Physical Therapy For Sports Injuries

Dedicating to any sport has multiple health, physical, and mental benefits. Whether you’re a professional or amateur athlete, practicing a sport can sometimes lead to nasty sports injuries. It is natural you want to avoid any pain and injuries that can prevent you from enjoying the sport, but unfortunately, sports injuries are common. Luckily, there are physical therapy exercises for sports injuries that aim to strengthen your muscles, therefore preventing injuries.

Physical therapy is highly recommended for people who want to understand their bodies and maintain optimal physical health at any age. Identifying weak points and imbalances in the body is much easier for people who practice proactive physical therapy for sports injuries frequently. Physical therapy can help in detecting other body areas that may be affected by the initial injury.

Since every athlete is different and has individual weaknesses and problematic areas, physical therapy will not be the same for everyone. In any case, physical therapy improves athletic performance and lowers the risk of pain and injury.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy, stay with us and keep reading!

Why physical therapy?

Physical therapy plays a crucial role in the management and rehabilitation of sports injuries. It is a customized care plan created to treat and alleviate the consequences of injuries like sprains, strains, fractures, and ligament tears. Treatment plans for sports injuries will be created after a careful and thorough evaluation by physical therapists.

The goal of physical therapy treatments is to improve the athlete’s mobility, strength, as well as overall health and wellness, and to reduce pain and disability.

Strength is necessary for any sport, especially for those where high functional and efficient movement is needed. After the injury occurs, athletes are likely to lose their form and shape as a result of the inability to train as frequently as before the injury. That is why retrieving strength through physical therapy is the best and easiest way for athletes to come back stronger after the treatment.

Additionally, strength represents the foundation for general athletic performance. However, proper body mechanics are essential for skilled athletic performance. Athletes who have proper and well-developed body mechanics engrained through persistent practice are more likely to prevent injuries overall.

As we mentioned earlier, apart from greatly helping in regaining strength and movement after sports injuries, physical therapy has other beneficial results. It helps athletes manage and get over the pain and prevents permanent muscle or ligament damage, as well as recurring issues.

Unfortunately, some injuries require surgical treatments. But, with the right and specialized exercise, techniques, and equipment, athletes can avoid surgeries and recover properly without any invasive methods. Utilizing physical therapy for sports injuries as a substitution for surgeries can even speed up the recovery process. For example, an athlete who has to undergo surgery to recover from a sports injury must recover first before even beginning to regain strength and mobility. On the other hand, with physical therapy as a way of healing a sports injury, treatment (building strength and mobility) and recovery happen at the same time!

Physical Therapy for Sports Injuries Rehabilitation

Just like any other injury or health issue, sports injuries can rarely be healed without the specialized supervision of physical therapists and other professionals. It is absolutely possible for athletes to come back after a sports injury with a personalized and suitable physical therapy rehabilitation program. On the other hand, athletes who attempt to heal themselves without professional support take a huge risk because self-rehabilitation usually doesn’t deliver adequate results.

After assessing the athlete’s injury, range of motion, flexibility, and functional limitations, as well as goals and sport-specific demands, a physical therapist will determine and design a tailored rehabilitation program to induce healing and restore strength and mobility.

Whether it is a sprained ankle, torn ligament, muscle strain, or post-surgical rehabilitation, physical therapy for sports injuries typically includes several key components:

Pain management helps athletes handle pain and inflammation using various modalities and techniques. Physical therapists normally use ice, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, or manual therapy techniques to reduce discomfort and pain.
Flexibility exercises are normally the first exercises at the beginning of the rehabilitation program. The aim of these exercises is to gently and slowly restore flexibility and mobility in the affected area, prevent stiffness, and maintain joint function.
Strengthening exercises are designed to target specific muscle groups and gradually improve the overall stability after the injury. As healing continues, physical therapists will include strengthening exercises to rebuild injured muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Functional and sport-specific training replicates the movement and demands of the athlete’s sport. This stage of the rehabilitation program aims to restore the athlete’s ability to jump, run, throw, and perform other movements.
Agility training is required for athletes who perform high-intensity activities. These exercises are focused on improving speed, power, and overall athleticism.
Return-to-play training involves working closely with athletes, coaches, and other members of the healthcare team to establish a structured plan for training after the recovery. This plan includes the athlete’s progress, functional abilities, and sport-specific requirements.

During the entire rehabilitation process, physical therapists closely monitor the athlete’s progress to implement adjustments if necessary and provide continuous support and motivation. Their job is also to educate athletes on proper warm-up and cool-down techniques, and injury prevention strategies.

Sports Performance Enhancement

The majority of athletes come to Desert Edge Physical Therapy with the goal and idea to improve their athletic performance. After you see Desert Edge’s physical therapist Mike King for your initial assessment and consultation, you will receive a personalized care and treatment plan designed in two parts: neuromuscular strengths and weaknesses and your individual sport. You will begin a specific routine that will target and work on improving your deficiencies in flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance.

The foundation for improving your athletic performance is identifying any deficits in strength, endurance, coordination, agility, balance, and flexibility, and correcting them with appropriate treatment plans.

Desert Edge provides a FREE Physical Therapy “Discovery” Session for anyone who is interested to learn how physical therapy can help them return to their activities. This is an offer before receiving the additional benefits from full consultations and a great way to test if Desert Edge Physical Therapy is right for you.

I want a free 20-minute discovery session!

What does a consultation consist of?

Your first consultation will also be your initial health evaluation. A physical therapist will discuss your goals, injury level, pain, and other conditions with you to be able to develop the most suitable treatment plan for you.

You will undergo an examination that includes:

Range of motion
Test of strength
Balance
Functional mobility
Palpitation

You should dress in comfortable clothes that allow you to move without a hitch. Things you need to have with you when you come to your initial consultation are your insurance card, driver’s license or state identification card, the paperwork that includes your personal and insurance information, health history, and reasons why you’re seeking physical therapy.

Check out the link to learn more about what to expect at your physical therapy consultation.

Physical Therapy For Sports Injuries

The professional help of a specialized physical therapist is probably the best resource you have if you want to heal from a sports injury in no time. Schedule your consultation with Mike King now and get ready to get back in the game!

published on Sunday, April 16th, 2023