How Physical Therapy Can Help Sports Injuries This Spring
At The Physical Therapy Institute, we are experienced in dealing with all spring sports season injuries and can give you the programs to prepare you for the season and prevent new injuries! Are you looking forward to getting out on the courts? Do you look forward to golf or the start of baseball/softball season?
The winter seasons can be sedentary and lead to more aches, pains, and discomfort than one may think. Fortunately, the warm weather is a great time to get outdoors and play sports.
If you find yourself in pain from a throwing injury or a bad swing of the club or racquet this spring, or you’d like to discuss ways you can get in shape to prevent any injury, don’t hesitate to contact The Physical Therapy Institute.
Whether you are a young athlete or have played sports for decades, our physical therapists know how to treat your injuries and get you back in the game.
Common Causes of Sports-Related Injuries
Injuries are a part of sports, but you can resolve them quickly and get back to doing what you love with a proactive approach to rehabilitation. Most athletes learn that taking care of issues when they are small leads to a faster recovery.
Many people think sprains and strains are the same, but they describe damage to different tissues. Tendons are tissues that connect muscles to bones, and ligaments are tissues that connect bones to the bone.
- Sprains occur when a ligament is stretched beyond its limits or torn.
- Strains occur when a tendon is stretched beyond its limits or torn.
Sprains are typically the result of a trauma, a deceleration (slowing down) movement, or a sudden change in direction. The most common symptoms include pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, and sometimes an inability to move the joints where the injury occurred.
Ankle sprains are often the result of a faulty step while running or stepping on uneven terrain. The injury occurs when the ankle rolls, twists, or turns awkwardly to the outer aspect of the ankle (i.e., lateral ankle sprain). This sudden stretch leads to partial or complete tearing of the ligaments supporting the ankle joint. The severity of the injury will determine the degree of pain, inflammation, and ability to move the joints where the injury occurred.
Approximately 85% of ankle sprains are inversion sprains (i.e., rolling outward). This injury damages the outside (lateral) ligaments and may lead to restrictions on how the joint moves. The joint restrictions will, in turn, affect the athlete’s ability to tolerate running and jumping and may also lead to chronic ankle instability and new injuries that impact an athlete’s ability.
It is important to note that it is in your best interest to have a physical therapist make sure a sprain is fully healed before returning to your normal level of physical activity. Regardless of the type and nature of your sports injuries, our team can help!
What to Expect from Physical Therapy
The overall goal of physical therapy is healing and prevention. In addition to treating the injury, our physical therapists will help resolve any pain, restore motion and strengthen the affected area to prevent additional injury.
An effective rehabilitation program depends on a thorough history to understand the exact nature of the injury and the athlete’s goals. We use the information gathered in the initial evaluation to identify the underlying condition and pathology of the symptoms.
The initial stages of physical therapy will focus on restoring any lost motion, reducing the swelling, and using all available treatments to alleviate any pain you may experience.
Your physical therapist will incorporate manual techniques and modalities to reduce pain and inflammation before initiating active rehabilitation. Our programs focus on correcting dysfunction and/or improper technique and equipment.
Dysfunctional movement patterns can last for years, leading to re-injury and other injuries. Our therapists will design a comprehensive program that includes restoring range of motion, strengthening, neuromuscular control, proprioceptive responses, and sports-specific exercises. We will look for any changes in your gait pattern that may make it difficult for you to move around freely.
Our physical therapists will show you therapeutic exercises to address any underlying issue, such as a weakness that may be contributing to altered movement patterns, balance issues, and overall susceptibility to more injuries. We will perform a comprehensive assessment to ensure we provide the tools you need to enjoy the sport you love!
Contact The Physical Therapy Institute To Schedule An Appointment
We will work with you at The Physical Therapy Institute to accommodate your needs by providing the most advanced rehabilitation strategies and injury prevention programming. For more information, contact us today!
Better Golfing This Summer
Have you been looking forward to golf season all year? If you’re an avid golfer, the last thing you want is for an injury to take you out of commission.
At The Physical Therapy Institute, our physical therapists are highly trained movement experts who can help you prevent injury. And before you see us, there are many things you can do on your own to protect yourself from the possibility of a painful injury.
Did you know that most golf injuries are caused by poor swing mechanics, poor core strength, or an improper warm-up? Adjusting your golf swing can be hugely beneficial and make this sport much easier on the body.
Maintaining proper posture throughout your swing is critical for preventing injuries. You should stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, rotated slightly outward, and your knees slightly bent. It’s also important to keep a relatively straight spine. Make sure to avoid hunching over the ball, as this can cause neck and back strain.
Be mindful of how aggressively you swing at the ball. Swinging the club too hard or too fast can put strain on your joints. Take a nice, easy swing at the ball. Not only will this help prevent injury, but it will also improve your game with a consistent swing tempo!
If you’re searching for more ways to improve your swing this season, contact The Physical Therapy Institute today. Our team can examine your posture and recommend improvements to lessen your risk of injury and increase your skill. See you out on the course!
Our Patients Get Great Results
“Kelsie is an outstanding physical therapist—11/10, highly recommend! I came to PTI after surgery to repair a torn meniscus, and Kelsie was consistently positive, relatable, and motivating, while also knowing exactly when to push me. Early on, I was hesitant and fearful about what my knee could handle, but she quickly recognized that and became my biggest cheerleader. She made every session feel like progress by creating achievable “wins”, whether that meant increasing ankle weights or pushing my range a bit further on the stim machine. Kelsie struck the perfect balance between encouragement and challenge, helping me build confidence and leave each appointment feeling accomplished—even on the sore days.” – E.G.
Recipe of the Month: Broccoli Risotto
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- ½ large sweet onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 ½ cups Arborio rice
- ½ cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 5 cups hot chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups cooked broccoli florets
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ tablespoons grated Asiago cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Gather all ingredients.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion begins to turn golden brown at the edges, about 2 minutes.
- Pour in rice, and stir until rice is coated in oil and has started to toast, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium and stir in white wine and lemon juice. Cook and stir until wine has mostly evaporated, then stir in 1/3 of the chicken broth; continue stirring until incorporated.
- Repeat this process twice more, stirring constantly. Stirring in broth should take 15 to 20 minutes in all. Stir in cream and cook 5 minutes before stirring in broccoli, chives, Parmesan cheese, and Asiago cheese. Cook and stir until risotto is hot; season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.
Sources
- https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/166138/broccoli-risotto-with-cream-and-lemon/
- https://jfootankleres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13047-021-00480-w,
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6602402/,
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3103112/,
- https://www.jospt.org/doi/full/10.2519/jospt.2018.7426