Healing process

How do we heal?

Phase 1: Inflammation

The inflammatory phase lasts 3 days provided you rest inorder to get the inflammation under control. However, the more you irritate the injury, the longer it can take. The immune system is in process of repairing the injured tissues, making them more sensitive. During this phase you should do general unloaded movements to clear out the swelling.

Phase 2: Maturation

After phase 1, we enter the fibroblastic phase. Fibroblasts are your builder cells that lay down new fibres, rebuilding the tensegrity of the tissue. This phase lasts approximately 3 weeks. In this phase, you can begin more movements for mobility, appropriate loading, and strengthening. Starting this as soon as possible ensures the tissue doesn’t become rigid/stiff.

Phase 3: Remodelling

This stage can be as short as 3 weeks, however; for serious injuries the remodelling can continue for up to a year. Thats why a guided return to sports can be helpful with you physio. Phase 3 is all about rebuilding the tissues capacity through guided resistance training. The time frames mentioned are generalised guidelines for injury type averages. Completing phase 3 guidelines for the appropriate amount of time ensure a return to your sport of choice with the tissue integrity that has remodelled to ensure no risk of re-injury.

Essentially, what we can take away from the healing process is that we need to understand it to be aware of where we are in the process, so that we are doing the correct exercises at the time for remodelling and the tensegrity of tissues. But most importantly, to be aware of what’s normal, and what we can expect at a certain point in time.

By understanding this, we can manage our anxiety and concern over an injury. We can also give ourselves the necessary grace time to heal.

Book An Appointment

We are first line practitioners

You do not need a doctor’s referral letter to consult a physiotherapist.

1. Book Appointment

Easily schedule your session at a time that works best for you. Select your preferred date, time, and service to confirm your appointment in just a few clicks.

2. Diagnosis

As first line practitioners, we are able to use the same diagnostic tests (known as special tests) to diagnose an injury.

3. We bring it all together

We can refer you to Specialists/doctors who we trust and whom we know have a high standard of clinical practice.

4. Keeping physio affordable

We submit to your medical aid. We are also able to use special benefits like the sports injury benefits (SIB) program, or PMB’s to make financing easier