Some of the greatest athletes in the world celebrate their athleticism through the events of the Olympics. But behind all the glory, the hours of training, the determination and persistence, is the risk of potential injury. Many famous Olympians such as Kerri Strug, Samir Ait Said, Nancy Kerrigan, and Derek Redmond, were injured in the Games, but what you might not have known is that the Olympic Games has their own team of physical therapists to help.
That's right- it was reported by World Physiotherapy that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics had a physical therapy team of 800 physical therapists - that's how important physical therapy is in the healing process for sports injuries!
Even if you’re not an Olympian, struggling with a sports injury can cause a wide range of problems and emotions from frustration to downright hopelessness. But don’t worry! Physical therapists from Buffalo to Tokyo are trained to use different techniques and modalities to help you recover and get back in the game in the best shape possible.
Why physical therapy?
A lot of people may think that you can heal a sports injury by just “walking it off”- or worse, YouTube-ing solutions. As a kid you probably heard of the acronym R.I.C.E. (which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation) which yes, can help… But seeking physical therapy treatment for sports injuries has some amazing benefits. Physical therapists are specially educated in sports injury recovery and are able to provide a customized treatment plan to meet your sports injury needs. Having a friendly, understanding and knowledgeable PT on deck not only to treat you in every session, but to also give you stretching or strengthening exercises to complete at home, can help speed up the recovery process.
Another reason to visit a physical therapist when you have a sports injury is that they have access to, and know how to use, resources that might not be available for you right at home, such as ultrasound, graston tools for soft tissue mobilization, and cross-friction muscle massage. By combining in-office 1:1 treatment with personalized home care exercises, your physical therapist can work with you to help you feel more supported in your recovery.
Head, shoulder, knee, and toe pains
One of the hardest parts about being injured is understanding what your injury actually entails. Aside from the pain upon initial injury, there could be some mystery around pinpointing the exact problem- is it a muscular injury? Did you break your bone? Was your disc herniated, or did you suffer a concussion? It can be frustrating not to know exactly what the cause of your sports injury could be.
The good news is that physical therapists are specially trained for this type of diagnosing. Our bodies have so many layers, it's hard to know exactly what the right treatment plan is on your own. But by working with a physical therapist, who will take the time to assess and figure out where your pain is coming from, it can be easier to understand your injury more thoroughly and feel confident in your road to recovery.
Put me in, coach!
If you’ve decided to see a physical therapist and determine the cause of your injury, you may feel excited and confident about your ability to recover… So much so that you’re jonesing to get back on the field, the court, or in the water. But wait! You can’t just be rushing back to soccer practice, or back into that basketball game.
Having an injury can sometimes make us feel less connected to our teammates, and sometimes we push ourselves harder to get back to our favorite sports. But following your physical therapy treatment plan as prescribed is one of the best things you can do to expedite your healing process. Though it’s often not what we want to hear when we’re ambitious athletes, everyone’s road to recovery is different, so listening intently and following your personalized physical therapy treatment can help your physical therapist get you game-ready as soon as possible.
Having a physical therapist guide you through the recovery process can also help you to avoid future injury or damages by pushing yourself too hard. They can even give you suggestions on ways to still feel connected to your team and your sport as you work your way back to health.
Looking for sports injury physical therapists in Buffalo? Look no further than BC + PT! Our team is here to make sure you get back in the game sooner, rather than later, and our physical therapists are ready to get you back on the road to recovery with “the best care in town.” Give us a call at 716-892-8811 or fill out our contact form here.