Physical activity can be a wonderful way to relieve stress and enjoy social connections. Having an injury sidelines you from your favorite activity can be a big blow.
La Clinica can prevent future injuries by correcting imbalances, enhancing movement patterns, and strengthening weakened muscles. In addition, physical therapists teach proper warm-up and cool down strategies to minimize injuries.
Prevention
Sports and exercise are great for the body, but they also come with the risk of injury. Whether you are a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, sports injuries are unfortunately quite common and can take you out of the game. [1]
Preventing injuries starts with regular physical therapy to reduce pain, improve mobility and strength, and manage stress on the body. Physical therapists will assess your body’s movement patterns to identify any imbalances and weaknesses that could lead to future injury. They will help you with proper training techniques and provide guidance on the appropriate equipment to maximize performance.
Other preventive measures include the use of manual techniques to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and promote soft tissue healing. Therapeutic exercise and modalities such as hot/cold therapy, electrical stimulation, and kinesio taping are used to strengthen muscles, restore balance and coordination, and improve movement control. The length of time to recover from a sports injury will vary depending on the severity, but physical therapists work with you to create goals and benchmarks for progress along the way.
Diagnosis
For many people, their favorite sports are part of who they are and a source of joy. But when injuries happen, it can be difficult to continue playing and may feel like you will never return to the same level as before.
Physical therapists are experts at diagnosing sports injuries and can help you through the entire process of getting back to your sport, pain-free and stronger than ever. They can assess the injury by performing a physical exam, which includes moving your joints and flexing your muscles to find what areas are injured.
Imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans and MRIs, are also used to diagnose sports injuries by providing a detailed picture of the injured area. Medications to control pain and swelling may also be prescribed. Heat and cold treatments, massage techniques and modalities such as electrical stimulation can help reduce pain and encourage healing. Your doctor might also suggest exercise routines that increase strength and endurance to help you return to your sport.
Treatment
In addition to treating injuries, physical therapists can help athletes improve their performance by monitoring their training programs and identifying warning signs of overtraining or injury risk. They can also provide advice on nutrition, hydration and rest/recovery strategies to reduce injury risk.
During the treatment phase, physical therapists use manual therapy techniques such as massage and joint mobilization to reduce pain and swelling, improve flexibility and promote soft tissue healing.
They may also utilize modalities such as heat/cold, ultrasound and electrical stimulation to facilitate the healing process. They will also develop a personalized program of therapeutic exercise including strength training, balance exercises, body awareness training and cardiovascular conditioning to address the specific needs of each athlete.
Injuries often occur as a result of poor movement patterns. PTs can teach you how to improve your movement patterns and ensure that your equipment is fitted properly to minimize risk. They can also identify problems with your posture and alignment to help prevent future injuries.
Rehabilitation
When injury occurs, sports participants experience a wide variety of emotions including anger, sadness, and frustration. Some may feel they will never be able to play their favorite sport again, or at the same level as before. Physical therapists understand that emotional recovery is just as important as physical healing.
During rehabilitation, physical therapists help to manage pain and swelling with techniques such as soft tissue massage, ice packs, and compression. They also teach patients how to modify activities and improve balance, movement, and strength. Physical therapists can also assess for joint limitations and recommend corrective exercises to minimize future injuries.
Sports injury physiotherapy can help reduce the risk of serious injuries, decreased athletic performance, and prolonged time away from your favourite activities. So if you are experiencing nagging aches and pains from your favourite sports, don’t delay getting expert advice.
Our Physical Therapists at La Clinica are here to get you back in the game sooner rather than later.