Sports Injury. A sports injury can happen when you are playing a sport competitively, training, working out, playing recreationally or participating in other types of physical activity. You don’t have to be a professional athlete to experience a sports injury. In fact, most sports injuries occur in non-professional athletes. When you are injured in a sports or athletic-related event, our sports therapists can help you heal. Axes Physical Therapy has a network of physical and occupational therapists treating sports injuries at any of our fourteen locally owned and operated facilities. When you are injured while being physically active, our team can treat your sports injury and safely return you to the activities you love. Discover the sports injury treatment location most convenient for you, learn more about Axes and what makes us the leader in sports injury care in the Greater St. Louis area or contact us now to schedule an evaluation of your sports injury with a qualified physical or occupational therapist today.
Common Types of Sports Injury
Sports injuries vary widely in terms of severity, required treatment and effect on the body and ability to remain active. Our physical and occupational therapists specialize in treating all kinds of sports injuries. With decades of experience, extensive clinical training and education and specialization in various areas of sports injury treatment, you are in capable hands when you trust your sports injury treatment to the physical therapists of Axes Physical Therapy. We will guide you in your recovery and ensure that you are able to return to the sports and activities you enjoy.
As experienced sports therapists serving all of Greater St. Louis, there are few sports injuries we have not seen or successfully treated. Below are some of the most common sports injury conditions we work with.
- Sprains – A sprain occurs when a ligament is torn or overstretched.
- Strains – When a tendon or muscle is torn or overstretched, you have a strain, which can often be mistaken for a sprain. Both are common sports injuries.
- Tendonitis/Tendonosis – When a tendon is overused, it can become inflamed and painful, limiting activity. Long term or chronic inflammation of a tendon can result in degradation and break down of the tendon tissue leading to tendonosis.
- Swollen joints or tissue – Swelling is a common reaction to many sports injuries and can cause pain and weakness.
- Broken bones – Overuse and trauma from accidents can cause fractures, such as stress fractures or a broken bone.
- Dislocations – A sports injury can force a bone out of its socket, dislocating it.
- Knee injuries – The knee is an important but potentially vulnerable joint that can be affected by a number of different sports injuries resulting in torn ligaments, cartilage injuries, muscle strains, and fracture.
- Rotator cuff injuries – The muscles responsible for allowing your shoulder to move in all directions while keeping it in place make up the rotator cuff. For the rotator cuff, the highest sports injury risks come from impingement and/or rotator cuff tear.
- Achilles tendon injuries – The Achilles tendon is an extremely strong and flexible tendon connecting your calf to your heel. Tendonitis and ruptures are common Achilles tendon injuries in active individuals.
- Shin splints – Shin splints are a sports injury that typically affects runners and basketball players. The muscles and tendons around the shin become inflamed, causing pain.
If you have a sports injury, our sports injury treatment team can help. As an expert in movement and movement disorders, your sports therapist will apply their experience and knowledge toward your recovery. Using evidence-based practices, we will design a tailored treatment plan that will allow you to safely recover from your sports injury and restore your strength and mobility so that you can get back to the activities you love while preventing future injury.
If you have a sports injury, Axes Physical Therapy will work with you to restore you to optimal physical health and return you to your peak performance level. Work with a qualified physical therapist to recover from your sports injury today.
Sports Injury Risk Factors
Anyone can experience a sports injury while being active. That is why it is so important to take care of our bodies both on and off the field and to take the necessary precautions while playing sports or working out. Remember to warm up before physical activity and do not overexert yourself, especially if you’ve been inactive. And if you do suffer a sports injury, call the sports therapy team at Axes Physical Therapy right away. We will guide you in your recovery and return you to the sports you love as soon as possible.
You are at an increased risk of a sports injury if you:
- Play after an extended period of inactivity or poor level of fitness
- Do not stretch or warm up before playing
- Play a contact sport with an inherently higher risk of injury
Young children and older adults are also at a higher risk of experiencing a sports injury. As someone who enjoys being active and who has loved ones that are more susceptible to sports injury, whether they are just starting out in t-ball or getting active again by joining the community pickleball league, review the basic strategies for sports injury prevention to help keep yourself and your family safe from serious sports injuries. If you or someone you love suffers a sports injury while being active, turn to the skilled sports therapists of Axes Physical Therapy right away for a free injury screening or evaluation of your injury.
Sports Injury Prevention
As an athlete or anyone who is active, a sports injury can disrupt your entire routine and your day-to-day life. Because physical activity is such a critical part of your health and wellness, sports injury physical therapists champion the belief that all of us are safer with the proper sports injury prevention knowledge. Learn more about sports injury prevention by speaking to one of our physical therapists and reduce the risk of a sports injury by doing the following:
- Warm up
Cold muscles are at a higher risk of tearing, while warm muscles are more flexible. As your muscles warm up, the flexibility allows them to absorb movement more easily and be more resilient against harsh, sudden motions that can otherwise cause injury.
- Use proper technique
Sports injuries often happen when you attempt to do an activity without any experience or training. It takes a great deal of practice to perfect the technical skills of any sport, but be sure to learn the basics of proper movement technique before taking part in a sport or activity. For example, knowing to bend your knees as you land from a jump can protect you from certain sports injuries to the ankle, knee, hip, and spine.
- Use the necessary equipment
It is crucial that you use the right equipment while being active. The equipment should not only be appropriate to the sport, but also be in good condition and safe to use. This includes the following:
- Safety gear such as helmets, pads, or safety glasses
- Clothing that fits you well and is designed for physical activity
- Footwear that is appropriate for the activity
- Play in a safe environment
In addition to having the proper gear to play the sport, it is important that the site where you are playing is safe. A sports injury can happen when the surface of the court is wet and slippery or the turf is muddy. Even if you are very careful, warming up and stretching adequately before activity, hazardous conditions around you can cause a serious sports injury.
- Stay hydrated
Drinking enough water is a basic health practice that everyone should do. When engaging in physical activity, drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workout. It is important to regularly hydrate while you are being active and afterward to replace the water you have lost through sweat.
In addition to drinking enough water, practicing good nutrition also reduces your risk of a sports injury.
As an athlete, one of your priorities should be eating a balanced diet of nutrient-rich foods and consuming the right number of calories. Even when you take all the proper precautions and always exercise good judgment when playing a sport or being active, sometimes an injury is inevitable. We cannot always control the world around us, and injuries are going to happen. If you experience an acute sports injury or notice pain from an overuse injury, contact Axes’ sports therapists right away. We will conduct an injury screening to understand the extent and severity of your condition and formulate a personalized treatment plan to return you to health as soon as possible.
Therapy for Your Sports Injury: Axes Physical Therapy
As someone who is active, we know that living with an activity-limiting injury is more than frustrating. In order to be able to get back to the level of performance, mobility and strength you are used to, you must receive the right sports injury care. When you suffer a sports injury, the skilled sports therapists of Axes Physical Therapy will work closely with you to design an individualized treatment plan that will get you back on the court, in the gym or on your morning jog route as soon as possible.
Axes’ team of specialized sports therapists will successfully guide you in your recovery from your sports injury. When dealing with a sports injury, it is important to get proper care from a qualified professional right away. When you have been hurt while being active, contact Axes Physical Therapy right away. Our sports therapy team is ready to help return to full strength and get you back to doing the activities you love. Learn more about our sports injury treatment services by selecting the location nearest you.