Whether you are a professional athlete, collegiate or high school athlete or a weekend warrior, injuries can happen while you are training or participating in your sports activities.   When you’re injured, physical therapy can play an important role in your recovery and safe return to the sport you love.  At Resurgens Orthopaedics Sports Medicine Center, our physical therapists help each patient return to their highest level of function as quickly and safely as possible.  Here are some treatment options our physical therapists may use to help our athletes recover from an injury: 

Heat/Ice Therapy

One of the first steps to recovering from an injury is getting the inflammation and pain under control.   You’ll heal more quickly if you can reduce swelling.  In addition, you will be able to participate in your rehabilitation more effectively if your pain is under control.  Your physician will may recommend heat and ice therapy to achieve these goals.  Your physical therapist will instruct you in the proper way to use ice and heat to help improve your recovery process. 

Stretching

Injuries to the muscles and tendons can make it difficult to move and even after they heal, scar tissue may form and hinder movement permanently.  Stretching is a good way to break up and remodel scar tissue to make tendons and muscles flexible again.  Your physical therapist will recommend stretches to improve the flexibility of affected areas and monitor your progress so you can reach your rehabilitation goal. 

Strength Training

While recovering from an injury, an athlete can experience a loss of strength and conditioning to the entire body and especially at the affected area.  If a limb needs to be immobilized, as in the case of a break or sprain, muscular atrophy can be significant.  A physical therapist will monitor your recovery and prescribe exercises that can build your weakened muscles back up to the level they were at before you got injured.  It may take some time, but following the advice of a physical therapist will greatly increase your chances of regaining the muscular strength and endurance you had before your injury.

These are just a few of the ways in which obtaining the services of a physical therapist can help you recover after an injury.  If you have experienced a sports injury, schedule an appointment today with one of the physicians at Resurgens Orthopaedics Sports Medicine Center.  Our team of physicians and therapists will help you return to your favorite sports activity.