Sports Injuries

Get Back in the Game Faster and Easier with Physical Therapy Treatments

A sports injury can happen to anyone participating in physical activity, whether you’re training for an athletic trial or simply working to enhance your skills. At Valley Rehab Center, we are dedicated to effectively treating your sports injury so you can get back to doing what matters most – returning to your sport! For more information on how we can help you recover from your sports injury and prevent future injuries from occurring, contact our Bellaire, OH physical therapy office to schedule your appointment!

How did my sports injury occur?

“Sports injury” is a term that can be used to describe any injury sustained while exercising or performing some sort of athletic activity. There are two ways in which sports injuries can occur: suddenly, such as one football player colliding with another, or over time, through repetitive motions, such as improperly lifting heavy weights at the gym or running in ill-fitted shoes. Simply put, anything that results in pain while performing physical activity can be considered a sports injury.

Whether you rolled your ankle on the soccer field, swung your bat too aggressively on the baseball diamond, or strained your back while hiking your favorite trail, Valley Rehab Center can help you find relief. Your treatment plan will be dependent upon the nature of your injury, your health history, and whether or not the injury requires surgical intervention. If you’ve sustained a sports injury, please contact us as soon as possible. Any injury left untreated can become more severe over time.

Common types of sports injuries:

It is possible for any number of injuries to occur during athletic activity. However, the 4 most common sports injuries include:

• Shin splints. Medial tibial stress syndrome, also known as shin splints, is a pain that can be felt within the shin bones, which are located at the front of your leg. This pain occurs when excessive stress is placed on the shinbone and the connective tissues surrounding it. Shin splints often leave you feeling debilitated and limited; however, they can be avoided by wearing proper footwear, strengthening your core and leg muscles, and warming up before exercise.
• Knee injuries. Did you know your knee is the most complex joint in your body? While this means that it has the ability to accomplish numerous physical feats, it also means that it is one of the most commonly injured body parts. Knee injuries may include a dull ache that runs from your hip to your knee, repetitive-use injuries that make it difficult to move your knee, or more severe injuries such as an ACL tear that may require intensive rehabilitation or surgical correction.
• Sprains. Your bones are connected to one another by ligaments. When a ligament is stretched beyond its limits, a sprain can occur. Once the ligament is stretched, it is more likely that the affected area will be sprained again in the future.
• Strains or pulled muscles. Your muscles and bones are connected by tendons. When a tendon is stretched beyond its limit, a strain or “pulled muscle” can occur. Once the tendon is stretched, it is more likely that the affected area will be strained again in the future.

Find relief for your sports injury with physical therapy:

Our Bellaire, OH physical therapists are movement specialists, fully equipped in creating the best-personalized treatment plan for your needs. At your initial appointment, you will undergo a comprehensive evaluation to assess your injury. This helps us decide the best course of action for treatment. Some diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI may be recommended, in order to determine the root cause of your pain, so we can come to the best possible solution for your recovery.

Treatment plans take into account the nature of your injury, your lifestyle, your fitness level, and any health risks you may have. They typically consist of strengthening exercises, stretches, and manual therapy, as described below:

• Strengthening exercises – used to enhance the injured and surrounding areas.
• Stretches – used to improve balance and mobility.
• Manual therapy – used to increase your range of motion and reduce scar tissue.

These are all done in order to help you recover after your sports injury and to prevent further injury from occurring in the future. If your injury is preventing you from performing your sport the way you want, contact Valley Rehab Center today at Bellaire, OH! We’ll get you started on the first steps toward recovery so you can get back in the game!