Sports injuries are part and parcel of the life of an athlete or active adult. These professionals need to go through severe physical exertions every day to sustain high-performance levels. Unfortunately, continuing to do so makes the body susceptible to injuries as specific muscles give in after intensive sessions.
Treatment begins mostly through physical therapy whenever an active adult sustains an injury. Medical procedures are necessary. However, physical therapy is considered the silent healer, and the final step toward achieving full fitness after an injury.
Suppose you reside in a region filled with passionate sports enthusiasts like Sterling, Virginia. In that case, you may already know a lot about the recovery steps taken by athletes after an injury. This article focuses on how athletes can deal with sports injuries.
Top Sports in the U.S.
American football, soccer, NASCAR, Basketball, Baseball/Softball, and Ice hockey are some of the most popular sports in the U.S. In Kansas, basketball tops the popularity list.
Football, baseball, arena football, hockey, soccer, and wrestling are popular in Oklahoma. Baseball tops the list in Arizona. NASCAR is the most popular sport in Sterling, Virginia.
Sports Injuries Statistics
In the United States, 30 million children and teens participate in organized sports. An estimated 3.5 million injuries result in time off from work every year.
Sports-related incidents cause a third of all juvenile injuries. More than a quarter (25 percent) of American adults regularly takes part in physical activity. According to their opinion, most people participate in more than 50 different sports regularly.
These ratios can differ from state to state. For example, consider Los Angeles, Austin, and Sterling, Virginia; Los Angeles has the highest injury rate, whereas, in Sterling, Virginia, there are much fewer injuries.
Many reputed therapy clinics are located in Herndon, Dulles, and Sterling in Virginia for sports-related injuries and require treatment. One of them is Sports Massage Pros in Sterling.
Active adults and athletes can get assistance in recovering from such injuries without resorting to drugs or surgery here. However, we strongly recommend getting medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms.
What is the effect of injury on an athlete?
An athlete’s severity or extent is often irrelevant since practically all injuries have the same consequence. To begin, an injury might keep them out of training sessions indefinitely. Unfortunately, this implies that much of the strength, energy, and flexibility accumulated over time will rapidly deplete by the time they recover.
Athletes’ lives are significantly impacted by structured exercise and training regimens. As a result, injured athletes lose strength and mobility as well as their self-esteem and drive.
Stress can build up within an injured athlete, eliciting strange behavioral and emotional reactions. Some can get obsessed with the duration of their absence from the sport; others may believe they will never regain their former form.
Just as everyone is unique, athletes can deal with an injury in various ways. The following is a list of a few feelings that a wounded athlete often express:
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Fear
- Irritation
- Low motivation
- Tension
Athletes who cannot deal with the immediate consequences are more likely to fail in their recovery efforts.
Benefits Of Physical Therapy to Help Recover From Sports Injuries
Seeking help from a physical therapist has several benefits when recovering from a sports injury. Do not forget that medication can help you recover, but physiotherapy can help you progress to the next level.
Therefore, physical therapy is a must for improving fitness or endurance. To understand why it is so fascinating and necessary, let us examine some of its features.
Instant Relief from Pain
Muscle injury rehabilitation can be a long and arduous procedure. But that is exactly what physical therapy can do for you. It can be the difference between a relaxing recuperation and a rigorous one if you take it. Tennis elbow, for example, is often treated with physical therapy.
Some are more violent and physically taxing. Think about what might happen if you were wounded while taking part. Your rehabilitation will almost certainly be more complicated than the injury itself if this is the case.
Techniques like dry needling, hot and cold packs, and applying tape to wounded regions can help alleviate pain on various levels. Physiotherapy procedures can treat tense veins and aching muscles quickly. Athletes can ultimately stop using opioids for pain management, due to the effectiveness of the process.
Helps With Balancing
After a serious accident, many patients lose their sense of balance. This is a regular occurrence for those who have recently suffered from joint or bone fractures. Athletes who suffer such catastrophic injuries will need extensive post-therapy care.
For the most part, physical therapists focus on the problem areas and prescribe exercises that target them.
These aid athletes in several ways, including:
- Patients who have had physiotherapy will be better prepared for subsequent treatment.
- It provides immediate pain alleviation in those areas.
- It speeds up the healing process after surgery.
Suppose no physical therapy is given to a patient healing from an ankle injury. In that case, they will struggle to keep their balance.
Strengthens The Body’s Core
If you have never heard of core strengthening before, you might have no idea about it. Strengthening the muscles in your lower back and pelvis is the main aim of core strengthening. Athletes must have a solid core to withstand the intense strain of competition.
Increased Elasticity of Muscles And Joints
After a sports injury, if you have difficulties bending your joints, you are in danger. However, speed is an essential factor in most activities that entail physical exertion.
Imagine attempting to swim with a muscular injury. A weight lifter with a torn muscle trying to bench press heavyweight can never do it.
Your muscles must be supple for you to compete in any sports. Physical therapy helps maintain muscles flexibility and aligned with the rest of your body, avoiding future injuries and keeping your body working at peak performance.
Psychological Skills to Help Recover from Sports Injuries
Set Appropriate Goals
There is no need to stop planning or establishing objectives because you have been wounded. Instead of seeing the injury as a catastrophe, look at it as an opportunity for growth. Instead of focusing on performance, your new objectives will help you recuperate. This is a great way to stay inspired.
You will see minor progress in your recovery if you stay focused on your objectives. Then, when you know that you are progressing, you will feel more confident.
Do not forget to have open communication with your therapist or doctor. They can assist you in creating attainable objectives that are appropriate for different stages of rehabilitation. For example, most athletes undertake uncontrolled exercises to quicken their recovery. Knowing your boundaries, and accepting the fact that you are wounded is essential.
Take Responsibility
Instead of concentrating on your reduced efficiency, accepting that you have an injury might be more helpful. This empowers you to take control of your rehabilitation, significantly impacting your result.
Confidence can be gained by taking control of your rehabilitation process. As a result, you are more likely to progress your rehabilitation rather than fail to improve on your pre-injury performance.
Get Help
After an injury, a world-class athlete cannot get to the top of their sport independently. No doubt, working with a trainer, coach, or therapist can help you stay motivated no matter how much you have achieved by yourself.
Whether they win or lose, many athletes and sports professionals have sports psychologists in their inner circle at all times.
Focus on the Present
When we are hurt or unwell, we want to get back to our usual selves right away.
Athletes, in particular, are notoriously impatient and eager to get back on the field. By concentrating on the here and now rather than the future, you are doing yourself a favor in the long run.
Complete the Necessary Treatments
Some individuals are eager to get back in the game and put in additional effort. In contrast, others get disheartened and cut corners during treatment. By attending your appointments and following your doctor’s and athletic trainer’s instructions, you can speed up your recovery.
Maintaining a sense of equilibrium while working toward your ultimate healing goal can be accomplished by setting tiny daily or weekly objectives that generate momentum. The way you say to yourself matters, too.
To get the most out of your rehabilitation, put in the effort and have a positive outlook. Do not be distracted by what you are losing out on.
Take Control of Yourself
As upsetting as an injury might be, it can also leave you feeling helpless. Even though you cannot fix a fractured bone or a torn ligament on your own, you can make informed decisions about your schedule of rest and activity to push yourself. By taking responsibility for your condition, you remove the influence of damage from your life.
Conclusion
An injury can be overcome with the correct information, support, and patience. There are several physiotherapy centers in and around Sterling, Virginia which can help you with post-injury complexities. Most athletes can recover from minor injuries quickly and serious ones over time if they take things slowly, establish reasonable objectives, and stay optimistic, and focused during the recovery process.
Consult with a doctor to get a correct diagnosis and treatment plan for any injury. Best of Luck!
-Terry Asher
Terry Asher
Latest posts by Terry Asher (see all)
With the right information, support, and patience, an injury can be overcome. There are a number of physiotherapy clinics in and around Sterling, Virginia that can assist you with post-injury complications. Most athletes can recover quickly from minor injuries and gradually from serious ones if they take things slowly, set reasonable goals, and remain optimistic and focused during the recovery process.
[…] is no secret that playing professional sports takes up a lot of time. Many people think that in order to make it to the big leagues, you have to […]
[…] is no secret that playing professional sports takes up a lot of time. Many people think that in order to make it to the big leagues, you have to […]