Physical therapy can keep sports injuries at bay
Physical therapy helps people recover from sports injuries, but it also can help prevent them, an expert says. This approach, called proactive physical therapy, can help correct imbalances in amateur and professional athletes that can increase the risk of injury, according to Dean Plafcan, a physical therapist with Penn State Health. Consider enlisting a physical therapist or athletic trainer to look for weaknesses or imbalances in one part of the body that might be impacting other areas, Plafcan said in a university news release.
The result of identifying problem areas and doing targeted therapy and training can be better athletic performance with less risk of pain and injury, he added. Plafcan noted that many amateur golfers complain about back pain, and the likely reason is their desk job. Spending a lot of time sitting leads to shortened hip flexors, the muscles on the front of the hip. This forces the lower back to do more of the work during a golf swing, resulting in pain.
Proactive physical therapy can diagnose this imbalance and improve hip mobility, Plafcan said. The result is less risk of back pain, plus a more powerful downswing and greater yardage on the golf course.
He also said that one-sided body use in many sports leads to physical imbalance.
A baseball player, tennis player or golfer constantly works one side of the body more than the other, depending on whether the athlete is right-handed or left-handed, Plafcan said.
Yes, these athletes need great strength on their dominant sides to excel in their sport, but weakness on the other side of the body can lead to overcompensation and injury, he explained. By targeting exercise to increase symmetry in strength and flexibility, the athlete can improve overall performance.
Physical therapy is often one of the best choices you can make when you have long-term pain (also called chronic pain) or an injury. It can make you stronger and help you move and feel better.
Ask your doctor to recommend a physical therapist. Youll probably need a series of visits, and you should practice some of the exercises at home for the best results.
Physical therapists have a lot of training. Still, its a good idea to ask them about their experience in working with people whove had conditions like yours. You can also ask them how many sessions youll need.
Physical therapists are experts not only in treating pain, but also its source. Yours will look for areas of weakness or stiffness that may be adding stress to the places that hurt. And they will treat those areas with certain exercises to ease pain and help you move better.
Low-impact aerobic training. These workouts will rev up your heart rate and still take it easy on your joints. For instance, you might walk fast or use a stationary bike to warm up, instead of running, before you do your strengthening exercises. Strengthening exercises. You might use machines at your physical therapists office, resistance bands, or your own body weight (think lunges, squats, and pushups). You may work on your core muscles (belly, glutes, and back), as well as other parts of your body.
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