Sports medicine is essential in injury treatment and is equally important in injury prevention. Drawing on various disciplines, practitioners help athletes stay healthy while participating in their favorite sports. Through careful evaluation, training, and education, sports medicine practitioners help prevent injuries so you can keep playing.
Sports medicine is an area of healthcare concerned with preventing and treating athletic-related injuries. Care includes treating injuries, preventing reinjury, and overall injury prevention, as well as keeping the body healthy and efficient while playing a sport. Sports medicine practitioners can include chiropractors, physical therapists, nutritionists, and athletic trainers.
Muscle and ligament strains and tears resulting from improper movements and technique are among the primary injuries that sports medicine practitioners help to prevent. In addition, practitioners will assist in preventing overuse and stress injuries. Sports medicine practitioners will also help athletes prevent injuries related to overexertion, heat exhaustion, and lack of protective equipment.
From analyzing each athlete's unique challenges to providing therapy and education, sports medicine offers a comprehensive approach to help prevent those involved in athletics from getting hurt.
Many have heard of PPEs, or preparticipation physical evaluations, that student-athletes often must complete to participate in institutional athletics. These and similar exams are crucial in injury prevention for several reasons. A physician can determine an athlete's fitness to play a sport safely and make patient-specific recommendations on staying safe from injury. This may include ensuring the athlete knows what equipment is necessary to protect themselves during their chosen sport.
Once a practitioner has determined specific issues that make a patient prone to injury, they can help them get the tools and knowledge to prevent it. For example, a physical therapist can suggest strength training, corrective exercises, and other types of movement work that will help them avoid injury as well as strengthen the body against overexertion. This includes educating the athlete on proper stretching warm and cool-down protocols. Though there is no 100% guarantee of injury prevention, these efforts reduce the risk as much as possible and may lessen the severity of injury if one occurs.
The human body does not work well when the athlete does not drink enough water or follow a proper diet, especially when extra demands are placed on the body. Lacking proper hydration and nutrition can make an athlete more prone to injury. Therefore, a significant part of sports medicine helps ensure the athlete receives adequate nutrition and hydration to support muscle repair, immune function, and overall performance. Proper nutrition and hydration not only improve the athlete's overall health but also aid in preventing fatigue, muscle cramps, and other hindrances to athletic performance,
Orange County Physical Therapy OCPT is dedicated to preventing and treating injury so your body can function at its best. Athletics can be fun and beneficial but carry risks we can help you mitigate. Call our team today to learn more about how sports medicine can help keep you in the game.
Request an appointment here: https://ocptclinic.com or call Orange County Physical Therapy OCPT at (949) 299-0297 for an appointment in our Newport Beach office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Sports Medicine in Newport Beach, CA.
Cupping therapy is an ancient healing practice rooted in traditional Chinese, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern medicine. It involves placing cups on the skin to create suction, which increases blood flow, reduces inflammation, and facilitates healing. This technique can be used in physical therapy as a complementary treatment in your pain management plan.Cupping therapy, also known…
Tendinitis can interfere with sports, hobbies, and everyday life. Although a physical therapist can treat and manage this condition, prevention is always the most effective treatment. Following a few tips and tricks for healthy tendons can go a long way toward preventing tendinitis.Tendons are the thick chords of connective tissue that attach bone to muscle.…
Carpal tunnel treatment decompresses the median nerve to restore strength and mobility to the wrist and hand, alleviating associated pain and discomfort. A physical therapist will personalize treatment for each patient. However, knowing the basics of carpal tunnel syndrome and how a physical therapist treats it can make the process smoother.According to Johns Hopkins Medicine,…
Most have heard about rehab physical therapy. But what about prehab physical therapy? This lesser-known form of body conditioning aims to prevent the recovery process from being prolonged or strenuous after invasive surgery. Take a closer look at the value of visiting a physical therapist for prehab or prehabilitation.Prehab physical therapy is considered a preventative…
Call our office to learn more about our services or to schedule a consultation.
Tendinitis is uncomfortable, so it is best to prevent it when possible.
A physical therapist will personalize treatment for each patient. However, knowing the basics of carpal…
Take a closer look at the value of visiting a physical therapist for prehab or…
If you are struggling with tendinitis, call our team to find out how we can…
Recovering from injury or surgery takes patience and determination. Working with a physical therapist offers…
