Understanding sports-related injuries and why physical therapy is the answer
Have you recently experienced a sports injury? Is your performance suffering because of persistent pain? Our The Fitness LAB physical therapists have proven results in helping athletes recover after injury and return safely to training and competition!
Millions of children, teenagers, and adults endure sports-related injuries each year. Although serious injuries are rare, some injuries can cause long-term effects if untreated.
During physical therapy at The Fitness LAB we will assess your injury and create a treatment plan that is educational, effective, and results-driven, to help you get back into the game sooner rather than later.
Whether you’re new on the field or recovering from an old sports injury, our highly skilled team can help you say “goodbye” to pain in no time!
Call today to schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained therapists!
What are sports injuries?
Sports injuries are common among former athletes or those still actively participating in sports. Injuries can unpredictably occur at any time during your athletic engagement. Injuries are part of the game, whether you’re an elite athlete or just participating recreationally.
Common types of sports injuries include:
- Sprains and strains: Ligament sprains and muscle/tendon strains are common with cutting and changing direction activities, in particular,
- Overuse-type injuries: Tendonopathies and joint irritation from improper form or repetitions cause these injuries
- Concussions (i.e., minor traumatic brain injury (TBI)): Trauma and contact type injuries can lead to concussion and more serious type injuries.
You may also hear sports injury references such as “tennis elbow,” “runner’s knee,” or “groin pull,” which all relate to muscular strain or overuse-type injuries. No matter what you are dealing with, our licensed physical therapists at The Fitness LAB can help.
Our approach to these common conditions will vary depending on the severity of the injury and the affected area. While taking recovery in appropriate steps, we will lead you to a pain-free life as quickly as possible.
Typical symptoms of a sports injury
Sports injuries can affect every body part, ranging from a slight, mild injury to intense and severe pain. Common symptoms of a sports-related injury include:
- Swelling or bruising
- Intense, sudden pain
- Muscular weakness
- Challenging to put weight on a leg, knee, ankle, or foot
- Loss of mobility of dysfunction in joint movement
- Changes in sleep patterns
- A bone or joint that appears out of place
At The Fitness LAB, we will comprehensively assess your injury and its root cause before designing a specialized treatment plan.
Examples of common sports injuries
Sports injuries often occur when an athlete exercises at a high intensity, length of time, or frequency that pushes the body too far. Let’s explore five common sports injuries:
ACL Sprain/Tear: The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is one of the primary ligaments that help stabilize the knee joint. ACL tears are often seen in football, soccer, and basketball, where the ligaments inside the knee are torn. Common symptoms of an ACL tear include severe swelling, bruising, pain, and difficulty bearing weight on the injured leg.
Fractures: Athletes can experience bone fractures from contact sports, landing on an outstretched arm, or from repetitive stress (i.e., stress fracture)
Stress fractures often occur in the lower extremities after participating in sports like dancing, running, and gymnastics. After the necessary rest period, your physical therapist will guide you through a safe return to sport by teaching you e muscle strengthening and stability exercises.
Rotator cuff injuries: Rotator cuff injuries often result from trauma, repetitive stress, or abnormal shoulder joint movements. Physical therapy can usually help you avoid surgery. If surgery is needed, it is the best way to improve muscle strength and range of motion after a rotator cuff surgery.
Concussions: Concussions are a widespread injury that should be taken very seriously. Concussions can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and nausea. Through manual care, patient education, and prescribed movement, your PT can help you recover from a concussion.
Sciatica: Sciatica is a type of pain that radiates down the back, legs, or even the feet. Sometimes, athletes with sciatica experience numbness and tingling down the leg. The most common cause of sciatica is a bulging or herniated disc.
Athletes typically sustain a disc injury from an awkward or excessive muscle strain when lifting something heavy. Bending and twisting movements can also injure a disc and can cause sciatica.
Schedule an appointment at The Fitness LAB today!
Sports-related injuries are essential to address, as they pose potential long-term effects and chronic pain. Fortunately, our physical therapists at The Fitness LAB provide non-surgical therapy solutions customized to each patient and their unique needs.
We provide attentive care and effective treatment methods tailored to sports injuries. Our The Fitness LAB physical therapists follow your treatment from start to finish. We will use the most effective exercises that treat symptoms, regain functions, and implement preventative practices to prevent the injury from occurring again.
If you’re struggling with a sports-related injury and are tired of dealing with the pain, contact one of our Colorado physical therapy clinics located in Highlands Ranch, Greenwood Village, Parker, or Rino.
