FlexOut and Back on Track physios report increase in post-COVID injuries

Back on Track director and muscular skeletal and sports physiotherapist Mark Hilton said after being sidelined last year many sportspeople were at increased risk of tendon injury.

"I think it's just the tip of iceberg actually, sports [injuries] have certainly increased but I definitely think the next four to six weeks it's going to go to another level again," he said. "That time away from sport [last year], a lot people lost conditioning from not playing.

"Also there was some uncertainty over whether sports were going to go ahead this year which meant people start training later than normal which means they're more susceptible to injuries when they start to get back into competition."

Sports and exercise physiotherapist Rebecca Piazza of FlexOut Physio said many sportspeople had kept their fitness level up during the pandemic, but weren't as prepared for a full return to the court or field.

Ms Piazza said FlexOut Physio was affiliated with 12 sports clubs and had seen a number of soft tissue injuries already.

"I think it's fair to say most people ran or cycled their way through the Covid lockdown, but it's no substitute for the tackling, kicking, sprinting and pivoting required in most team sports," she said.

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The Myrtleford Alpine Saints netballer said it was important people took a gradual approach to training.

"Lots of players feel like they need to catch up for time lost in lockdown and want to get back to doing exactly what doing before," she said,

"Any time you're off training it increases the risk of a soft tissue injury. If you try to return to your previous training load too quickly, the risk of injury skyrockets."

Mr Hilton said one of the worst things someone can do is ignore an injury.

"What's really important is once you start get a bit of a pattern with niggle, whether it's limiting you to a certain distance of running, or certain activities your doing can't progress further because of that niggle, it's time to get it sorted out," he said.

"I think there's probably often a misconception that people think when they see a physio we're going to tell them to have a complete rest and stop what they're doing. Whereas often it's about getting them set up with an exercise program compliments their starting activity and helps them build up ability to cope with it.

"People often leave injuries three or four weeks because they're scared we'll say to rest but by that time it's gotten worse and they probably do have to do through a period lower loads."

Mr Hilton said after being sidelined last year many sportspeople were at increased risk of injury.

"That time away from sport [last year], a lot people lost conditioning from not playing," he said.

"Also there was some uncertainty over whether sports were going to go ahead this year which meant people start training later than normal which means they're more susceptible to injuries when they start to get back into competition."

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