Return to the Sport You Love with Physical Therapy Treatments
You don’t have to be a pro in order to be considered an athlete. Some athletes train to compete while others train simply to progress in a sport and become stronger. Whatever your case may be, our Coral Springs, FL physical therapy practice can help you in the unfortunate event that you sustain a sports injury.
Are you suffering from any of these sports injuries?
There are a number of different injuries that can occur while performing an athletic activity; however, the most common forms of sports injury include:
Knee injuries
Your knee is the most complex joint in your body and is, therefore, 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 making it difficult to move the knee, or more severe injuries such as an ACL tear.
Shin splints
The medical term for shin splints is “medial tibial stress syndrome,” referring to pain that is felt in the shin bones. This pain is typically caused by stress placed on the shinbone 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 is similar to a strain, but they are not quite the same. 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.
So, how do sports injuries develop?
The term “sports injury” is all-encompassing, including any type of injury that occurs while performing the athletic activity. It can happen just the same by lifting heavy weights at the gym or running in ill-fitted shoes, as it can by swinging a bat too aggressively or rolling your ankle on the soccer field. And, sports injuries can happen at any age.
One of the most important aspects of 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.
Is your teenager dealing with a sports injury?
Is your teenager an athlete? It is estimated that there are approximately 60 million youths, aged 6-18, who participate in organized sports. Of those 60 million, approximately 45.9%-54% will sustain some form of sports injury. If your teenager is feeling pain due to a sport, Aspen Rehabilitation can help provide relief and a speedy recovery – so your teenager can get back to doing the sport he or she loves!
Sports injuries can typically be placed into two categories: acute or overuse. Acute injuries are caused by a single specific incident, such as a sprain, strain, fracture, or tear. Overuse injuries are caused by excessive repetitive movements over time. Some examples of overuse injuries include frozen shoulder, flexor tendinitis, shin splints, tennis elbow, and golfer’s/Little Leaguer’s elbow.
At Aspen Rehabilitation, our treatments for pediatric sports injuries are conservative and non-invasive, aimed at relieving pain and promoting healing. Our highly trained physical therapists incorporate specialized methods into their treatment plans as needed, such as manual therapy, ice and heat therapies, or ultrasound. They also provide patients with light stretching and exercise plans, in order to improve their range of motion and overall function in the affected area.
It is important to note that pediatric treatments are not the same as adult treatments. Teenagers have different biomechanics than adults because they are still growing – both physically and mentally. Each pediatric sports injury treatment plan is unique, taking into account the teenager’s age, level of physical activity, and their continuing physical and mental development.
The overall goal of physical therapy is healing and prevention. In addition to treating the injury, our physical therapists will help strengthen the affected area, in order to prevent additional injuries from occurring. Our physical therapists will also provide your teenager with helpful warm-up and cool-down techniques for his or her sport, in order to lower their risk of sustaining another injury.
Get help with your sports injury at Aspen Rehabilitation:
Our physical therapists are highly trained movement specialists. Through physical evaluations, they are able to examine the moving body in order to prescribe the best treatment plan for your specific needs. They may also review diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound. Once your diagnosis has been determined, our physical therapist will create a specialized treatment plan for you, taking into account the nature of your injury, your fitness level, and your lifestyle.
Your treatment plan will typically include manual therapy to increase your range of motion and reduce scar tissue, stretches to improve balance and mobility, and strengthening exercises to enhance the injured area, as well as its surrounding areas. These are all done to help you recover after your sports injury and to prevent further injuries from occurring in the future.
If you have recently sustained a sports injury, request a consult with Aspen Rehabilitation in Coral Springs, FL to find out more about how we can help you return quickly and safely to the activities you love. We can get you started on the road to pain relief and recovery!