Has a Sports Injury Left You on The Sidelines? A PT or OT Can Get You Back in the Game!
Exercise is an essential component of living a healthy lifestyle. For many people, sports are a fun way to burn calories, socialize, and get in shape. Unfortunately, sports injuries or recurrences of old injuries can sometimes be common side effects of an active lifestyle.
A sports injury does not require you to be a professional or even an amateur athlete. In fact, those who have just begun exercising or participating in sports on a recreational level are frequently the most vulnerable to sports injuries.
If you’ve been injured while participating in a sport, don’t ignore your pain and hope it goes away on its own! It may worsen over time, keeping you out of the game for even longer. Allow a skilled physical therapist at our clinic to examine you and devise a treatment plan to alleviate your pain and discomfort, and prevent future injuries.
Explaining sprains and strains
Most sports injuries occur when people are ill-prepared for physical activity and rush into it without first increasing their strength, endurance, and flexibility. To function properly, your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues must be warmed up. They are subjected to a great deal of strain while running and participating in sports.
As a result, if your muscles, tendons, and ligaments are not in peak condition, they are more vulnerable to injury. Sports injuries are injuries to the musculoskeletal system, which includes muscles, bones, and tissues like cartilage.
The following are the most common sports injuries:
- SPRAINS: When the connective tissue that connects one end of the bone to another is stretched or torn, a sprain occurs. Sprains are caused by trauma, such as a fall or a blow to the body that causes a joint to move out of place. Sprains are most common in the ankles, knees, and wrists.
- STRAINS: When a muscle or tendon is pulled, torn, or twisted, it causes a strain. Strains are non-contact injuries that occur as a result of overstretching. Muscle spasms are a common type of strain.
- TORN SHOULDERS: A torn shoulder is the result of an injury to the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is made up of tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder joint.
Other sports injuries may include:
- Tennis or golf elbow
- Frozen shoulder
- Hip flexor strain
- Muscle tears
- Bone fractures
It makes no difference whether you play golf, softball, lacrosse, swimming, baseball, or another sport. Physical therapy may be able to help you condition and get in shape for the season, as well as recover from previous injuries that may not have healed properly.
How can OT and PT assist me in recovering from a sports injury?
To provide you with relief and prevent you from sustaining the same injury in the future, your physical or occupational therapy program may include any or all of the following treatment methods:
- Using cryotherapy and heat therapy in combination to relieve tissue pain and inflammation.
- Chiropractic adjustments can help to normalize your spinal alignment and improve the function of your spinal joints.
- Lifestyle changes to avoid putting undue strain on the back.
- Cold laser therapy/ massage therapy to soothe, warm, and relax tight muscles and connective tissues.
- Stabilization exercises can help keep your spinal components in place as you go about your daily activities (especially if your pain is related to a spinal injury)
- Strengthening exercises to help you maintain a straighter posture and enjoy better spinal support.
- Orthotics to compensate for foot or leg imbalances that are straining your muscles
- Flexibility exercises to gently and carefully extend your pain-free range of back motion
During your initial appointment, your therapist will ask you a series of questions to determine where you are experiencing pain and discomfort. They will also inquire about your medical history in order to rule out any underlying causes of your condition that are unrelated to sports.
They will then collaborate with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. The goal of this treatment plan is to help you regain your full range of motion and function, as well as to allow you to return to your sport without pain or discomfort.
Get off the sidelines with PT and OT
Nothing beats the thrill of taking on a new challenge, sport, or activity. The rush of achieving a physical goal is an unmatched feeling. However, it is critical to ensure that your body is capable of handling physical activity before you overdo it.
Exercise is essential to maintaining a healthy and happy lifestyle. With a little planning, you can easily participate in these activities while lowering your risk of injury!
If you’re suffering from chronic pain as a result of a sports-related injury, contact us today to request an appointment. Find out what our skilled physical and occupational therapists can do to help you improve your condition and overall sports performance.