It takes a lot of hard work for an athlete to be at the top of their game. And as much as they try to avoid injuries, accidents happen. Injuries in practice or during games have ended the careers of many athletes. Physical therapy can play a vital role in keeping athletes at optimal performance.
We all know an older person who is still suffering from an untreated, seemingly minor, sports injury from their younger days. Untreated sprains, strains, and twists in younger athletes can lead to lifelong problems. For example, cartilage injuries or torn ligaments can develop into arthritic conditions with age. And many sports-related injuries can lead to the need for total joint replacements in the future.
A certified physical therapist can diagnose your problems and create an effective treatment plan to help you overcome your injury and prevent further issues. From injury prevention to rehabilitation and more, a physical therapist plays a significant role in assisting athletes in avoiding or coming back from an injury. We’re going to talk about some ways that physical therapy can help athletes.
Prevent Injuries
There are many ways that an athlete can sustain an injury, but there are also many ways that an athlete can avoid the likelihood of sustaining an injury as well. Physical therapy can help an athlete understand how they could become injured and can also help them learn the steps they should take to prevent injuries.
Rehabilitation
Physical therapy is typically the segway from an injury or surgery to getting the athlete back on the field. A physical therapist will walk you through a movement screening and observe your abilities and limits during different activities. From that screening, your physical therapist will be able to create a treatment plan to address your injury and your specific needs.
If you fail to address even the most minor injury, it can turn into chronic pain. Physical therapy is a great way to recover effectively and get you back to doing what you love.
Improve Mobility
When you are no longer in pain, your physical therapist will assess your mobility and determine where improvements can be made. They will assess areas such as your hips, back, shoulders, and neck. If you have any limitations in your joints, that can increase your chances of further injury. Physical therapy will help you work on proper form and help you move more smoothly throughout your sessions.
Refine Flexibility
Your physical therapist will address issues they see in your key muscle groups. Poor training, inadequate warm-ups, and lack of conditioning are common causes of sports injuries. When you know how to move your body and know when you’ve reached your limit, are important factors to know when you’re recovering from an injury.
Reduce Pain
Your season doesn’t care if you’re still feeling aches and pains from surgery, an injury, or just the aches and pains that have built up over the years. Knowing how to reduce that pain is essential.
Many manual therapy techniques can reduce muscle tension, irritated joints, or nerves that could be causing your pain. Your physical therapist can determine what methods will help you, and will recommend exercises and stretches that can help alleviate the pain you’re experiencing.
As soon as you start feeling those aches and pains, it’s important to talk to your physical therapist. Identifying the cause as early as possible can allow time to incorporate preventative measures to reduce the possibility of a significant injury.
Increase Strength
Your muscles work together to accomplish all that you require from your body. When one or more of these areas is weak, your body will compensate in another way, typically resulting in injury. If you’ve been in a brace or a cast, for example, the muscles around your injury will be weak and need to undergo rehabilitative conditioning.
Your physical therapist will create a treatment plan based on your goals, and the areas that need assistance to help you regain full functionality and rebuild muscles.
Let Active Physical Therapy Help You Get Back in the Game
Performing at the highest level is every athlete’s goal. And physical therapy can be a great way to help you avoid injury or to rehabilitate after an injury. Whether your injury was caused on or off the field, we can help.
At Active Physical Therapy, we want to not only improve your pain and reduce your symptoms, but we also want to address the root cause of your issue. That’s why we look at your body as a whole to determine where your pain stems from. Treating the root cause will make your body more resilient and help prevent future injuries.
Contact us today and tell us how you want us to help you!
