Book an Appointment
Book an appointment with us at Paspa Physical Therapy in Manhattan, New York, for a consultation and customized program to cater to your specific needs.
Sports Injury Physical Therapy
For generations, playing sports has been a major part of your family’s life, and you plan to keep the tradition going. However, sports-related injuries can occur at any moment. Perhaps you currently find yourself in this situation and wonder what form of treatment can be used to help you return to playing the sport you love.
Physical therapy may be the treatment that you are looking for. Our sports physical therapy specialists at Paspa Physical Therapy in Manhattan, NY can provide the treatment you need! Schedule an appointment with us today!
What Are Sports Injuries?
Sports injuries involve obtaining damage to part of your body due to sports, exercise, or other athletic activities. When sports injuries occur, they can either be acute or chronic. It is important to note that anyone who participates in sport-related activities, regardless of their age, is at risk of injury.
The Most Common Sports Injuries
There are several types of sports injuries. The most common sports-related injuries include:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Anterior cruciate ligament tears (ACL tears)
- Shin splints
- A concussion/head injury
- Tennis elbow/elbow injuries
- Knee injuries
- Ankle injuries
- Rotator cuff tears
- Shoulder dislocations
Physical Therapy for Sports Injuries
Physical therapy for sports injuries (also known as sports rehabilitation) is a non-invasive therapy tailored to your individual needs to help you recover from your injury.
While many minor injuries can be treated from the comfort of your home using the R.I.C.E. method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and over-the-counter painkillers, major injuries require physical therapy, possibly coupled with other treatments.
The goal of physical therapists is to protect your joints while furthering the recovery process through rest, exercise, or pain medication after you have experienced a sports-related injury. Additionally, if your injury requires surgery, therapy has proven to be very effective in helping athletes recover and return to participating in their sport.
Stages of Sports-Related Injury Rehabilitation
It is common to feel eager to return to the game after a sports injury, but it is important to go through each stage of rehabilitation to make a full recovery. Rushing through the process may delay recovery. You can find the 5 stages of rehabilitation that physical therapists use to gauge progress below.
1. Reduce Pain and Swelling
As is the case with most injuries, pain and swelling are the first two symptoms you will experience. These will be the first factors that physical therapists address during therapy. Once the pain and swelling have decreased, you will be ready to move on to the next stage of your rehabilitation.
2. Improve Your Range of Motion and Joint Mobility
Depending on the type of injury you incur and how long the area has been immobilized, you may experience joint and muscle stiffness. This can make movement not only difficult but painful. Your physical therapist will teach you different range of motion exercises to help eliminate the stiffness and prevent potential long-term damage.
3. Improve Your Strength and Endurance
After your range of motion has been restored, your physical therapist will then focus on helping you improve your strength. They will do this by teaching you a variety of strength and endurance exercises.
While these exercises are crafted to push you to your limits, they will not cause additional injury. These strengthening exercises will help reduce your risk and prevent future injuries.
4. Improve Your Coordination Skills
During this stage, you will need to “re-teach” the injured area how to work in harmony with the rest of your body once again. Your physical therapist will tailor your coordination regimen specifically to the motions used in your specific sport. Once your therapist sees that your coordination has improved substantially, you will be able to start the final stage of therapy.
5. Gradual Return to Sports-Specific Movements
In this final part of your rehabilitation, your physical therapist will guide you through exercises that replicate the movements required for your sport. You must be capable of executing all the same motions you were capable of before getting injured before you can return to the field.
Once this stage is complete, you should be confident enough to compete again without worrying about re-injury.
What Can I Expect When I Go to Therapy?
When you go to therapy, you can expect your first visit to include a very detailed consultation interview, as well as a physical assessment.
Conducting a physical assessment will help your therapist determine an accurate diagnosis of your injury, identify any factors that may have contributed to the injury, and detect any other health conditions that may be connected to it.
Benefits of Physical Therapy Treatment for Sports Injuries
There are many benefits to going to therapy after obtaining an injury, including:
- Avoiding or delaying the need for surgery
- Pain relief
- Lowering the risk of re-injury
- An increase in your athletic performance
- Enhanced muscle strength
- Improved mental health as your therapist teaches you ways to remain as active as possible while you recover
- Improved coordination
Why Should I Choose Paspa Physical Therapy for My Treatment?
You should choose Paspa Physical Therapy for your treatment because we provide one-on-one care and offer a wide variety of treatment options for sports injuries. Our physical therapists will provide you with high-quality, one on one care as we assist you in your recovery process and return to playing your favorite sport.
Our facilities have a full gym and private treatment rooms for your privacy. And you’ll be glad to know that all our physical therapists have many years of experience.
Schedule an appointment at Paspa Physical Therapy in Manhattan, New York for sports injury physical therapy to help relieve pain. Contact us today!
Medically Reviewed By