Sports Physical Therapy, Indianapolis
Your Partner for Optimal Performance
What is Sports Physical Therapy?
Sports physical therapy is a subspecialty of Orthopaedics that deals with the sports injury assessment, treatment, sports injury rehabilitation and sports injury prevention of the sporting population, be it professional or recreational. This process of rehabilitation, it must be noted, is more sports-specific to the athlete’s sport, rather than generalized training.
Common Sports-Specific Injuries
Neck Pain: Whiplash, acute muscle strains and ligament sprains, Chronic pain from repetitive wrongful movement, wry neck & cervicogenic headaches, radiculopathy causing radiating pain into the arm, Disc and facet joint injury.
Shoulder Pain: Rotator cuff impingement & tendinosis, Bicepital tendonitis, Shoulder joint instability, SICK scapula, Posterior joint tightness causing difficulty, Pectoralis major muscle strain.
Low Back Pain: Spondylolisthesis, Acute sprain & strain, Radiculopathy/Sciatica, Disc disease and facet joint degeneration, Pelvic fracture.
Hip Pain: FAI-femoroacetabular impingement, Labral tears, TFL/ITB syndrome, Trochanteric bursitis, groin strain/sports hernia.
Knee Pain: Medial/Lateral collateral ligament sprain, Quadriceps/hamstrings strain, ACL injury, Patellar tendonitis, Patellofemoral pain, Osteoarthritis
Ankle/Foot pain: Medial ankle sprain- less common; lateral sprain- common, Tendinopathy of the posterior tibial tendon and peroneal tendons, Achilles tendonitis, Tarsal tunnel syndrome, Plantar fasciitis, Fat pad inflammation.
What does a sports physical therapist do?
A sports physical therapist is more adept at employing the principles of biomechanics. They usually work in coordination with a Sports Medicine doctor and athletic trainer.
They help with injury prevention. This is perhaps the most important aspect since it is easier to help an athlete prior to injury rather than after. The sports PT can help identify wrongful movement pattern than can potentially cause pain or injury later on, modify an activity or may be a change in the foot wear as preventive measures.
They can help with rehabilitation after an injury. Depending on the injury and the sport involved in, the sports PT can help re-train the athlete through the different phases of rehabilitation so as to enable recovering activity, optimizing movement and enhancing performance specific to that sport.
They help with return to sport. Depending on the injury and the sport involved in, the sports PT can help re-train the athlete through the different phases of rehabilitation so as to enable recovering activity, optimizing movement and enhancing performance specific to that sport.
How to find a sports physical therapist?
A sports physical therapist usually is one that has completed a residency program in sports physical therapy. He/she may possess, after passing the board exam, the title of SCS, a certified sports clinical specialist or may also have a FAAOMPT title after completing fellowship training in sports.
At Victor Physical Therapy, our sports rehabilitation services are geared toward athletes of all levels. Whether you’re a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, we provide specialized care to improve performance, prevent injuries, and promote quick recovery.