How Technology Is Improving Sports Injury Rehabilitation

Gym Workout Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash

How Technology Is Improving Sports Injury Rehabilitation

Sports-related injuries are reported to be the leading cause of emergency room visits among 12-17 year-olds, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. While almost half of these injuries can be prevented, the number of people sustaining injuries is still a huge concern. The good news is, recent advances in technology mean that the ability to treat injured athletes is improving at a rapid pace. From robots that assist with movement to wearables that help monitor rehabilitation of injured athletes, there is greater hope of using tech to help facilitate better recovery.

Despite this, there is no taking away the fact that dealing with a sports injury can be traumatic and even cause problems like insomnia, but full recovery is even more important to ensure you’re back to doing what you love doing best. Here are three technologies helping injured athletes recover faster.

Digital modeling for tailored treatment

Digital modeling is fast growing to be a leading treatment option for sports injuries. Using computer-generated models of various body parts, this technology allows medical experts to get greater insights into the extent of sports injuries. For instance, if you have a soft tissue injury in your groin area, it can help doctors recommend the right steps to take such as ensuring minimal movement or working with a trainer to correctly rehab the non-injured parts correctly to avoid further injury. Digital modeling technology can also be used to detect injuries like concussions at an early stage. Early detection allows for earlier treatment, which reduces both the trauma of a sports injury and the amount spent on rehabilitation. Just like any other type of injury, eating right is recommended to facilitate faster recovery.

Wearable monitors that capture critical data

The use of wearable monitors is expected to be a great option for improving the benefits that digital modeling for sports injury treatment offers. The monitors don’t even have to be separate – they can easily be built into existing equipment or even sportswear to help capture data about a sports player’s health condition during training and playing. This technology is particularly important in gathering information about potential brain injuries during playing. With the right application, medical experts are able to understand how such injuries are gained and what effects they have on an individual. One such application of the technology is Smart Socks which come equipped with pressure sensors to help evaluate the possibility and extent of running injuries. This allows medical experts to recommend an appropriate rehabilitation plan when injuries occur so you can restore full range of motion and function.

Aquatic therapy for treating injuries

This technology has long been used to treat sports injuries. Because water acts as an anti-gravity field, it helps to remove a lot of weight when an injured athlete is submerged. This means there’s a reduced risk of re-injury during the rehab process. Recently, aquatic therapy has been combined with other technologies to help improve sports injury rehabilitation and healing techniques. From recording tech that helps monitor injured parties as they undergo treatment to movable water pool floors that facilitate a wide range of exercise, the combination of technology and aquatic therapy is expected to continue growing. In fact, more doctors are recommending this option to help injured athletes regain their muscle strength and avoid the consequences of pushing their bodies too hard.

Recovering from a sports injury involves more than just taking your time to recover, regain your motion and full body functionality. You need to work in regaining your sports skills before resuming to play competitively and up your confidence to help you cope with the psychological toll that follows after an injury. With patience and encouragement as well as the right rehabilitation techniques, the road to recovery becomes much easier.

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