How Physical Therapy Can Help You Following a Sports Injury

Physical therapy offers athletes and individuals leading an active lifestyle professional care and assistance for managing a sports-related injury. Physical therapy includes a range of specialized techniques for treating the entire musculoskeletal system, from a sprained ankle to concussions or a pulled hamstring. Total sports therapy offers anyone seeking care following a sports injury a clear pathway to recovery so that they can get back to the training ground as soon as possible.

In many sports, injuries are simply an inevitable part of the game. For collision sports, such as football and hockey, a physical therapist can keep you in the game longer by ensuring that the effects of these injuries don’t linger for any longer than necessary. The best physical therapist for any athlete offers personalized care and one-on-one attention, with a close evaluation of the symptoms and pains that the individual is experiencing. This allows for the creation of a custom treatment plan, which ensures you’ll see a reduction in pain and an increase in mobility quickly.

Unfortunately, many athletes aren’t even aware that physical therapy is an option for them following an injury. In this article, we’ll look at a few common sports injuries for which you may want to consider physical therapy and review the benefits of this treatment so that you can take your game to the next level. 

Common Sports Injuries That Benefit From Physical Therapy

Whether you are playing sports professionally or simply getting together with your friends for a game, there’s always a potential for an injury. However, you shouldn’t let that scare you away from staying physically fit and maintaining an active lifestyle. If you are injured, there are plenty of treatment options available from a professional physical therapist that will get you back in the game sooner rather than later. However, if you are seriously injured while playing sports, it’s always best to seek medical assistance before looking for a physical therapist. 

Strained or Pulled Muscles

The exertion associated with staying competitive in sports often puts your muscles and tendons at risk of a strain or pull injury. These health concerns are one of the most situations where a physical therapist will aid your recovery. The most common problems related to muscle strains occur in the quads and hamstring areas. However, a physical therapist can assist you no matter where the injury occurred or where you’re experiencing pain. To reduce your risk of developing one of these injuries, make sure you’re stretching your muscles for several minutes in advance of the formal exercise. 

Sprains and Broken Bone Recovery

If you damage your bone or sprain the ligaments around your joints, you should seek formal medical attention as soon as possible. The severity of these injuries ranges substantially, though they are often enough to keep you off the field for several months. A few appointments with a physical therapist during the following recovery period can help reduce pain in the affected area, increase mobility in the same region, and help you manage any of the other symptoms the injury is creating. 

Back and Neck Pain

Pain in your lower or upper back and neck can sometimes be severe, resulting in stress and discomfort for several weeks or months at a time. A physical therapist or chiropractor can help you manage these symptoms and provide adjustments or spinal manipulation that offer pain relief and support the improvement of your overall posture. While many of these injuries do require specialized medical attention, a physical therapist can always provide a boost to your recovery to get you back on your feet as soon as possible. 

Knee Injuries

Knee injuries are among the most common situations you may want to consider physical therapy. There are a number of joints, bones, and smaller muscles in this area that may be causing pain when you walk. A physical therapist will usually begin treatment for these injuries with a specialized x-ray process to ensure that the source of the pain is correctly identified. To avoid these injuries or minimize their impact, you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing the correct padding and sports equipment for every competitive event. 

Benefits of Physical Therapy for Sports Injuries

Physical therapy can assist you in managing the symptoms of an injury, but it can also improve your general wellbeing and sports performance, which means you’ll probably return to the field or ice in even better condition than you were in before the injury. Treatment targets your mobility and muscle health to reduce the likelihood of the injury occurring again.  

Rebuild Strength and Restore Mobility

Whether you’re working through a strain, sprain, lower back, or knee injury, a physical therapist can help you rebuild your strength in the affected area, so you can get back to using the surrounding muscle group as soon as possible. Strength and mobility exercises with your therapist help relieve stress and improve your performance overall.

Improve Your Recovery Process

To decrease your recovery time, you’ll need to keep moving the affected area as your injury allows. However, many of us aren’t quite sure what is safe and what isn’t. A professional physical therapist can help you design an exercise program that works around your injury to make the entire recovery process more efficient.

Fast Pain Relief

If you’re experiencing pain due to a sports injury, don’t wait to seek help. A full-service physical therapist will provide you with a treatment plan customized to your injury or physical condition that decreases pain with safe, non-surgical practices. Physical therapy treatments never utilize harsh medications and don’t have any severe side effects, which means they are always a safe option for getting back in the game.