Playing sports is great for your mind and body, and more people are playing sports than ever before. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 30 million children and adolescents under 14 participate in youth sports.
As for adults, the number is not as large, but it’s higher than it was almost two decades ago. In 2003, about 16% of those 15 and older participated in some sport or form of exercise, compared with almost 20% percent in 2015.
That’s a lot of people running around throwing, kicking, or passing a ball. Not surprisingly, sport-related injuries are on the rise. More than 3.5 million children receive medical treatment for sports injuries every year. In the last two decades, there has been a fivefold increase among youth baseball and softball players in the number of shoulder and elbow injuries that required medical attention.
If you’re an athlete and you get injured, you’re going to want to heal as quickly as possible so you can get back in the game. Sports physical therapy with us at Texas Orthopaedic Associates can help you get back into fighting shape.
What is sports physical therapy?
Sports physical therapy is a subspecialty of general physical therapy. Sports physical therapy specialists focus on injury and rehabilitation, as well as re-injury prevention. A sports physical therapist also makes recommendations on exercise and stretches to improve your overall performance and endurance when you return to your sport.
However, you don’t have to wait until you’re injured to experience the benefits of sports physical therapy. A session can help you prevent injury and improve your performance before you come to harm.
What happens during a sports physical therapy session?
What happens in your session depends on your injury and your goals. There are a variety of interventions that your sports physical therapist may recommend. The firsts steps are a thorough evaluation, physical and strength assessment, and medical history.
Some interventions include:
- Manual treatment of muscles and soft tissues
- Taping
- Bracing
- Strengthening exercises
- Speed and agility training
First, the sessions focus on healing and reducing any pain and swelling. The next steps are rehabilitation and focusing on a return to training for your sport.
If you’ve been injured while exercising or playing sports, call Texas Orthopaedic Associates for a sports physical therapy consultation. Our experts will get you back in the game — better and stronger than ever. You can also request an appointment online through this website.
