How Does Physical Therapy Help Athletes

Injuries are a large part of any sport. As much as athletes try to avoid injury, accidents do happen. Sports injuries have prevented many athletes from practicing, playing in games, and have even ended careers. Physical therapy helps athletes to reduce pain, improve their overall health and fitness, and prevent recurring injuries. At JAG Physical Therapy, we believe our work is crucial for athletes looking to return to the game. To help you get a better idea of the work we do, here are a few ways physical therapy helps athletes recover.

Rehabilitation

One of the main goals of physical therapy is to segway the gap for patients who have undergone surgery or suffered an injury. When you begin your physical therapy rehab, a certified rehabilitation physical therapist will take you through a movement screening to address your physical abilities and limitations for proper mechanics during certain activities. The screening covers a variety of different movements that assess your mobility, stability, balance, and strength. After a thorough physical examination, your physical therapist will create a treatment plan to address your specific injury. Over the course of your treatments, your PT will focus on specific weak points to improve overall performance.

Increase Mobility

Once your pain has subsided, your mobility will be assessed to focus on areas of improvement. This includes problematic areas such as the neck, shoulder, back, and hips. Any unaddressed joint limitations can negatively impact all aspects of your movement and increase the chances of future injury. Through dedicated physical therapy, working on the proper form will help you move more fluidly overall.

Refined Flexibility

By assessing and addressing key muscle group issues, your physical therapist will evaluate your flexibility. Poor training methods, inadequate warm-up, and lack of conditioning are a few of the main causes of sports injuries. Knowing how to move your body and when you have reached your limit are important skills to keep in mind during your recovery.

Eliminate Pain

Severe injuries can have lasting effects on athletes well after their surgery has healed. Learning when to work through the pain in a controlled setting is the ideal classroom for relearning your body’s limit. Your physical therapy may consist of working with a team of therapists who specialize in a variety of treatment methods to help best treat your recovery. If you are suffering from extreme pain, communicate your specific issue with your physical therapists for the best support.

Increased Strength

Physical therapy works to get you back to where you were before your injury, as well as provide you with the necessities to avoid reoccurrence. Your muscles work in a chain reaction to provide the most powerful force. If one or multiple of these areas are weaker than others, your body will try to compensate, eventually resulting in injury. Due to rest or possible casts and braces, the muscles surrounding your injury will be weaker and require rehabilitative conditioning. Working with your physical therapist to regain full functionality of the injured area includes rebuilding strong muscles. This is done by honing in on your goals and areas that need improvement through a treatment plan that best supports you.

Physical Therapy For Athletes

Physical therapy works to assist an athlete to rebuild strength and movement after an injury through different exercises, stretches, and specialized techniques. It can also help an athlete manage pain and prevent avoidable damage in the future. If you have been experiencing pain after an injury, on or off the field, contact the professionals at JAG Physical Therapy for a consultation appointment. Our team takes great pride in our ability to successfully enhance the performance of any athlete with our sports rehabilitation therapy. Give us a call today at (201)-801-7141 to learn more about why physical therapy can help you as an athlete!