Injuries are the number one reason both amateur and professional sports players end up benched during a season. A severe injury can even ruin a professional sports player’s career, forcing early retirement. Athletes commonly suffer from sprains, fractures, dislocations, inflammation, and knee and back injuries.
Many people think of football or baseball players when they think of sports injuries, but even participants in low impact sports can suffer from repetitive use injuries or accidental injuries. Recovery from an injury is often a slow process, and certain injuries require special treatments or therapies to get the bones or muscles back in working order. Sports and spine physical therapy can help an athlete recover while managing pain associated with the injury.
Types of Injuries Common for Athletes
Everyone’s familiar with the football player getting tackled on the field and dislocating his shoulder or breaking his leg, but there are other injuries that occur in sports that aren’t so noticeable by the average spectator. Besides the more dramatic fractures, dislocations, and sprains there are the repetitive use injuries. Baseball pitchers frequently suffer pain in the elbow and shoulder area, especially if they rely on one arm for pitching. The focus on pitching the ball means the athlete focuses on the positioning of the elbow and shoulder, frequently forgetting to check posture and leg positioning. This can lead to more stress on the arm and back as those parts of the body overcompensate for poor positioning of the legs and feet.
Athletes that frequently take hard hits, such as those in football and wrestling, often suffer from chronic back and neck pain. Consistent hits to the body cause misalignment of the spine and neck, and added pressure on the muscles. Sports and spine physical therapy can work with athletes to repair injuries and provide education to help athletes prevent future injuries.
Treatments for Athletes
Sports and spine physical therapy treatments are unique to each person. Athletes often engage in range of motion exercises to help repetitive use injuries. Athletes who suffered broken bones and had to rest for months may require strengthening exercises, as well. Therapists may also use hydrotherapy and manual therapy to help athletes recover and manage pain during treatment. The goal of sports and spine physical therapy is to help injured athletes recover so that they can return to the sport they love without having to worry about their injury affecting their game.
