When you’re an athlete, or you have an active lifestyle, the risk of sustaining an injury is impossible to deny. The good news is that sports physical therapy can help you recover from nearly any injury, from a mild muscle strain to a severe tear. But did you know that there’s more to sports physical therapy than injury recovery?
Even though many people believe that sports physical therapy starts and ends with injury recovery and rehabilitation, it can actually help athletes and active people in a variety of ways. By learning about everything that sports physical therapy has to offer, you can see how it can benefit you and your fitness goals.
6 benefits you can gain from sports physical therapy
The goal of sports physical therapy is to help athletes and people with an active lifestyle reach their fullest potential. While that does include injury recovery, many people still seek out the services without sustaining one. That’s because the benefits of the specialization are impossible to ignore.
Here are six benefits of sports physical therapy:
Injury prevention — Sports physical therapy treatments play a large role in reducing the risk of sustaining an injury in the first place. It’s often seen as a proactive approach for people who put their bodies through a lot for the love of sports and fitness. Your physical therapist can help you prevent sports injuries by addressing your weak spots. They can also help improve your biomechanics and techniques.
Learning how to safely cool down — Following a strenuous workout or sports game, properly cooling down your body is essential. It helps you bring back down your heart rate, reduce soreness and decrease the risk of injury. During sports physical therapy, you can learn proper relaxation techniques for both the mind and body. This could include low-intensity exercises and stretches.
Improved joint flexibility — Having a full range of motion in your joints can play a large role in your athletic abilities. For example, you need complete mobility in your shoulder joint to throw a football. Mobility in your hips allows you to land a jump in figure skating. Joint flexibility is one of the pillars of sports physical therapy. Your therapist can help improve your joint flexibility so you can work on your necessary skills. Flexibility also reduces the risk of an injury. Stretches and manual therapy are both common approaches for increasing joint range of motion.
Increased endurance — Most sports require high endurance, helping athletes stay active for an extended period of time. Endurance involves factors such as energy storage, motivation and pain tolerance. In sports physical therapy, you can increase your endurance by learning how to safely ramp up your stamina. You can also increase the strength needed to keep pushing despite fatigue or stress.
Boosting strength — It’s no secret that strength is one of the most pivotal aspects of success in many sports. Whether you’re competing in weightlifting competitions or you’re jumping to do a flip in gymnastics, strength training is essential. Muscle strength also provides your body with the stability needed to prevent injuries. Your physical therapist can help you increase your strength with targeted exercises. They can also guide you through resistance training,
Optimizing your movements — Many of the points that we’ve mentioned, such as strength and endurance, can play a significant role in your sports performance. In addition, your sports physical therapist can help you boost your overall success by helping your muscles and joints move in the most effective way possible for sport-specific skills. They can teach you the correct movement patterns, techniques and neuromuscular control needed to enhance your skills in your sport. Examples include a proper golf swing or serving a tennis ball.
KC Rehab can help you enjoy the many benefits of sports physical therapy
Many people only associate physical therapy with treating injuries, which is why many physical therapy patients who play sports don’t book their first appointment until they have already been injured. However, it’s important to be proactive before sustaining an injury. The benefits of sports physical therapy shouldn’t be underestimated.
At KC Rehab, our sports medicine services can help athletes boost every aspect of their performance while also prioritizing their overall wellness. From improving your strength and flexibility to injury education and optimizing movement patterns, we can help athletes be as successful and strong as possible.
Contact our team today for more information about sports medicine and physical therapy. You can also schedule an initial appointment.
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