Exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Sports are a fun way for many people to burn calories, socialize, and get in shape. Unfortunately, sports injuries or recurrences of old injuries are sometimes unavoidable side effects of leading an active lifestyle.
You do not have to be a professional or even an amateur athlete to sustain a sports injury. In fact, those who have only recently begun exercising or participating in sports for recreation are frequently the most vulnerable to sports injuries.
If you’ve been hurt while playing sports, don’t ignore your pain and hope it goes away on its own! It may worsen over time, keeping you out of the game for an even longer period of time.
Instead, allow a skilled occupational therapist at Hand in Hand Rehabilitation to examine you and create a treatment plan to relieve your pain and discomfort while also preventing future injuries. Contact our New York, NY or Carle Place, NY clinic today to get started!
What role can OT play in my recovery from a sports injury?
Your occupational therapy program may include any or all of the following treatment methods to provide you with relief and prevent you from sustaining the same injury in the future:
- Combining cryotherapy and heat therapy to relieve tissue pain and inflammation.
- Chiropractic adjustments can help to improve the function of your spinal joints and normalize your spinal alignment.
- Lifestyle changes to avoid putting undue strain on the back.
- Massage therapy combined with cold laser therapy to soothe, warm, and relax tight muscles and connective tissues.
- Stabilization exercises can aid in the retention of your spinal components as you go about your daily activities (especially if your pain is related to a spinal injury)
- Exercises that will help you maintain a straighter posture and enjoy better spinal support.
- Orthotics are used to compensate for foot or leg imbalances that cause muscle strain.
- Perform flexibility exercises to gently and carefully extend your pain-free range of motion in the back.
Your therapist will ask you a series of questions during your initial appointment to determine where you are experiencing pain and discomfort. They will also inquire about your medical history in order to rule out any unrelated causes of your condition.
They will then work with you to create a customized treatment plan. The goal of this treatment plan is to help you regain full range of motion and function so that you can return to your sport without pain or discomfort.
Sprains and strains explained
Most sports injuries occur when people are unprepared for physical activity and rush into it without first building strength, endurance, and flexibility. Warming up your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues is necessary for proper function. They are put under a lot of strain while running and participating in sports.
As a result, if your muscles, tendons, and ligaments are out of shape, they are more prone to injury. Sports injuries affect the musculoskeletal system, which includes muscles, bones, and connective tissues such as cartilage.
The most common sports injuries are as follows:
SPRAINS: A sprain occurs when the connective tissue that connects one end of the bone to the other is stretched or torn. Sprains are caused by trauma to the body, such as a fall or a blow to the body, causing a joint to move out of place. Sprains occur most frequently in the ankles, knees, and wrists.
STRAINS: A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is pulled, torn, or twisted. Strains are non-contact injuries caused by stretching too far. A common type of strain is muscle spasms.
TORN SHOULDERS: A torn shoulder is caused by a rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint.
Other sports injuries that may occur include:
- Tennis elbow or golf elbow
- Shoulder frozen
- Muscle tears and bone fractures can result from hip flexor strain.
It doesn’t matter if you play golf, softball, lacrosse, swimming, baseball, or another sport. Occupational therapy may be able to assist you in conditioning and getting in shape for the season, as well as recovering from previous injuries that may have not healed properly.
Get off the bench with OT
Nothing beats the rush of embarking on a new adventure, sport, or activity. The feeling of accomplishing a physical goal is unparalleled. However, before engaging in strenuous physical activity, make sure your body is capable of handling it.
Exercise is essential for leading a healthy and happy life. You can easily participate in your favorite activities while lowering your risk of injury with a little planning!
If you’re experiencing chronic pain as a result of a sports-related injury, make an appointment with Hand in Hand Rehabilitation right away. Learn how our skilled occupational therapists can help you improve your condition and overall sports performance.
