The Role of Sports Physical Therapy in Injury Prevention and Recovery for Athletes

“Athletes” are not relegated to professional sports arenas or college football stadiums. Every person who is active, whether it be in crossfit, running, yoga or any other activity, is considered an athlete. Sports Physical Therapy is an essential part at helping these athletes to perform at their highest levels, all while avoiding injury. Training for any event, whether the Super Bowl or your first 5k, requires you to push your body to adapt to new stressors. Sports Physical Therapy is designed to help prevent injuries before they happen and recover quickly when they do. This specialized field of physical therapy is key to ensuring athletes stay strong, healthy, and competitive in their endeavors. 

If you have ever competed, you know that injuries are the bane of most athletes’ existence. An injury may reduce or eliminate one’s ability to train, or even put the competition (if that is the goal) itself in jeopardy. That is why injury prevention has become such a hot button topic. What if we can prevent the injury before it even takes place? A specialized sports physical therapist may have the skillset to help you accomplish that. Through a combination of biomechanical analysis, load management techniques and a holistic approach, a sports physical therapist can help you find and eliminate weaknesses before they impact your training. This will lead to a happier, healthier athlete who can take on higher training loads without the fear of injury. The difference between being proactive vs reactive in receiving care, may make the difference for you in your next competition.

Whether your sport involves running, lifting weights or any other athletic endeavor, faulty biomechanics may put undue stress on different areas of the body, potentially leading to injury. Part of a good sports therapy plan is addressing these biomechanical factors and adjusting techniques as needed. Biomechanical analysis should never be used without also having a comprehensive exam to assess training load, joint range of motion and strength. The combination of technique assessment and a comprehensive exam will allow a therapist to create a plan for any athlete to armor themselves against injuries that they may be at risk for.

When an injury does occur, a lot of uncertainty can follow if you don’t have proper guidance. How bad is the injury, how long will you have to take time off of your sport? Having a sports physical therapist on your side will help you answer those questions, all while assisting in the healing process. Soft tissue work, joint mobilizations and controlled exercise can all assist in improving pain, facilitating the healing process and avoiding any long term deficits. Rebuilding strength and mobility, decreasing pain and taking a graded approach back into the sport can help an athlete get the confidence they need to return stronger than before. 

Physical therapy is a vital part of maintaining health and improving performance while trying to compete in any sports endeavor. From injury prevention, to taking care of small problems before they become worse, the athlete-therapist alliance allows for continuous care that will help an athlete stay healthy in all of their endeavors. The best time to treat an injury is in its early stages. Having a sports physical therapist on your side means taking care of aches and pains before they become an issue or lead to time off of your sport.

As an athlete, you know that pushing your body to new heights also requires riding the line between performance and injury. Having someone to help you navigate that line, recovering from training and preventing injuries can be invaluable. Preventing injuries means that you are able to train harder and longer with less pain. Recovering better means that you are able to hit your next training session with more intent and purpose.

If you are serious about your fitness goals, having a sports physical therapist on your team is essential to your success. At Onward, we specialize in helping athletes stay strong, recover faster, and perform better. Contact us today to learn how our sports physical therapy can support your athletic journey!