Knowledge About Sports Injury Types And Causes Is The Key To Avoiding Them
Have you ever experienced that sharp pain in your knee after a weekend soccer game or a nagging ache in your shoulder after swimming laps? Sports injuries can strike anyone, regardless of skill level or age. But these setbacks don’t have to be inevitable. Sports-specific therapy can help athletes recognize the early signs of an injury by implementing effective prevention techniques so you can significantly reduce your risk of getting sidelined.
Keep reading to learn about a personalized approach to a sports injury type you may have heard of.
As Many Sports Injury Types As There Are Sports
We have seen just about every sports injury you can imagine, but some of the most common ones we treat with sports-specific therapy include:
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) Injuries
- The most common sports-related knee injury, especially in athletes who frequently have to cut, pivot, decelerate, and change directions, like in football, soccer, and basketball.
Overuse Injuries
- Overuse injuries in sports are a common result of repetitive strain and stress on muscles, tendons, and joints.
- Tendonitis, which is the inflammation of a tendon, often occurs in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and ankle.
- Bursitis is the inflammation of bursae (fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints), frequently affecting the knees and elbows.
- Stress fractures, tiny cracks in bones caused by repeated impact, are also prevalent, particularly in weight-bearing bones like the tibia.
- Fasciitis, the inflammation of the fascia (connective tissue), commonly affects the plantar fascia in the foot, leading to pain and discomfort.
Impact Injuries
- Injuries that involve contact or sudden changes in motion occur when a force, whether from another player or the ground, is transferred to the body, potentially damaging bones, muscles, ligaments, and even internal organs. Concussions, fractures, dislocations, and bruises are common examples of impact injuries.
Personalized Sports-Specific Therapy
A baseball pitcher came to our clinic complaining of persistent pain in his right elbow described as a dull ache that worsened with throwing, particularly during his curveball. He had been experiencing this pain for several months with minimal relief. He was concerned that this elbow pain, a common baseball pitching injury, might jeopardize his career.
We initiated a comprehensive sports-specific therapy plan to address his pitcher’s elbow, a common overuse injury in baseball. This included:
Pain Management
- Soft tissue mobilization and myofascial release techniques to alleviate muscle tightness and improve blood flow.
Improve Range Of Motion
- Restore normal joint movement and reduce stiffness.
Strengthening Exercises
- Rebuilding the muscles that support his pitching arm to increase stability and reduce stress on the elbow.
He was dedicated to his PT program and returned to the mound with improved confidence and strength to pitch without the pain.
A Comprehensive Approach To Sports-Specific Therapy
Our sports-specific therapy programs are highly personalized to meet each athlete’s individual needs. We create treatment plans that align with your activity level and sport-specific focus. You can expect to see techniques like:
Evaluation
- We’ll conduct a comprehensive health history assessment, addressing your goals, concerns, and any current physical issues. We’ll also perform in-depth movement screens that assess strength, balance, coordination, mobility, and more.
Mobility Work
- You will learn targeted exercises and mobility drills customized to your needs to increase the range of motion in joints and mobility in the muscles and tendons.
Muscle Strengthening
- Our physical therapists will design strengthening exercises that may include weights, exercise bands, sports-specific resistance training, and other highly effective techniques.
Return to Sports Training
- Our team will help you enhance your coordination, agility, speed, and power to ensure you are game-ready.
Call Springfield Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab today to schedule your physical therapy appointment and take your first steps toward treatment and prevention of a variety of sports injury types.
