Sports Injuries
Returning to the Game: Effectively Treat Your Sports Injury with Physical Therapy
Sport injuries can happen to anyone. Whether you’re training for a competition or simply trying to improve your skills, Grelot Physical Therapy can help. We are dedicated to helping you recover from your sports injury as quickly as possible and help you prevent injury in the future. If you are looking for relief for your sports injury, contact our Mobile physical therapy practice today to schedule your consultation.
How do sports injuries develop?
The term “sports injury” can be used to describe any type of injury sustained while performing athletic activity. Sports injuries can occur suddenly, such as one football player colliding with another. Sports injuries can also occur over time from repetitive motions, such as improperly lifting heavy weights at the gym or running in ill-fitted shoes. Essentially, anything that brings you pain while exercising can be considered a sports injury.
Whether you rolled your ankle on the soccer field, swung your bat too aggressively on the baseball diamond, or straining your back while hiking your favorite trail, Grelot Physical Therapy can help you find relief. As soon as you begin feeling discomfort, don’t hesitate to contact us so we can help you recover as soon as possible.
Your recovery time and treatment plan will be dependent upon the severity of your injury, your health history, and whether or not the injury requires surgical intervention.
What sports injury do I have?
It is possible for any number of injuries to occur during athletic activity. However, the 4 most common sports injuries include:
- Sprains. Your bones are connected to one another by ligaments. When a ligament is stretched beyond its limits, a sprain can occur. Once the ligament is stretched, it is more likely that the affected area will be sprained again in the future.
- Strains or pulled muscles. Your muscles and bones are connected by tendons. When a tendon is stretched beyond its limit, a strain or “pulled muscle” can occur. Once the tendon is stretched, it is more likely that the affected area will be strained again in the future.
- Knee injuries. Did you know your knee is the most complex joint in your body? While this means that it has the ability to accomplish numerous physical feats, it also means that it is one of the most commonly injured body parts. Knee injuries may include a dull ache that runs from your hip to your knee, repetitive-use injuries that make it difficult to move your knee, or more severe injuries such as an ACL tear that may require intensive rehabilitation or surgical correction.
- Shin splints. Medial tibial stress syndrome, also known as shin splints, is a pain that can be felt within the shin bones. This pain occurs when excessive stress is placed on the shinbone and the connective tissues surrounding it. Shin splints often leave you feeling debilitated and limited due to the harsh impact they have on your shins; however, they can be avoided by wearing proper footwear, strengthening your core and leg muscles, and warming up before exercise.
Treating sports injuries with physical therapy:
Our Mobile physical therapists are highly trained movement specialists. At your initial appointment, our physical therapist will conduct a physical evaluation to diagnose the nature of your condition. Some diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI may also be recommended, in order to determine the root cause of your pain and come to the best possible solution for treatment.
Once your diagnosis has been determined, our Mobile physical therapist will design an individualized treatment plan for you, taking into account the nature of your injury, your lifestyle, your fitness level, and any health risks you may have.
Treatment plans typically consist of manual therapy, stretching, and strengthening exercises.
- Manual therapy – used to increase your range of motion and reduce scar tissue
- Stretches – used to improve balance and mobility
- Strengthening exercises – used to enhance the injured and surrounding areas
These are all done in order to help you recover after your sports injury and to prevent further injury from occurring in the future.
If you’ve been recently injured during sports or exercise, and you are looking to get back to doing what you love as soon as possible, contact Grelot Physical Therapy to secure your appointment today. We’ll get you on the path toward relief and recovery so you can return to the sport you love!
