Sports Injury Kirkwood, MO. A sports injury can take place when you are playing a competitive sport, training, working out, playing recreationally or participating in other sorts of physical activity. Professional athletes aren’t the only people who can experience a sports injury. In fact, the majority of sports injuries occur in non-professional athletes. When you are injured in a sports or athletic-related event, our Kirkwood, MO 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. If you are injured while participating in physical activities, our team can treat your sports injury and safely return you to the sports you love. Learn more about the Kirkwood, MO sports injury treatment location closest you, learn more about Axes and why we are the leader in sports injury care in the Kirkwood, MO area or contact us now to schedule an evaluation of your sports injury with a professional physical or occupational therapist today.

Common Types of Sports Injury

Sports injuries differ widely in terms of severity, necessary treatment and impact on the body and ability to stay active. Our Kirkwood, MO physical and occupational therapists are specialists in treating all types of sports injuries. With decades of experience, extensive clinical training and education and specialization in various areas of sports injury treatment, you are in deft hands when you trust your sports injury treatment to the Kirkwood, MO physical therapists of Axes Physical Therapy. We will lead you through your recovery and ensure that you will be back to the sports and activities you love soon.

As experienced sports therapists serving all of Kirkwood, MO, there are few sports injuries we have not seen or successfully treated. Listed below are some of the some of the sports injuries we see the most of.

• Sprains – A sprain occurs when a ligament is torn or overstretched.
• Strains – When a tendon or muscle is torn or overstretched, you experience a strain, which can often be mistaken for a sprain. Both are common sports injuries.
• Tendonitis/Tendonosis – When a tendon suffers from overuse, it can become inflamed and sore, limiting activity. Long term or chronic inflammation of a tendon can result in degradation and breakdown of the tendon tissue, leading to tendonitis.
• Swollen joints or tissue – Swelling is a common consequence of many sports injuries and can cause pain and weakness.
• Broken bones – Fractures are caused by overuse or trauma caused by an outside force, and can include 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 a significant but potentially at-risk joint that can experience a number of different sports injuries causing 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. Impingement and/ or tears are the most common rotator cuff sports injuries.
• Achilles tendon injuries – The Achilles tendon is a tremendously strong and flexible tendon connecting your calf to your heel. Tendonitis and ruptures are typical 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 swollen, causing pain.

If you have a sports injury, our sports injury treatment team can help. As an expert in movement and movement disorders, your Kirkwood, MO sports therapist will apply their experience and expertise toward your recovery. Employing evidence-based practices, we will design a tailored treatment plan that will let you safely recover from your sports injury and bring back your strength and movement 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 get you back to to your highest performance level. Work with a qualified Kirkwood, MO physical therapist to recover from your sports injury today.

Sports Injury Risk Factors

Anybody can experience a sports injury while being active. For that reason it is vital to protect our bodies both on and off the field and to take the needed precautions while participating in sports or training. Warming up is always an important first step, and never overwork your body, particularly if you haven’t been active. And if you do suffer a sports injury, reach out to the Kirkwood, MO sports therapy team at Axes Physical Therapy right away. We will guide you in you in your rehabilitation and return you to the physical activities you love as soon as possible.

You have an increased risk of a sports injury if you:

• Participate after not being active for a while or poor level of fitness
• Neglect to 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 family members that are more susceptible to sports injury, whether they are strapping on cleats for the first time or getting active again by tearing up the recreation center’s pickleball court, consider the basic strategies for preventing sports injury to help keep yourself and your Kirkwood, MO family safe from severe sports injuries. If you or a family member suffers a sports injury while being active, turn to the talented Kirkwood, MO sports therapists of Axes Physical Therapy now for a free injury screening or assessment of your injury.

Sports Injury Prevention

As an athlete or anyone who is active, a sports injury can upset your whole schedule and your daily life. Due to physical activity being such a crucial element of your health and wellness, sports injury physical therapists champion the viewpoint that every one of us is safer with the right sports injury prevention knowledge. Find out more about sports injury prevention by reaching out to one of our Kirkwood, MO physical therapists and reduce the risk of a sports injury by doing the following:

• Warm up

  Cold muscles have an increased chance of tearing, while warm muscles have more flexibility. As you warm up your muscles, the flexibility helps them absorb impacts more easily and be more resilient against harsh, sudden movements that can otherwise leads to injury.

• Use proper technique

  Sports injuries often happen when you attempt to participate in a sport without any experience or training. Any athlete requires a lot of practice to perfect the technical aspects of any sport, but be sure to learn the foundations of appropriate movement technique before taking part in a sport or activity. For example, understanding how to bend your knees while 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 very important that you use the appropriate equipment when you are active. The equipment should not only be appropriate for the sport, but also be in good condition and safe to use. Some examples of equipment are:

  • 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 safe conditions

  Other than using the appropriate gear to play the sport, it is important that the Kirkwood, MO location where you are playing is safe. A sports injury can occur when the playing surface is wet, slippery, or muddy. Even if you are conscientious, warming up and stretching adequately before activity, hazardous conditions where you play can lead to a serious sports injury.

• Stay hydrated

  Drinking sufficient water is a fundamental health practice that everyone should do. If you are engaging in physical activity, drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workout. It is vital to consistently hydrate while you are being active and afterward to replace the fluids that you lost through sweating.

  In addition to drinking enough water, practicing good nutrition also lessens your chances of suffering a sports injury.

As an athlete, one of your priorities should be eating a balanced diet of nutrient-rich foods and receiving the right number of calories. Even when you take all the proper precautions and always exercise good judgment when participating in a sport or physical activity, occasionally an injury is unavoidable. We cannot always control the world around us, and injuries are going to happen. If you have an acute sports injury or notice pain from an overuse injury, contact Axes’ Kirkwood, MO sports therapists immediately. We will conduct an injury screening to understand the extent and severity of your condition and develop a custom treatment plan to restore 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 incredibly frustrating. In order to be able to get back to optimal performance, mobility and strength you had before, you must receive the right sports injury care. When you suffer a sports injury, the qualified Kirkwood, MO sports therapists of Axes Physical Therapy will work closely with you to draw up an individualized treatment plan that will get you back on the court, in the gym or on your morning Kirkwood, MO jog route as soon as possible.

Axes’ team of specialized Kirkwood, MO 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 treatment from a experienced professional right away. After you have been injured while playing sports, contact Axes Physical Therapy right away. Our Kirkwood, MO sports therapy team is ready to help return you to full strength and get you back to doing the activities you love. Discover more about our sports injury treatment services by selecting the Kirkwood, MO location nearest you.