Whether you’re a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, it is important to stay safe while performing your sport. Any injury sustained during physical activity can be categorized as a sports injury and at Physical Therapy Solutions, we’re here to get you off the sidelines and back in the game!

How did my sports injury occur?

The term “sports injury” is all-encompassing, including any type of injury that occurs while performing an athletic activity. Sports injuries can happen just by lifting heavy weights at the gym, running in ill-fitted shoes, swinging a bat too aggressively, or rolling your ankle on the soccer field.

One of the most important aspects to rehabilitating a sports injury is treating it as soon as possible. Your treatment plan and duration of recovery will vary depending on how severe the injury is, your health history, and whether or not the injury requires surgical intervention.

What sports injuries do I have?

There are a number of different injuries that can occur while performing an athletic activity; however, the most common forms of sports injury include:

• Shin splints. The medical term for shin splints is “medial tibial stress syndrome,” referring to pain that is felt in the tibia. This pain is typically caused by stress placed on the tibia and the connective tissues surrounding it. Shin splints are painful and often debilitating; however, they can be avoided by wearing proper footwear, warming up before exercise, and strengthening your core and leg muscles.
• Strain or “pulled muscle.” A strain, also referred to as a “pulled muscle,” occurs when a tendon connecting your muscle to bone is stretched beyond its limits. Once the tendon is overstretched, it is more likely that it will be strained once again.
• Sprain. A sprain occurs when a ligament connecting one bone to another is stretched beyond its limits. Much like a strain, once a sprain occurs and a ligament is overstretched, it is more likely that it’ll occur again.
• Knee injuries. Your knee is the most complex joint in your body and also one of the most commonly injured body parts. Knee injuries may include dull aches that run from your hip to your knee, repetitive use injuries make it difficult to move the knee, or more severe injuries such as an ACL tear.
• Concussion. A consussion is a traumatic brain injury that affects your brain function. The effects of a concussion are usually temporary but can include headaches and challenges with concentration, memory, balance and coordination.

Get back in the game today!

Our physical therapists are movement experts who can help you recover quickly and reach your physical goals. They will prescribe an individualized treatment plan for you based on your specific needs, in order to help get you back in the game as fast as possible.

This will be done after first performing a diagnostic exam and the review any diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound that may have been done. Treatment plans will take into account the nature of your injury, your fitness level, and your lifestyle.

Your treatment plan will be developed after first performing a comprehensive evaluation, which will include a review of your health history, a thorough examination of strength and motion, and functional movement analysis. Treatment plans will take into account the nature of your injury, your fitness level, your personal goals, and your lifestyle.

Within your treatment plan, your physical therapist will utilize various interventions to assist with your return to your sport. These interventions may include manual therapy to increase range of motion and address scar tissue, stretches to improve your balance and mobility, and strengthening exercises to optimize your movement. Interventions will be addressed at the injured area as well as the surrounding areas. Physical therapy interventions will focus on assisting in your recovery process following your injury and to decrease the risk of similar injuries occurring in the future.

Have you recently sustained a sports injury? If so, don’t hesitate to request an appointment at Physical Therapy Solutions today. We’ll help you recover as quickly as possible so you can return to the sport you love!