Sports Medicine: Therapy For Injuries

Posted on: 23 September 2020

What is sports medicine? 

Sports medicine is a field in healthcare that is specifically catered to helping people recover from injuries that impact their mobility, helping athletes and others perform better in their chosen sport, and helping people maintain and regain a healthy exercise regime. 

Why do you need sports medicine? 

There are many reasons why you may need to see a sports therapist. You might want to start a new exercise plan and may want to find the right training program for your body. You may be worried about an old injury impacting your exercise, daily activities, or sports. Or you might want a professional's opinion about your knee or back problem. One of the biggest reasons to see a sports medicine therapist is a recent injury. Here are a few scenarios where you might need sports medicine therapy specifically for injuries : 

  • You are a high school quarterback with a promising sports career, and you were bowled over playing a game. You walked away from the field, but your ankle has been bothering you ever since. You should probably book an appointment with a sports medicine therapist right away. A small injury could become long term damage if left untreated. 
  • You are a middle-aged person who helped a friend move but woke up the next day with severe back pain. You should seek the help of a sports medicine therapist who can help you recover from the strain you put on your back and give you pointers on how to avoid injury in the future. 
  • You are a twenty-something dancer with a knee cap that occasionally pops out of place, ruining your routine and your day. You should turn to a sports medicine therapist who can figure out what the problem is and help you build up strength again to avoid a more serious injury. 

What do sports medicine therapies look like? 

There are many types of therapies that sports medicine utilizes, and each therapist will offer different programs. Here are a few of the most popular types of therapy you might find: 

Physical Therapy- Physical therapy is a broad area of sports medicine, but in general, it encompasses a program focused on increasing movement, flexibility, and pain relief by exercising, stretching, and massaging under the care of professional therapists. 

Aquatic Therapy- Aquatic therapy has the same purpose as physical therapy but with the added soothing properties of water which make it a good option with particularly painful or stubborn injuries. 

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections- PRP injections are used to help heal torn tendons and worn down cartilage, using plasma to give your body a head start on healing. 

If you are in need of sports medicine injury therapy, you can find many resources online and on professional sites such as https://www.towncenterorthopaedics.com/.

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