage there are different types of medium, these provide therapist with more ways to carry out a massage. Swedish massage is usually performed with talcum powder, and this applied with cotton wool on top of the area being massaged. The aim of the talcum powder is to side hands over the client with deep pressure.
Oils massage is different to talcum powder massages; talcum powder allows the therapist to slide hands over the client, while oil helps distances the client from the therapist, in the way that the therapist hands can continuously slide away. These mediums are different and so some movements or massage techniques have to be carried out in different ways. The ideal treatment environment would be a quiet room and relaxing tones of paint being used with dimmed lights and relaxing music being played in the background. If any client is to be treated, they ill need to fill out a confidential medical form. This is so the therapist knows the medical history of the client and see if the client is able to proceed with the treatment.
Confidential medical history
Name: occupation:
Age: D.O.B:
Address:
Tel. day: eve:
Sex: height (ft): weight (kg):
Sport played: Frequency:
GP Name/Address:
Medical history;
Present complaint:
History of injury:
I confirm that I give full permission for sports therapy to be carried out on me. All my personal information is correct and has been completed to the best that I know. I agree to therapy being carried out by either male or female.
Signed:
Date:
Print name:
Therapist signature:
