In sport, we know that a perfect preparation often equals a perfect performance. Unfortunately poor preparation usually equals poor performance and injury often stands in the way of things in sport.

Injury rates for ankles, knees and soft tissues are always high and the number of games lost to injury has a significant effect. At the elite level we are talking about wins, and at the community level we are seeing people drop out of sport, stop doing what they enjoy and become less active.

As a sports physiotherapist, the number of sports people that I have heard say, ’I don’t think I will go back to sport because I am too scared I will do it again’ saddens me: Australians need to be more active, not less. But can we do it safer?

As sports medicine professionals the team at Ballarat Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine work to stay on top of the best ways to prevent and treat sports injuries and how to assist you in being your best.

WHAT IF YOU COULD LOWER THE RATES OF ANKLE SPRAIN BY 40%, LOWER HAMSTRING STRAIN BY 30% AND ACL RUPTURE BY 60%? WOULD YOU?

Kristian Thorborg, an expert in orthopaedic and sports injury prevention from Denmark, recently published research which found that the implementation of a strength program (the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program) at the end of training could reduce the injury rates in football. Please take a look at this video to find out what you need to do.

It pays to do the extra work off the field. Screening and physical preparation for injury prevention and physical performance is key for anyone striving to achieve their best. At Ballarat Sports Medicine we have a highly skilled team to assist in your physical, psychological and medical screening, physical preparation and injury prevention needs. We also have a wide spanning team in the western district who we collaborate with to meet your needs.

We strive for excellence in Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine healthcare with the vision of the western district being happier, healthier, stronger and performing at their best.

If you need help, advice or more information please contact us at BallaratOSM.

Luke Blunden
APA Sport and Exercise Physiotherapist
Ballarat Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine