As The fall season rolls in, we are all united by the beautiful cool weather, and the start of Fall sports. Football, soccer, cross country, field hockey, and volleyball are just a few of these upcoming sports. As athletes begin to prepare and compete, the role of physical therapy in recovery can be crucial to being at peak performance, especially as temperatures begin to drop. Here is a list of common injuries that may occur during this time period and how physical therapy can get you and keep you ready to get back to the sport you love.
Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are common in most sports, but especially football and soccer due to the constant running and sudden twists and turns. This can stretch or tear the tough bands of tissue known as ligaments, that help hold the ankle bones together. Most Injuries occur on the outside of the ankle. The main symptom is pain, especially when putting weight on the ankle. Other symptoms include swelling, bruising and not being able to move the ankle much.
PT Role: Physical therapists can help with exercises to strengthen the ankle, improve balance, and prevent future sprains.
Knee injuries (ex: ACL tears, meniscus tears)
These often occur in contact sports or activities involving sudden stops and changes in direction. ACL tears are often associated with a popping sound, immediate swelling, and a feeling of instability. MCL tears commonly cause knee pain and tenderness along the inner side of the knee. Meniscus tears may produce a popping sensation, locking or catching of the knee, and difficulty straightening the leg.
PT Role: PTs provide rehabilitation exercises to restore strength, st5ability, and range of motion. They also help with post-surgery recovery if needed.
Shoulder Injuries (ex: rotator cuff tears, dislocations)
Shoulder injuries are common in sports like football and volleyball due to repetitive overhead movements or impacts. They can include dislocations, rotator cuff tears, and other soft tissue injuries:
- Dislocation: When the ball and socket joint of the shoulder is disrupted, forcing the end of the bone out of place. This can happen to the glenohumeral joint (the ball and socket joint), the acromioclavicular joint (collar bone joint), or the sternoclavicular joint (clavicle and breastbone joint). Symptoms include intense pain, swelling or bruising, a visibly deformed shoulder, and an inability to move the joint. Dislocations require urgent care and treatment with gentle traction to pull the shoulder back into place.
- Rotator Cuff tear: When one or more of the tendons that attach the rotator cuff muscles to the shoulder bone tear. This can cause shoulder pain, decreased range of motion, and weakness, especially when resting the arm or at night. Rotator cuff tears can be partial or complete, and can be caused by overuse, repetitive movements, bone spurs, decreased blood flow, or another injury. Partial tears can sometimes heal with physical therapy or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, but complete tears rarely heal and usually require surgical repair.
- Other Soft Tissue Injuries: These include tears to the ligaments, muscles, and joint capsule of the shoulder, such as labral tears. Tendinopathy is another type of soft tissue injury that can occur in the rotator cuff tendons when they are overloaded overtime.
PT Role: Physical therapy focuses on strengthening the shoulder muscles, improving flexibility, and preventing further injury.
Hamstring Strains
These are frequently seen in sports that involve sprinting, like soccer and cross-country. A hamstring strain, also known as a pulled hamstring, occurs when one or more of the three muscles in the hamstring are stretched too far and begin to tear. The hamstring muscles, the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus, run from the back of the hip to below the knee and help extend the hip and bend the knee.
PT Role: PTs help with stretching and strengthening exercises, as well as techniques to improve flexibility and prevent recurrence.
Concussions
Concussions can occur in contact sports like football and soccer from impacts to the head. A concussion is a temporary disturbance of brain function that occurs after a blow to the head or other injury. It’s a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and is sometimes called a mild TBI (mTBI) because symptoms are usually short-lived and resolve on their own. However, concussions can have serious effects and should be treated seriously. Concussions can be caused by direct trauma to the head, such as falling, getting hit, or being in an accident. They can also be caused by rapid acceleration-deceleration of the head, such as in whiplash injuries or blast injuries. Symptoms of a concussion include changes in behavior, such as irritability or being easily distracted, drowsiness, loss of balance or problems walking, difficulty understanding what people say, problems with reading or writing, vomiting, clear fluid leaving the nose or ears, sudden deafness in one or both ears, and any wound to the head or face.
PT Role: Physical therapists assist in the gradual return to activities through balance training, coordination exercises, and cognitive rehabilitation.
The role of physical therapy in recovery is essential to competing at your highest level. There are many techniques and ways that physical therapists can help with recovery.
Assessment and Diagnosis
PTs assess the extent of the injury and create a personalized treatment plan.
Pain Management
Techniques such as ice, heat, and manual therapy help manage pain and reduce inflammation.
Rehabilitation Exercises
Tailored exercises to restore strength, flexibility, and function.
Education
Teaching athletes about proper techniques and body mechanics to prevent future injuries.
Return-to-Sport Training
Gradual reintroduction to sports activities to ensure a safe return to play. Physical therapy plays a crucial role in helping athletes recover from injuries and get back to their sports safely.
Schedule an Appointment with JAG Physical Therapy
If you're an athlete recovering from a sports injury or looking to prevent future injuries, JAG Physical Therapy is here to help. Our experienced physical therapists provide personalized treatment plans to ensure you get back to the sport you love safely and effectively. Schedule an appointment with JAG Physical Therapy today and take the first step towards optimal recovery and peak performance.