Fall Sport Injury Prevention

Staying competitive in sports and not getting injured may seem like an oxymoron, while some join a sports team to feel like they are part of something, others genuinely enjoy the competitive aspects of sports. The conflict with wanting to remain competitive and trying to stay safe is apparent, since avoiding taking risks is not going to give anyone an edge over the competition. Even when avoiding risks there is still some probable chance of injury, so the question remains: is there any consistent way to prevent injuries?

The basic admonishment against over-training is in preventing “burn out”, or to put it in more understandable terms not allowing for recovery periods between training sessions. Not to promote mutiny within sports teams, but your coach is not you and cannot vouch for your physical well being better than you can. if you say nothing, your coach will assume that you can handle it. Being reliable is what most aspiring competitive athletes want, they want their position on the team to remain intact and refuse the notion of admitting pain, thus leading to degrading performance. In regards to training when you put a strain on your muscles they become damaged then reform as new proteins which increase in thickness, this is why people become stronger as they train. There is a recuperation period for the muscles to reform, however, if one continues to tear at their muscles relentlessly they could incur serious injury with no option of time for your body to properly form new muscles.

Plenty of fear mongering so far, right? American training ethos is primarily based on masking pain and stacking on heavier training, that’s what separates the great from the meek. Whining to your coach may get you time to recuperate, but it’s not earning you any favors. The sad reality is that if you are competitive you will probably sustain an injury. The best way to make sure an injury does not get the better of you is through physical therapy and if you live on Long Island,  New York and think you need to sift through red-tape to receive a referral from your physician you would be wrong.

There are sports orientated physical therapists in Long Island and Island Sports Physical Therapy has six locations in Nesconset, Glen Cove, Coram, Huntington, East Northport, and East Meadow. Island Sports Physical Therapy offers special training programs for injured athletes so that they may continue their training upkeep despite having injuries. Of course there are rehabilitation services offered for more severe injuries, but for those who cannot afford to let their game up the special training is certainly worth a look into.  

Physical Therapy in East Northport

Compartment Syndrome is a very rare condition, which sees less than 20,000 cases in the United States per year. Compartment Syndrome can be very dangerous and very painful. It happens when there is pressure buildup from internal bleeding or swelling of the tissues. A deeper look into what happens is that blood or fluid fills a compartment where a wall of tissue called the fascia struggles to expand because it isn’t meant to. In emergency situations, surgery is required to relieve the pressure buildup. Compartment Syndrome may be caused by a broken arm or leg or by the actual treatment of the fracture, whether it be the casting or the surgery itself.

Whether there is surgery involved or not, a physical therapist will play an important role. They will help you to regain your range of motions in your arm, leg, knee, or whatever else it is that has compartment syndrome. The physical therapist may help you gain strength in your core so that you are better stabilized as your arms and legs are in motion. The physical therapist may also use techniques such as massaging and may also use tools like ultrasound to help improve the flexibility of tissue and speed recovery.

If you are looking for a physical therapist on Long Island who can help you recover from your compartment syndrome, using Island Sports Physical Therapy is the right choice. Island Sports Physical Therapy has six locations in total, making it easier than ever to get to one of the branches. They have one located in each of Nesconset, Coram, East Northport, Huntington, East Meadow, and Glen Cove. The physical therapists at Island Sports Physical Therapy are top notch and will do everything they can to help you properly recover and excel after compartment syndrome surgery.

Benefits of PT For People Over 65

Usually, when people think of physical therapy, they think of people addressing injuries they may have suffered through playing sports or rebuilding muscle tone after surgery. However, people ages 65 and older are starting to participate in physical therapy just to stay in shape, prevent diseases, and other medical ailments like arthritis, Parkinson’s, or to simply enhance balance and strength.

Geriatric Rehabilitation is booming as it is recommended by many to “fight aging”. Although no one can literally fight to age, geriatric rehabilitation definitely helps to make older people feel more nimble. It is said that by the age of 65, just about everyone has arthritis in their spine, it’s just a matter of whether they experience symptoms or not. With geriatric rehabilitation, seniors can combat this arthritis with the assistance of a trained professional, rather than medicinal methods which can be harmful to your body. Rehabilitation’s main focus is to allow the elderly to gain and maintain their independence as they can get around unassisted and take care of themselves. Life expectancy around the world is increasing due to geriatric rehabilitation. This is because it directly affects a person’s frailty, speed, and ability to live independently, which are all important factors in life expectancy, especially as one gets older.

The physical therapists at Island Sports Physical Therapy can help with geriatric rehabilitation, as they address the unique physical and medical problems associated with aging. The geriatric rehabilitation offered at Island Sports Physical Therapy helps blood-pressure control, diabetes control, enhancing muscle strength, enhancing balance, and the prevention of osteoporosis. Choosing Island Sports Physical Therapy would be a wise choice as they not only direct the geriatric rehabilitation, but they also incorporate aspects of teaching, prevention, fitness, and wellness into the geriatric rehabilitation program.

Knee Injuries

One of the most common types of knee pain in athletes, active teenagers, older adults, and people who perform physical labor is patellofemoral pain syndrome. Patellofemoral pain occurs at the front of the knee, in and around the kneecap. Physical therapy is one option that can be customized to fit any person’s situation to help fix and prevent future knee pain.

The first step in determining which type of treatment would be most effective is the evaluation of the patient. After the evaluation, the physical therapist analyzes the results and finds what would be the most successful exercise and rehabilitation program specific for each patient. The strengthening exercises that are used for the knee are targeted at the hip, knee and the ankle.

The physical therapist will continue to work with each patient to keep them active and to maintain their fitness level necessary for their recovery. If it appears that the knee pain is being caused by the alignment and position of a patient’s foot or arch, shoe inserts called orthosis may be an option. The orthosis can lessen the stress to the knee that is caused by excessive rotation as well as the impact that occurs during walking or running.

Two common treatments that may be suggested by the physical therapist to help protect the knees are strength training and functional exercises and electrical stimulation of the knee. Strength training and functional exercises are designed to increase the strength, endurance, and function of the leg muscle as well as support the knee and reduce the stress to the knee joint. Electrical stimulation of the knee is used to increase the strength of the leg muscles and to reduce knee pain. This is done through electrical impulses generated by a device and delivered through electrodes to stimulate the quadriceps femoris; the primary muscle that supports the knee.

Although there are other options to protect the knees from injury, physical therapy is a cost-effective treatment that improves flexibility and relieves pain. Physical therapy reduces the need for surgery and prescription drugs and gives patients the opportunity to partake in a recovery plan that is modified to their needs.