Exercise is an essential component of living a healthy lifestyle. For many people, sports are a fun way to burn calories, socialize, and get in shape. Unfortunately, playing sports can mean you are more likely to develop an injury.
A sports injury does not require you to be a professional or even an amateur athlete. In fact, those who have just begun exercising or participating in sports on a recreational level are frequently the most vulnerable to sports injuries.
If you’ve been injured while participating in a sport, don’t ignore your pain and hope it goes away on its own! It’s possible that it will worsen over time, keeping you out of the game for even longer.
Allow a skilled physical or occupational therapist at Hand in Hand Rehabilitation in New York, NY, or Carle Place, NY to examine you and devise a treatment plan to alleviate your pain and discomfort! We can get you back in the game!
Frequently seen sports injuries
The majority of sports injuries are caused by unprepared individuals who rush into an activity without first increasing their strength, endurance, and flexibility. To function properly, your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues must be warmed up. They are subjected to tremendous strain while running and participating in sports activities.
If your muscles are not in peak condition, they become more vulnerable to injury. Sports injuries are injuries to the musculoskeletal system, which includes muscles, bones, and tissues like cartilage.
The following are the most common sports injuries:
SPRAINS: A sprain occurs when the connective tissue that connects the ends of two bones is stretched or torn. Sprains are caused by trauma, such as a fall or a blow to the body that causes a joint to move out of place. Sprains are most common in the ankles, knees, and wrists.
STRAINS: A strain is caused when a muscle or tendon is pulled, torn, or twisted. Strains are non-contact injuries that result from overstretching. Muscle spasms are a common type of strain.
TORN SHOULDERS: A torn shoulder is caused by a rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is made up of tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder joint.
Other sports injuries that may occur include:
- Bone fractures Muscle tears
- Tennis elbow or golf elbow
- Shoulder frozen
- strained hip flexors
It makes no difference whether you play golf, softball, lacrosse, swimming, baseball, or another sport. Occupational therapy may be able to help you condition and get in shape for the season, as well as recover from previous injuries that may not have healed properly.
How can OT assist me in recovering from a sports injury?
To provide you with relief and prevent you from sustaining the same injury in the future, your physical or occupational therapy program may include any or all of the following treatment methods:
- Stabilization exercises can help keep your spinal components in place as you go about your daily activities (especially if your pain is related to a spinal injury).
- Strengthening exercises to 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.
- Flexibility exercises to gently and carefully extend your back motion.
- Using cryotherapy and heat therapy in tandem to relieve tissue pain and inflammation.
- Chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal joint function and normalize spinal alignment.
- Recommendations for lifestyle changes to help avoid unnecessary back strain.
- Cold laser therapy and/or massage therapy to soothe, warm and relax tight muscles and connective tissues.
During your initial appointment, your therapist will ask you a series of questions 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 for your condition.
They will then collaborate with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. The goal of this treatment plan is to help you regain your full range of motion and function so that you can return to your sport without pain or discomfort.
Don’t let pain keep you from competing
Nothing beats the thrill of taking on a new challenge, sport, or activity. The rush of achieving a physical goal is what most of us live for. However, before exercising, it’s vital to ensure your body is ready for the challenge.
With a little planning, you can easily participate in the activities you love while lowering your risk of injury!
If you are suffering from chronic pain as a result of a sports-related injury, contact Hand in Hand Rehabilitation to discover how our skilled physical and occupational therapists can improve your condition and overall sports performance. We are looking forward to meeting you!
