How Can Physiotherapy Help Common Sports Injuries
Are you an athlete? A weekend warrior? Do you want to get back to playing recreational sports with your friends in the park? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this blog post is for you!
Sports injuries can be debilitating, extremely painful, and not to mention frustrating if you can’t play the sport you love! The group of healthcare professionals at PhysioPlus Health Group is dedicated to get you back to your game. Fortunately, physiotherapy is known to help athletes of all levels recover from their sports injuries and reduce the risk of recurring injuries in the future!
Are you curious how we can help you recover from your sports injury? Keep reading this blog post to learn more!
What are the common sports injuries that physiotherapy can help with?
This is a great question! There are so many sports injuries that physiotherapy can help you recover from. Not only can physiotherapy help you recover from an injury, but it can help you prevent future injuries from occurring too! Here is a list that includes some of the most common sports injuries that physiotherapy can help you with:
- Ankle sprains
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Knee injuries (ACL, patellofemoral pain syndrome)
- Lower back strains
- Achilles tendon injuries
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Shin splints
- And so many more!
If you don’t see your sports injury listed here, don’t worry! This doesn’t mean we can’t help you. Contact us today for more information on how WE can help YOU!
How Does Physiotherapy Help in Sports Injury Recovery?
Every sports injury is different and has to be treated as such. There is no one size fits all model in recovering from an injury. Your physiotherapist will conduct a thorough assessment to determine what structures within your body are compromised due to your sports injury. Then, they will work to reduce your pain, but also to target those structures to help you get back to your sport as quickly as possible!
Physiotherapy treatment looks different in every situation, but your physiotherapist will help you restore your range of motion, strengthen weak muscles, and improve flexibility and agility while reducing your pain. They will likely give you exercises to work through on your own, to help accelerate the healing process!
In conjunction with hands-on work, your physiotherapist may try different modalities, such as heat/cold, ultrasound, acupuncture, and shockwave therapy to help you achieve the results that you are looking for. Here at PhysioPlus Health Group, we prioritize holistic, comprehensive, and multimodal treatment! If that resonates with you, BOOK an appointment today!
Do you have questions? Call us at (416) 760-8280!
How long does it take to recover from a Sports injury?
Sports injuries are going to look different for everyone – even two people with the same diagnosis may take different amounts of time to heal. It is important that you do not put too much pressure on yourself or compare yourself to others while you heal.
With physiotherapy, you may start to feel better within a few appointments! Many sports injuries are relatively minor, and with proper treatment, can heal in just a few days or weeks. Other injuries like fractures, concussions, or dislocations may take longer to heal. At PhysioPlus Health Group, we are committed to providing you with the best care and want to help you get back to your sport as soon as possible.
Inspiring Stories (Google Review)
Please take some time to read about some of our patients who have had great experiences recovering from their sports injuries! Do you want a success story like theirs? Click HERE to book an appointment today!
“I had a great experience working with Lauren Kanko to treat plantar fasciitis and get me race-ready for my first 50k ultra. Without her guidance and support, I don’t think I would have been able to start running pain free with enough time to train. Lauren is very progressional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about her patients. I would highly recommend her for any physio treatment, specifically running rehab. Thank you!” – Sarah
“I would definitely recommend this place to anyone going through rehab and needs a place to go. Demetria was very helpful and made my painful experience after my ACL surgery go as smooth as possible!!” – Shakir
“Everyone’s great in this clinic. The reception team is really organized and very cheerful. My therapist Demetria was excellent. I presented with a torn tendon (super painful) and she developed an exercise routine for me that’s easy, comfortable, and which works. Two weeks after my last treatment I’m nearly pain free, and I continue to do the exercises. Great team here if you’ve got a sports injury!” – Peter
“I did my physio rehabilitation for my rotator cuff injury due to baseball here at PhysioPlus to get back to playing again. Demetria was my physiotherapist and she was very friendly and knowledgeable about my injury and was committed to help with the goals I wanted to achieve to get back to sport. She did great physiotherapy and massage to my shoulder to get it ready for throwing and gave me great exercises for the rotator cuff muscles to get my strength back. After 6+ months of frequent visits, I have returned to playing baseball pain free and gained my mobility back thanks to her. I fully recommend Demetria for sports injuries.”
Want to read more success stories from PhysioPlus Health Group patients? Click HERE to read patient testimonials!
Can physiotherapy prevent future sports injuries?
Physiotherapy can absolutely help you prevent future sports injuries! Protective physiotherapy can be valuable to help you prevent further injury, but also help enhance your performance in sports. To help prevent future injuries, your physiotherapist will provide you with advice, activity modifications, corrective exercises, and more to help you perform at your best. They can also help correct your technique to optimize your muscles and help keep you strong, which reduces the risk of injury!
Can physiotherapy help improve my sports performance?
Yes! Physiotherapy can help improve your performance in your sport in many different ways! After sustaining a sports injury, you may be wondering what you need to do in order to get back to your game. Physiotherapy works to help you get back to your sport as quickly and safely as possible, but also to help prevent injuries from occurring again in the future.
Your physiotherapist will work with you after your injury to decrease your pain levels, but also to improve your mobility, strength, and endurance. They will also help create a plan to re-introduce sport-specific training, and get you back to your sport!
While improving your mobility and strength will get you back to your game faster, it will also help retrain your muscles to prevent injuries from happening again. This will allow you to train and put forward your best as an athlete going forward.
Feel Better with Physiotherapy!
Wondering how physiotherapy can help with your injury? We’re here for you! At PhysioPlus Health Group, our goal is to support your recovery and get you feeling better. Book your appointment today and start your journey to healing!
This blog was written by Madison Allan, a Physiotherapy student at the University of Toronto
FAQ
Can ACL injuries heal on their own?
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears are a common sports injury, especially in sports that require a lot of pivoting, cutting, and jumping, such as basketball, lacrosse, skiing, and soccer. ACL injuries tend to be more common in females than males, and occur often in contact sports.
The ACL is a very important ligament in the knee, which prevents your shin bone (tibia) from shifting/twisting out from under your thigh bone (femur). Though often injured, the ACL cannot heal on its own; this is because there is no blood supply to the ACL.
It is important to know that there are varying degrees of ACL tears, and in a low grade tear, most people can manage without surgical intervention. However, most athletes tend to opt for surgery to ensure that the knee can safely perform the movements that their sport requires.
When should I start physiotherapy after a sports injury?
In most cases, there is no rule as to when you should start physiotherapy after your sports injury! Typically, a few days of rest is beneficial after a traumatic injury, and then you can get started right away. Your physiotherapist will conduct a thorough assessment of any affected regions of the body – for example, the joints, ligaments, bones, muscles, and tendons! They will work closely with you to determine a plan for next steps in your rehabilitation!
Can I go back to sports after physiotherapy?
In most cases, the answer is YES! Your physiotherapist will work with you to determine what your goals are, and set realistic timelines to help you get back to sports. Consider you and your physiotherapist as a team – you will work together, and they will support you in achieving your goals! If your goal is to get back on the field, we are here for you!