Four sports-related injuries treated by physical therapists

Physical therapists specialize in treating injuries and conditions that affect your musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, cartilage, muscles, ligaments and tendons. So, it makes sense that physical therapy is a great choice for athletes who have suffered an injury.

Athletes are at constant risk for injury as they push their bodies in training and competition. There are many types of injuries that an athlete can experience throughout his or her time participating in a sport. Many of these injuries can be treated by physical therapy techniques.

Common injuries that affect athletes

You should contact a physical therapist for treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with any of the following:

1. Sprained ankles — An ankle is considered sprained when ligaments connecting your ankle bones are stretched or torn from your foot rolling or twisting. Sprained ankles are usually able to be treated with non-invasive treatment methods, though some extreme cases may require surgery.

2. Torn or stretched muscles — Overuse and exhaustion can cause your muscles to stretch and tear. For athletes, these kinds of injuries are most common in the groin and hamstring due to constant running and changing directions back and forth across a field or court.

3. Tendinitis — Repeated use of your joints can cause tendinitis, which is the inflammation of your tendons. Tendinitis is painful and can limit your range of motion. It is most common in sports that require repetitive motions, like throwing a baseball, swimming or tennis.

4. ACL injuries — Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a connective tissue in your knee that helps connect your shinbone and thigh bone. This ligament can be stretched or torn if your knee twists hard and suddenly. Full ACL tears require surgery for complete treatment, but physical therapy can still help in these cases by preparing you for surgery and assisting in recovery.

Contact Whatcom Physical Therapy for a sports injury treatment

The physical therapists at Whatcom Physical Therapy can treat the conditions above and many more. If you’re an athlete who’s recently been injured and are looking for ways to recover faster and stronger, contact us today and discover how physical therapy can help you.