What drives you to work hard? Is it the experience of victory? The longing to do better than you ever have in the past? The realization that you’ve accomplished a goal you’ve worked toward for so long?
What Are Sports Injuries?
It doesn’t matter whether you are a professional athlete, a high school athlete, or a weekend warrior, anyone can make a goal and push themselves to work toward accomplishing it. Your goal may be to run one mile or to beat your personal record in a full marathon. Whatever your goal, you can accomplish it by finding your inner athlete and pushing your body to its max.
Sometimes, this process can lead to injury. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that only professional athletes get sports injuries. Young athletes typically learn early on that injuries can happen to anyone, and even amateur athletes and those who are just starting out with exercise and sports can develop an injury. In fact, those who are new to athletic pursuits are actually at a higher risk of developing an injury, as you have not had as much practice with the tasks and movements that are required of your body during the activity.
The best treatment for a sports injury will depend on several factors, including the severity of the injury, the type of the injury, and any other personal health concerns that may have an impact on your recovery. Working with one of our physical therapists soon after experiencing an injury can help you to recover faster, helping you to get back in the game as quickly as possible.
Causes of Sports Injuries
The way that physical therapy can help you after a sports injury depends a lot on the type of sports injury. Common sports injuries helped through physical therapy include:
- Shoulder injury, including subluxation, dislocation, sprains/strains
- Tennis or golfer’s elbow
- Knee injury, including sprained ligaments, meniscus tears, muscle strains, or tendonitis
- Ankle sprains
- Fractures
- Sports-related Concussions
This list includes some of the most commonly addressed sports injuries, but it is far from comprehensive. Due to the heavy impact the knee experiences in many athletic pursuits, more than half of all sports injuries that are addressed in physical therapy are actually in relation to the knee. ACL tears and Patellofemoral pain syndrome are especially common.
How Physical Therapy Can Help Sports Injuries
Each of these injuries can be serious, and medical attention should always be sought out to determine the severity of the injury as well as the best treatment methods available. In many cases, physical therapy can be used soon after the initial injury treatment as a resource for speeding recovery and reducing pain. The specific strategies employed by physical therapy vary as widely as the type of sports injury. For example, some injuries may require targeted stretching exercises and strength building, while others may utilize electric muscle stimulation, neuromuscular re-education, and proprioceptive training. The physical therapists at COAST Rehab will perform a thorough full-body assessment and evaluation of the injured area in order to design an individualized treatment approach to designed to help you reach your goals and prevent future injury. Your physical therapist will also give you a list of exercises that you can engage in at home while you are building the strength back to be able to return to your sport.
Never assume that you can manage a sports injury on your own. Doing so is only likely to leave you dealing with the pain and discomfort for longer than necessary. For more information about how COAST Rehab can help you heal faster from sports injuries and get back to doing what you love, Contact Us today at our Manasquan, Toms River, or Millstone physical therapy clinics.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!