When should I start rehab after an injury?

We will often get patients asking us: “I’m injured, when should I come in to see you?”, and the reply more often than not is “NOW!”. Why is that?

The answer is simple: the sooner you get a diagnosis and begin your rehabilitation, the sooner you will get back to your sport & doing the things you enjoy!

A recent study in 2017 by Bayer et al took 50 amateur athletes with severe injuries to the thigh or calf muscles. All presented to the clinic within the first 48 hours after injury, they were then randomized to either begin rehabilitation at 2 days or 9 days post injury. They were then followed for 12 months.

What did they find?

Return to sport was significantly shorter in the early-therapy group versus the delayed-therapy group. Those beginning rehab at 2 days returned on average at 62.5 days, and those starting rehab a week later returned a staggering 3 weeks later at an average of 83.0 days.

Those starting rehab 1 week later had on average a 3 week longer return to sport!

So what does this mean for you?

If you want to return to your chosen sport or activity as soon as possible, your rehab should begin immediately after injury!

For assistance in returning you to your chosen sport or activity, please don’t hesitate to contact us at www.healthhp.com.au

References

1. Bayer, M. L., et al. (2017). "Early versus Delayed Rehabilitation after Acute Muscle Injury." New England Journal of Medicine 377(13): 1300-1301.