Physical Therapy in Suffolk County

Competitive rowing is a sport that has grown significantly in popularity over the past several years, both with boating enthusiasts, and the laymen who see the appeal of getting in better physical shape while hanging out on a lake without actually setting foot in the water. This increase in popularity has lead to an increase in the amount of research being done on how rowers can best prepare their bodies for the physical demands of the sport in order to make sure that they are the best competitors they can be.

The most common injuries sustained by rowers during training or competition affect the back and the knees. At Island Sports Physical Therapy, our years of experience providing sport-specific therapy to athletes all across Suffolk county has given us a firm understanding of the “hard work” that rowers put into their performance. Rest assured that our staff is committed to putting the same level of hard work into making sure that their performance does not suffer for too long as a result of their injuries.

Low back pain in competitive rowers is caused by the repetitive motion of the rowing itself and can range in severity from sore muscle tissue to a herniated disc in the spine. Our highly qualified staff of physical therapists is always prepared to offer treatment through manual therapy, as well as through a series of stretches meant to improve the flexibility of the hip and leg muscles so that the back is not strained to the point that the pain re-emerges.

Suffolk County’s competitive rowers typically suffer from knee pain as a result of the great amount of pressure that is placed on their joints during a race. The two most common of these injuries are chondromalacia patellae and ITB friction syndrome; Chondromalacia patellae, the deterioration of the cartilage at the underside of the kneecap, will be treated by our physical therapists through quadricep, adductor, and abductor exercises, which will strengthen the surrounding muscles and prevent misalignment of the kneecap. ITB friction syndrome, the inflammation of the iliotibial band as it rubs against the outside of the knee, is most commonly treated with cooling therapy to reduce inflammation, and stretching and strengthening of the hip muscles to improve balance.

If you are a competitive rower living in Suffolk County and have been suffering from pain in any of the areas spoken about above, feel free to contact us today so we can get you feeling better than ever and back on the water as soon as possible.