Physical Therapy With Athletes: What to Know About Sports-Related Injuries

The need for physical therapy with athletes is well-known, but recovering from sports-related injuries is not always as straightforward as a few weeks off. Elite athletes perform at an extremely high level year-round to keep the body in peak condition, and the risk of injury proves a constant reminder of a person’s limits.

Here, the professionals at Brandon Chiropractic Associates list seven factors to consider when it comes to handling sports injuries with techniques like physical therapy, including various options for recovery.

#1 Pain Indicates a Problem

Operating at a high level in any sporting discipline comes with regular afflictions like muscle soreness and bruising, but these injuries are not always mild enough to allow the person to keep playing at the same intensity. Pain indicates that there is an injury or condition developing, and caution sometimes goes a long way to preventing more serious damage. When severe injuries happen, people look for treatment options that allow them to recover as quickly as possible, and it is extremely common to see various forms of physical therapy with athletes and their teams.

#2 Physical Therapy is a Broad Category

Physical therapy continues to be a standard for many athletes attempting to recover from injuries, but there are many options available. As a recovery tool, it is effective for a wide range of injuries, and new techniques emerge every year as technology aids the discipline. For those with a sports-related injury looking into treatment options, physical therapy is an excellent option.

However, be sure to ask professionals like Brandon Chiropractic Associates about the myriad options before committing to a plan; there is something for everyone and every situation.

#3 Different Sports Injuries Necessitate Different Approaches

Sports injuries commonly occur in various muscles and bone structures; the severity also varies between patients. Outcomes are based on individuals, and treatment plans require knowing the specifics of the injury and any related issues that might hinder the recovery. Some recovery options are largely ineffective for many injuries, like certain knee breaks that may only benefit from surgeries.

In fact, knee injuries are one of the most commonly occurring athletic injuries and an excellent example of how one part of the body can experience so many different types of injuries. Swollen muscles, mild sprains, and severe fractures all occur in this area, and our team easily relieves minor spraining with rest, medication, and regular visits to our physical therapist.

#4 Athletic Injuries Sometimes Allow Continued Workouts

Athletes and other active people often ask whether a sports injury will hinder their ability to continue conditioning and exercising the muscles they want to develop, and the answer is usually no. Neither chiropractors nor physical therapists will typically prevent athletes from exercising after an injury, especially where it is part of a sports team routine. Rest might be necessary following severe injuries, but a physical therapist will generally encourage patients to continue with mild forms of exercise. 

One of the benefits of physical therapy with athletes is that medical professionals like ours can provide high-quality modified workout suggestions. If the athlete seeking treatment wants to continue exercising, the therapist can develop an effective plan that will support the rehabilitation process and keep the person active.

#5 It Is Possible To Recover From Sports Injuries Without Pain

While suffering a sports injury can be a physically and emotionally painful experience, standard treatment options that do not hurt are available for most cases. Physical therapy is one of those relatively painless options, with most chiropractors working within the comfort level of the patient. A professional practitioner like ours seeks to make rehabilitation a comfortable process, and they will shift their approach to accommodate your pain threshold as you indicate your wishes. 

Of course, physical therapy with athletes does sometimes require a push in the right direction, but it is important to find a therapy option that works for you. If there is more pain than just mild muscle soreness after a session, let the physical therapist know.

#6 Sports Physical Therapy Can Prevent Future Athletic Injuries

When performed correctly, physical therapy is about more than helping athletes return to their peak physical condition. Medical professionals want to help athletes stay at that peak by preventing future injuries and allowing the person to achieve their athletic goals. For example, the team at Brandon Chiropractic Associates will be able to examine your profile and athletic goals and develop training plans to keep injuries from recurring.

#7 Physical Therapy Is Flexible and Addresses Many Sports Injuries

Physical therapy with athletes aims to help people in sports help bounce back from debilitating injuries and can help athletes prevent similar injuries from happening in the future. While direct collision is one frequent cause of sports-related injuries, there are also natural adjustments athletes can make following treatment to safeguard their bodies, like balancing training and rest times.

Improper Training

Even when athletes feel like they are working hard to reach their peak physical condition, there is a chance the training is not doing what it should. Exercise regimens need to target specific muscle groups to improve performance, and each sport is different. Training techniques in your particular sport might work for general conditioning but miss the ability to prevent fatigue or injury—our chiropractor can help.

Overtraining

Similarly, overtraining is detrimental to an athlete's health and often leads to severe sports injuries. It is important to maintain a balance before a game and keep the fatigue and muscle exhaustion at bay. The best way to avoid significant injuries is proper training and just as much focus on getting proper rest times between sessions.

Brandon Chiropractic Associates Excels at Physical Therapy with Athletes

At Brandon Chiropractic Associates, our professionally trained chiropractors work diligently to help athletes and other active people return to their preferred lifestyles, no matter how long physical therapies last. Our Brandon, Florida, physical therapy team has all the experience you need to heal. 

An injury chiropractor from Brandon Chiropractic Associates offers the correct form of physical therapy with athletes for their specific needs—call (813) 689-1883 today to find out more.