Sports injuries can be tough both physically and mentally. This guide helps athletes navigate sports injuries and help them get the most out of their physical therapy experience.
Athletes are constantly battling adversity, both physically and mentally. Sports injuries are certainly no exception. When an athlete sustains an injury, whether nagging, severe or otherwise, it affects your performance and ability to play your sport.
The road back from sports injury can be a long one. Your injury not only hurts physically, but it can also take a mental toll. To work through an injury, athletes need a team of experts to get you back to where you want to be, back in the game and performing your best.
Working with a physical therapist can help you return to the field or court. Sports Medicine Physical Therapy focuses on preventing, treating, and rehabilitating sports-related injuries. Whether you’re a recreational athlete or a professional, sports medicine physical therapy is designed to help restore your body’s optimal performance and minimize the risk of re-injury.
Keep reading our sports medicine physical therapy guide for important tips and considerations for athletes to help them get through rehabilitation and recover from injury.
Article Contents
Sports medicine physical therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy that focuses on the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports-related injuries.
It combines advanced therapeutic techniques with a deep understanding of sports performance to help athletes of all levels and abilities recover from injuries, improve physical function, and return to their sport safely, and stronger than ever.
This comprehensive approach includes personalized treatment plans that may involve pre-surgery and post-surgery rehabilitation, strengthening exercises, mobility training, and sport-specific drills tailored to meet the unique demands of your sport.
Sports medicine physical therapy is used by athletes of all levels, from recreational athletes to professional athletes who experience musculoskeletal injuries.
For those who have sustained a sports-related injury, there are a few options as to when to start physical therapy.
The best time to start physical therapy depends on the nature of the injury, the type of surgery, and your individual goals. Both pre-surgery and post-surgery physical therapy have distinct benefits, and in many cases, a combination of both leads to the best outcomes.
In many cases, combining pre-surgery physical therapy (prehabilitation) and post-surgery rehabilitation may lead to the best results for athletes recovering from injury. Prehab prepares your body for surgery, making the post-surgery rehabilitation process easier and more effective. After surgery, physical therapy will focus on healing and restoring full function as athletes work to return to their sport.
Pre-surgery physical therapy (also called prehabilitation) is a recommended option for athletes undergoing elective surgeries, which include joint replacements, rotator cuff injuries, ACL repairs, or spine surgeries. Here are a few reasons why prehabilitation makes sense:
Elective surgeries happen with all sports, and are particularly common in sports with repetitive moments (i,e, baseball, tennis and golf) or are physically demanding (football, soccer, hockey).
Now let’s compare prehabilitation with the benefits of choosing post-surgery physical therapy.
In certain instances, starting physical therapy after your surgery may be an athlete’s best option. Here are a few key benefits to post-surgery physical therapy:
Do I Even Need Surgery?
Whether or not you need surgery depends on several factors. In some cases, surgery may not be the best course of action. Instead, non-surgical methods and tactics, including physical therapy, may be the best solution.
You may not need surgery for:
You may not need surgery for:
Deciding whether surgery is necessary depends on several factors, including the severity of your condition, the effectiveness of non-surgical treatments, and your overall health. If chronic pain, dysfunction, or worsening symptoms persist despite conservative treatments, surgery might be an option. It’s important to consult with a specialist and consider alternatives like physical therapy, medications, or minimally invasive procedures. Weigh the potential benefits and risks of surgery, including recovery time, risks, and long-term outcomes.
Additionally, evaluate how surgery aligns with your lifestyle, age, and health conditions. Financial considerations and your ability to commit to post-surgery rehabilitation should also be factored in. Ultimately, if non-surgical options fail or your condition significantly impacts your quality of life, surgery may be the best course of action.
How does physical therapy help athletes returning to sport? Here’s what patients can expect with the sports physical therapy process.
Here are the goals of sports medicine physical therapy:
Sports injury recovery is a collaborative process with Coaches, Medical Professionals and Physical Therapists all weighing in during the process. Sports physical therapists are trained to work closely with coaches, trainers, and other healthcare providers to ensure a comprehensive treatment plan.
This collaboration helps ensure that athletes receive holistic care and a comprehensive approach to recovery, including guidance on conditioning, nutrition, and proper technique, for optimal recovery and performance.
While your main goal is about physical healing, mental health and attitude play a critical role in the injury recovery process. Athletes of all skill levels and sports often face emotional and psychological challenges when sidelined by an injury, which can affect their motivation, progress, and overall well-being.
A sports injury can lead to a range of emotional responses, including frustration, anxiety, sadness, or even depression. Understanding the connection between physical recovery and mental health is crucial for a successful rehabilitation journey.
This collaboration helps ensure that athletes receive holistic care and a comprehensive approach to recovery, including guidance on conditioning, nutrition, and proper technique, for optimal recovery and performance.
As athletes near their return, the fear of re-injury is common, especially after a significant injury. Gradually increasing your activity level can help rebuild your confidence and reduce anxiety.
Here are few techniques that help with the process and address both physical and mental barriers:
Finding an experienced and skilled physical therapist to work with can make a difference in the progress of your rehab. When choosing a sports physical therapist, knowing which questions to ask is important.
Any provider specializing in sports rehabilitation should have advanced training in the field, and it’s perfectly okay to ask about their credentials. While not all therapists, doctors, or trainers are specifically taught to specialize in sports rehabilitation during their formal education, a qualified sports physical therapist should have completed postgraduate coursework to further their expertise.
Early in your treatment program, a thorough evaluation should be conducted, which may include hands-on assessments specific to your injury or condition. A trained specialist will discuss these exams with you and incorporate them into your individualized care plan.
Be cautious of any sports rehab treatment that happens entirely on the treatment table. While some exercises may begin lying down, true recovery requires movement and functional practice. If your symptoms involve running, jumping, or lifting, your therapist should work with you on these activities in the clinic to help you return to your sport safely and effectively.
Sports medicine physical therapy plays a vital role in helping athletes recover from injuries, restore physical function, and safely return to their sport. Whether through pre-surgery preparation or post-surgery rehabilitation, physical therapy is tailored to the individual needs of each athlete, promoting faster recovery, reducing the risk of complications, and improving overall performance.
By working closely with your physical therapist and your team of healthcare professionals and coaches, athletes can ensure a holistic approach to their recovery. With the right guidance and a commitment to both physical and mental rehabilitation, athletes can overcome setbacks and come back stronger than ever.
Your don’t have to let a sports injury sideline you! At Pillar Kinetic, we provide sports medicine physical therapy to help you treat injuries, get stronger, and return to your sport.
Do you have questions about sports medicine at Pillar Kinetic? Read the answers to the frequently asked questions listed below.
We treat sprains, strains, tendonitis, ACL and meniscus injuries, rotator cuff pain, back pain, knee pain, ankle pain, overuse injuries, and most other common sports injuries.
No referral is needed, you can book directly with us by giving us a call or filling out a form on our contact us page.
Staying out of network is the best thing for our clients. Not taking insurance directly allows us to treat athletes with longer sessions, personalized rehab/recovery programs, and advanced techniques without the normal insurance restrictions that normally involve lower level exercises. We are able to make decisions based on what YOU need and your goals, not what the insurance company decides you should have for treatment.