If you enjoy sporting activities and a healthy, active lifestyle then there’s nothing worse than sustaining a sports injury. Those who are used to physical activity find it frustrating to keep immobile for any length of time. As your injury heals your main concern is how long it will take for you to be back in good condition. 
However, healing needs time. Many further or secondary injuries occur by returning to training too soon and not giving your sports injury enough time to heal properly.
Here’s a guide to the average healing times for common sport injuries.
Sprained Ankle
Many have the misguided belief that as long as it’s not a fracture, it shouldn’t take too long to mend. Although a minor sprain should heal within a week, a more severe sprain can take up to 6 weeks to heal properly.
Calf and Hamstring Strains
Even a minor calf or hamstring strain will need up to 2 weeks to heal. A more serious strain could be the sign of a torn ligament. This may take up to 3 months to heal completely.
Groin Strain
Groin strain is a common injury for footballers, tennis players and rugby players. It’s usually caused by stretching too far to reach for a ball, therefore straining the muscles in the delicate groin area. A groin strain can cause immobility problems: from a slight twinge to problems walking and standing.
Mild strains will usually heal in a matter of days, but severe groin strains can take several weeks to heal. In this case it’s important to be patient and try to rest as much as possible.
Knee Ligament Strains
Usually caused by twisting the knee awkwardly or running without the proper shoes, knee ligament strains can be particularly complicated and make take several weeks to heal completely. Complete rest is advised for the first few days followed by a course of physiotherapy to re-align the joint and aid healing more quickly.
How Sports Massage Can Help
Sports massage carried out by a qualified therapist can help reduce recovery times. A regular massage session will help the blood, oxygen and lymph flow, delivering essential nutrients to your sports injury.
Sports massage can also help prevent further injury by strengthening the muscles and ligaments and increasing joint flexibility.
Bristol Chiropractic Clinic offers sports massage and physiotherapy treatments to help reduce sport injury recovery times. A regular sports massage will also help prevent further injuries. Contact our Sport Injury Bristol clinic for a consultation with one of our expert therapists.