Whether you’re a weekend warrior or an elite athlete, sports injuries are a part of life. Sometimes they come on suddenly and call for immediate medical attention. More commonly, sports injuries come on gradually due to overuse, and despite thinking they will “go away” with time, the injury may not go away. Depending on your sport, it is important that your diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment be targeted to the required demands to prevent flare ups or re-injury.

Another common misconception as that pain will resolve with rest. Although it might temporarily feel better, when you return to running, practicing, or competing, the pain and injury will most likely return. Click here to read our blog post about the importance of cross training during an injury.

Females + Non-Contact Sports Injuries

Female soccer players have a higher rate of non-contact ACL injuries. Dr. Natalie Miller‘s passion lies in preventing these types of knee injuries. The reason why they occur is because adolescent females have a greater “Q-angle,” meaning the hips are wider and the knees are narrower than most male athletes. This anatomy, along with generalized laxity of ligaments in the knee during adolescence, creates an increased likelihood of injuries that are non-contact in nature. Paired with the running, cutting, and precision that soccer demands, female non-contact ACL injuries are all too common.

To prevent injury in these athletes, Dr. Natalie focuses on dynamic strength and activation of the glut, hip, and knee complex, as well as increasing muscle endurance during practice and play.

Other Common Sports Injuries

Whether it’s an immediate, dramatic break, or dysfunction that accumulates over time, sports can do some serious damage. The workout-related problems our physical therapist frequently treat include:

Repetitive stress conditions

Arthritis and tendonitis often stem from movements that are repetitive in nature like swinging a racket or throwing a ball. Joints and muscles can become inflamed in vulnerable areas like shoulders, elbows, hips, ankles and knees. Tendons and ligaments don’t always have adequate blood flow for healing, and therefore may not heal on their own, requiring manual treatment. The sooner you address the painful joint/muscle, the more quickly it will resolve.

Torn tendons and ligaments

Those dramatic jumps, twists and stretches can result in equally dramatic “snapped” or “torn” tissues, especially in the knees, shoulders and groin. If there is a complete tear, surgery may be necessary, but sometimes, you are able to return to your sport despite the lack of support by increasing the strength and stability of the surrounding tissues.

Strained back

Sometimes that sore lower back pain just won’t go away with basic home care. In such cases, our physical therapist will work with you to restore movement, rebuild core strength and increase flexibility.

Fractures and breaks

When you have a bone injury during a game or workout, a trip to the emergency room usually results in a cast to promote healing. But as your bone is recovering, the muscles around it are weakening. Physical therapy helps to strengthen the affected area following a fracture.

Post-op Rehab

Some sports injuries require surgery or other medical procedures as the first line of defense. In fact, postoperative physical therapy is key for transitioning back to normalcy by improving strength, range of motion, and overall function. Reneu Sport + Health specializes in working to close the gap between post-op protocols and the patient’s return to sport.

Prehab

Athletes know that the best way to avoid injury or reinjury is to build up strength and flexibility. Working out on your own at the gym is great, but sometimes our muscles and joints need extra attention. Dr. Natalie will restore proper mobility and flexibility through a variety of manual techniques. She will also guide you through sport-specific movements that help you avoid future injuries, as well as talk you through strategies you can implement when you’re back on the field.

Don’t wait to begin your sports injury recovery or prevention program. We are trained in the specific art of dealing with sports injuries, and we’ll have you back to playing in no time!

For more information, or answers to your questions, contact us today at Wayzata & Minnetonka, MN clinics. Or if you’re ready to get started, click here to schedule an appointment.