There’s a common perception that physiotherapy is something that you do when you’re hurt and want to heal. This is especially the case among younger people, as most youths do not experience the nagging aches and pains that come with a long life full of adventures, injuries, bumps, and bruises.

This perception is changing, albeit slowly, and we think that’s a positive thing. Physiotherapy is as much about injury prevention as it is about rehabilitation.

Have you ever heard the phrase “it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission”? Well, this may be true in some areas (not that we encourage it), but when it comes to our bodies, asking for permission is always the better way to go.

What do we mean by “asking for permission”? Well, for starters, incorporating stretching, physiotherapy, massage, and other types of therapy traditionally associated with rehabilitation into a preventative regimen has been proven to reduce injuries, help young athletes recover from their workouts faster, and alleviate stress and anxiety that often stem from injury-related downtime.

Looking at the youth demographic, several studies suggest that most injuries occur in teenagers. A study looking at the rising popularity of soccer in the United States found that for kids under age 10, fewer than 1 injury per 100 players occurred; among teens, the rate of injury rose to 7.7 per 100 players.¹

Another study that looked at sports participation among Calgary high-school students, published in 2006, looked at the the rate of injury vs. participation. It found that there were approximately 40 injuries per 100 participants, and the top 5 injuries were to the ankle, knee, head, back, and wrist. The corresponding injuries were sprains, contusion, concussion, fractures, and muscle strain.²

Rather than just exercising, injuring yourself, getting in pain, quickly becoming demotivated and forgetting about it, use our resources and stay on track! We have personal rehab trainers who can show you proper form, physiotherapists and chiropractors, who can quickly get you out of pain, allowing you to run faster and jump higher. So reach out to us – we are here for you!

Tel:      (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

Web:   www.priclinic.com

 

Works Cited

1. Sullivan, J. A., Gross, R. H., Grana, W. A., & Garcia-Moral, C. A. (1980). Evaluation of injuries in youth soccer. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 8(5), 325–327.
2. Emery CA, Meeuwisse WH, McAllister JR. Survey of sport participation and sport injury in Calgary and area high schools. Clin J Sport Med. 2006 Jan;16(1):20-6.