It is widely known that physical therapy is utilized after a sports injury. Did you know, however, that your chances of injury decreases when you rehabilitate? According to the CDC, there are over 3.5 million sport injuries every year in children and adolescents alone. Working with a physical therapist that can develop a plan to prepare you for sports activity is a great way to prevent injury.
Knowing the appropriate stretches that will benefit you the most is crucial to helping prevent injury. Stretching can increase your range of motion, which will help your body loosen up and achieve more positions. If you don’t have any range of motion, imagine how much of a hinderance it can be when trying to catch a ball or pin an opponent to the floor. Proper stretching is integral in preventing long-term injuries.
Having a resistance training program can greatly reduce the risks of having a musculoskeletal injury. If you do have one, it can reduce its severity. Musculoskeletal injuries affect the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments and can hinder your gameplay. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, resistance training has reported increases in in both the size and strength of ligaments and tendons which decreases the probability of injury. Additionally, increasing muscle mass through resistance training increases your functional ability. A low functional ability can lead to an increase in falls and fractures. “Resistance training programs for an aging population have the same benefits for increase in both strength and muscle size as such programs do for the younger and more active population,” (Hoffman, 2017).
One of the most important things you can do to prevent injury is to have a qualified professional create a rehabilitation program that’s a right fit for you. After assessing your needs and abilities, our physical therapists will create a program that is tailored to fit your needs and goals. We can help you have a successful and injury-free season.
Hoffman PhD., J. (2017). Resistance Training and Injury Prevention. American College of Sports Medicine. www.acms.org. https://www.acsm.org/docs/default-source/files-for-resource-library/smb-resistance-training-and-injury-prevention.pdf