"Injuries Are Just a Part of Sports"

Dr. Q
Feb 24, 2021
3 min read

It is a misconception that playing sports will inevitably lead to injury. This may be true of high contact sports, however in general, most sports related injuries are due to overuse and in many cases are preventable. With proper evaluation and training techniques the risk of injury can be dramatically reduced. Here are a few key points all athletes and parents of young athletes should follow to reduce the risk of sports related injuries.

IDENTIFY POTENTIAL DEFICITS – This can be accomplished thru a pre-injury evaluation with a licensed Physical Therapist qualified to perform one. The evaluation will assess the athlete’s strength, flexibility, areas at risk, and current deficits. The therapist can then develop an action plan specific to that athlete’s needs in order to create a better physical balance to protect the body from the stress of sports
ADDRESS DEFICITS – The evaluation will show areas of strength, weakness, and those at risk for injury. A good balance of strength and flexibility can dramatically decrease the stress load on joints, tendons, and ligaments thus resulting in a decreased probability of injury. Your Physical Therapist can develop an individualized program based on the results of your pre-injury evaluation.

Strength – increase strength in weak areas that may be prone to overuse, especially related you specific sport and position.
Flexibility – being strong is very important in sports, however without appropriate muscular flexibility, there is a dramatic increase in load and stress placed on muscles and bone. This is especially true with young athletes who are still growing – the imbalance between muscle strength and flexibility can lead to career ending injuries before the child even gets to high school.

REST – Many athletes and parents of young athletes want to play every day or in every game with the misconception that greater play time equals greater physical capabilities. Our bodies need rest, especially when placed under great physical demands. Muscles, joint, tendons, and ligaments undergo trauma when used at a high intensity. It is essential to allow your body appropriate rest so that it is able to repair itself to be able to continue to perform at a high level without placing yourself at risk of sustaining an injury.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY – It is so important for athletes to be aware of what is going on with their bodies and to make adjustments according to how they feel. If you are in pain, you should NEVER try to play through the pain. Our bodies feel pain for a reason, it is really a warning sign that should not be ignored. If certain areas of your body are in pain they do not have the capability of performing at the optimal level for that activity. This results in other muscles or body parts taking up the load placing abnormal stress on those structures – the perfect recipe for an injury.
VARIETY – Athletes have become more sport specific at a younger age. The problem with this is that they are consistently using the same muscles in the same way. Engaging in different physical activities allows for different types of muscle recruitment and also gives overused muscles a break.

If you have any further concerns or would like more information, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Q's PT.