How Physical Therapy Prevents Overuse Injuries in Athletes

Athletes often push their bodies to the limit, leading to overuse injuries. These injuries result from repetitive movements and strain on muscles, tendons, and joints, which can worsen over time if not properly managed. Physical therapy is a proven method for preventing and managing overuse injuries, ensuring athletes can continue to perform at their best.

What Are Overuse Injuries?

Overuse injuries occur when an athlete performs repetitive movements without allowing enough time for recovery. These injuries are common in sports that require constant repetition, like running, tennis, or swimming. Common overuse injuries include:

  • Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons, often in the shoulder, elbow, or knee.
  • Shin splints: Pain along the shinbone, often caused by running.
  • Stress fractures: Small cracks in bones caused by repetitive impact.
  • Tennis elbow: Inflammation of tendons in the elbow from repetitive use.
  • Runner’s knee: Pain around the kneecap from running or jumping activities.

If not treated, these injuries can worsen and take athletes out of the game.

How Physical Therapy Prevents Overuse Injuries

1. Assisting with Healing After the Overuse Injury

Physical therapists focus on facilitating healing, and strengthening the muscles that are often overused in sports. This helps to balance out any muscle imbalances and reduces the likelihood of injury. Additionally, therapists guide athletes through stretches that improve flexibility, helping muscles and tendons handle repetitive movements better.

2. Correcting Poor Movement Mechanics

Improper form or technique is a major cause of overuse injuries. Physical therapists assess how athletes move and make corrections to improve form. For example, correcting improper running or throwing techniques can significantly reduce stress on joints and tendons, lowering the risk of injury.

3. Developing a Personalized Training Program

Physical therapists create customized exercise plans tailored to each athlete’s needs. These plans target weak areas, promote recovery, and ensure the athlete isn’t overworking any specific muscle group. According to a study from JAMA Internal Medicine, individualized training can help prevent overuse injuries and improve performance.

4. Promoting Rest and Recovery

Recovery is just as important as training. Physical therapists emphasize the importance of rest between workouts to allow the body to heal. They provide athletes with active recovery exercises to maintain mobility and prevent stiffness.

5. Identifying Early Signs of Injury

Physical therapists are skilled at identifying early warning signs of overuse injuries. Catching these signs early allows for timely intervention, reducing the chances of more severe injuries developing.

Success on the Field

“Gloria came to Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy with numbness and a burning sensation in her leg, particularly around her knee. After just seven treatments, she felt significant improvement, with the burning almost completely gone and the numbness nearly resolved. Gloria is now ready to return to the gym and resume her regular exercise routine. This success highlights how physical therapy can help athletes and active individuals overcome pain and get back to the activities they love.”

Gloria H.

FAQs

1. What is the most common overuse injury?

Tendonitis, which affects tendons in areas like the shoulder, elbow, and knee, is one of the most common overuse injuries.

2. How do I know if I have an overuse injury?

Overuse injuries usually start as mild pain or discomfort that worsens over time. If you feel persistent pain during activity, it’s time to see a physical therapist.

3. Can physical therapy prevent surgery for overuse injuries?

In many cases, yes. Physical therapy can help prevent overuse injuries from becoming severe, reducing the need for surgery.

4. How long does recovery from an overuse injury take?

Recovery time depends on the severity of the injury and how quickly it’s caught. Mild injuries may take a few weeks to heal, while more serious injuries can take months.

5. Is rest the only way to prevent overuse injuries?

While rest is important, strengthening exercises, proper form, and flexibility training are key to preventing overuse injuries.

Take the First Step Towards a Healthier Future

If you’re experiencing pain from repetitive movements or want to prevent overuse injuries, Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy can help. Our experienced team will work with you to create a personalized plan for injury prevention and recovery.

Contact us at Visalia (559) 733-2478 or Hanford (559) 582-1027 to schedule a consultation with our expert physical therapists and keep your body performing at its best!

References:

Shrier, I., et al. (2001). Prevention of overuse sports injuries: A systematic review. JAMA Internal Medicine. Available at: JAMA

Hreljac, A. (2004). Impact of biomechanics on overuse injuries in runners. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Available at: NCBI

Sahrmann, S. A. (1994). Diagnosis and treatment of movement impairment syndromes. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. Available at: JOSPT

Dangers of Sport Specialization

With School Starting Up Again, It’s Crucial To Understand The Risks Of Single-Sport Specialization In Young Athletes

After a long summer, schools are back in session, which means children of all ages are eager to hit the ground running both in and out of the classroom. For student-athletes, this means involvement in a sport—or sports—of their choosing, which is a major commitment for some.

About 72% of school-age children—nearly 29 million—participate in at least one organized sport, which is associated with a bounty of physical and mental benefits. But a sizable portion of these young athletes choose to participate only in one sport, which can lead to almost non-stop obligations for practices, competitions, camps, and other forms of training throughout the entire year. This is called single-sport specialization, which is believed to help young athletes excel in their sport and make it to the next level of competition; however, specialization also comes with numerous risks, and it does not appear to be the best approach for young athletes.

Spelling Out the Potential Risks of Single-Sport Specialization

Single-sport specialization is a relatively recent trend in which children have been shifting away multi-sport participation to focus on the one sport they are most interested in pursuing. Parents and coaches may sway young athletes in this direction, usually because they assume that it will improve their chances of being successful at collegiate and possibly professional levels. But research has consistently shown that specialization appears to have the opposite effect on most young athletes.

Single-Sport Athletes Account for About 50% of Overuse Injuries

According to one study, sport specialization is strongly associated with overuse injuries, which occur when too much activity combines with insufficient rest and recovery. In fact, children who specialize in a single sport account for about 50% of overuse injuries seen by pediatric orthopedic specialists. Another study of 1,200 young athletes found that specialization was the strongest predictor of injury, with athletes who specialized in one sport being 70-93% more likely to experience an injury than children who played multiple sports.

Burnout is a Real Concern for Single-Sport Athletes

Children who specialize early are also at an elevated risk for burnout from stress, pressure, and diminished motivation. This may cause athletes to quit sports altogether at a young age, which could have long-term implications like lower rates of physical activity later in life. Finally, exclusively focusing on one sport early in life can prevent young athletes from working out other parts of their body, which may lead to reduced motor skill development and other developmental complications.

Young athletes should therefore be encouraged to participate in a variety of sports during their early years so that they can sharpen a variety of motor skills and identify the sports that they enjoy most. In our next blog, we’ll talk about the benefits of multi-sport participation and offer some tips to avoid overuse injuries and burnout.

If you’re concerned with your child’s risk for sport specialization, Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy can help.

Call us at 559-733-2478 (Visalia) or 559-582-1027 (Hanford) for more information or schedule an appointment today.

Benefits of Multi-Sport Participation

Playing Multiple Sports Is More Advantageous To Young Athletes In The Long Run

In our last blog, we discussed how single-sport specialization is a trend that’s becoming increasingly more common in youth sports, even if it may not be in the best interests of these young athletes. As we noted, children who specialize in one sport are up to 93% more likely to suffer from an injury than those who play multiple sports, and they are also at an increased risk for burnout from fatigue and not giving taking adequate time for recovery.

For these reasons, most experts recommend that young athletes should diversify their pursuits and try to engage in multiple sports throughout most of their childhood. Research has shown that doing so is healthier for athletes and more likely to lead to long-term success. For example, early participation in multiple sports is associated with:

  • Better overall motor and athletic development
  • Longer athletic careers
  • Increased ability to transfer sports skills
  • Higher levels of motivation and confidence in sports
  • Better decision-making, pattern recognition, and increased creativity

It may also come as a surprise and conflict with popular assumptions, but most athletes who play at the collegiate level have histories in multiple sports rather than just one. A study of nearly 300 NCAA Division I male and female athletes found that 88% participated in an average of 2-3 sports as children, and 70% did not specialize in a single sport until after 12 years of age.

If College Scholarship is the Goal – Think About Multi-Sport Participation

It’s also important for parents and coaches to recognize that only about 2% of high school athletes receive scholarships to play at the collegiate level. This should serve as a gentle reminder that the odds of achieving elite-level success are extremely slim, which means single-sport specialization could be for naught in many cases. Therefore, most young athletes should be encouraged to participate in several sports and activities throughout their childhood. For those that do decide to specialize in one sport, here are a few tips to avoid overuse injuries and burnout:

  • Weekly participation (in hours) should not exceed the athlete’s age
  • Athletes should take one or two days to rest each week, as well as one or more longer breaks (up to one month) throughout the year
  • Athletes who engage in more than 16 hours of intense training per week should be monitored for signs of burnout and overtraining
  • Encourage children to communicate clearly about any pain or discomfort

If you’re concerned with your child’s risk for sport specialization, Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy can help.

Call us at 559-733-2478 (Visalia) or 559-582-1027 (Hanford) for more information or schedule an appointment today.

Basketball Injury Prevention Program

Basketball Injuries Are Extremely Common, But A Warm-Up Program May Help Mitigate This Risk

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the country, and its popularity continues to grow as athletes are drawn to its fast pace and evolving nature. Unfortunately, one downside of this increased participation in basketball is that it also comes with a higher rate of injuries in a sport that’s already known to be high-risk.

Basketball Results in A Lot of Stress on the Knees & Ankles

To play basketball competitively, players must move at fast speeds and display great agility and coordination on the court. Though every position requires a different set of skills, each player needs to run, jump, make quick changes in direction, and accelerate and decelerate with and without the ball. Though these rapid movements are integral to the game, they also put competitive players at risk for injury.

Basketball Injuries are Common – Ankle & Knee Problems Happen the Most

Injuries can occur in several regions of the body, but the ankle is by far the area injured most. Ankle sprains account for about 25% of all injuries in basketball, which makes them a major concern for basketball players of all ages. Ankle sprains occur any time the foot twists or rolls beyond its normal range of motion, which is usually from a player landing on another player’s foot wrong or twisting the ankle when making a cut. The knees are another problem area in basketball players due to the running, jumping, and cutting motions involved. Jumper’s knee and injuries to the meniscus and ligaments—including the ACL—are all very common in all age groups of basketball players. Ankle sprains, ACL tears, and other injuries can all cause basketball players to be sidelined for an extended period, and in some cases, to miss an entire season.

Study Monitors Players on 31 Basketball Teams for Two Seasons

To help mitigate this risk, many basketball teams have now incorporated injury-prevention programs into their routine, often with successful outcomes. This is exemplified in a recently published study, which highlights the type of impact a program like this can have on young basketball players.

For the study, players on 31 high school or club basketball teams—307 male and female players aged 11 to 18 years—were monitored for two seasons. During the first season, players only participated in a standard of practice warm-up. During the second season, all players participated in a training warm-up program called the Surveillance in High school and community sport to Reduce (SHRed) Injuries Basketball, which was designed to reduce ankle and knee injuries in youth basketball players. The SHRed Injuries Basketball program lasted 10 minutes and consisted of 13 exercises, which were intended to improve aerobics, agility, strength, and balance. A log was then kept of all injuries that occurred during these two seasons and comparisons were made between them to tease out any notable differences.

Study Results Demonstrate that Ankle Sprains & Knee Injuries Can be Significantly Reduced

Results showed that the SHRed Injuries Basketball program was protective of both knee and ankle injuries, as the rate of injuries was 36% lower in season 2 than season 1. This type of program can easily be incorporated into a warm-up routine, and based on these findings, it may yield dividends and keep young basketball players on the court injury-free for longer.

We’re Here to Help

At Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy, we can provide assistance with an injury-prevention program for your basketball team, or if an injury does occur, we can guide players through a comprehensive rehabilitation program that will get them back on the court as quickly and safely as possible.

If You’ve Already Suffered a Sports Injury – We Can Help You Get Back in the Game

Call us at 559-733-2478 (Visalia) or 559-582-1027 (Hanford) for more information or schedule an appointment today.

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