Are You at Risk for Overuse Injuries?

Overuse injuries are different than normal, run-of-the-mill injuries, such as broken bones or sprained ankles. Those injuries fall into the category of acute injuries; that is, injuries that manifest as the result of an event, be it a fall, a car accident, or simply moving the wrong way. Overuse injuries are harder to be aware of, as they do not happen as the result of an identifiable event. These injuries occur over time from repetitive use without allowing the body necessary time to heal. Some common examples of overuse injuries include:

Tennis Elbow
Swimmer’s Shoulder
Jumper’s Knee
Achilles Tendinitis
Shin Splints
Runner’s Knee

All of these injuries are the result of overusing the injured area and not adequately preparing the body to cope with this heavy use. At Island Sports Physical Therapy in Huntington, we know how to work with overuse injuries and help you start to recover faster.

Think of your body’s physical health as a bank account: every time you withdraw money (use your body), you need to deposit money (rest) before you withdraw again to keep things even. If you withdraw money faster than you can deposit it, you will eventually go broke (get an overuse injury). Though there are other factors that play into the development of overuse injuries, this simplified model can help you to understand what’s going on in your body at a basic level.

Our physical therapists in our Huntington physical therapy clinic can help you to start “depositing money” quicker and more effectively. We will show you exercises, stretches, and will prescribe a treatment plan that will help you make the most of your recovery time to help you get back to a healthy state as soon as possible. Pay us at Island Sports Physical Therapy a visit to our offices in Huntington and all over Long Island! We look forward to seeing you!