Sports Physical Therapy

With the ever- increasing population participating in sports, both creational and professional, the need for a physical therapist is obvious. Sports physical therapy comes under the umbrella of Orthopedics that deals with treating orthopedic conditions in the sporting population. However, these are more specific in nature, in terms of rehabilitation as the individual needs to be trained according to the sport that he is involved in. Also, there is a component of cardiovascular system training to facilitate the development of adequate oxygen intake and distribution for the athlete in order to sustain that sport.

Neck pain: With seven bones stacked one over the other and over forty muscles involved in movement, the neck mobility comes at the cost of stability and hence the injuries.

The neck is a highly mobile structure that helps the athlete to easily make adaptations to his environment to meet the challenges of the game. This may be, making sudden quick turns during a basketball pass, having stability of the neck during a head- butt of a soccer ball or just making subtle adjustments during archery.

Common causes of Neck pain

• Whiplash in contact sports
• Acute muscle strains and ligament strains
• Chronic pain from repetitive wrongful movement patterns
• Wry neck & Cervicogenic headaches
• Radiculopathy causing radiating pain into the arm
• Disc and facet joint injury

Shoulder Pain: Injury from a fall or a collision during contact sports can be the cause of acute pain, while repetitive overhead activities as in tennis or swimming can lead to chronic pain. However, the mostly seen painful shoulder problems stem from issues with motor control leading to faulty movement patterns.

Common causes of 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: With a multitude of structures capable of causing pain, this is a complex area to treat. Back pain in sports can occur from direct trauma as in mixed martial arts or other contact sport or from a fall. However, many other causes of pain occur from repetitive movements leading to tissue damage. Repeated backward bending as in gymnastics can lead to spondylolysis, or heavy lifting without adequate back support may lead to stress or compression fractures.

Common causes of low back pain

• Spondylolisthesis
• Acute sprain & strain
• Radiculopathy/Sciatica
• Disc disease and facet joint degeneration
• Pelvic fracture

Hip Pain: Although the hip is a considerably stable joint it can also become involved in causing pain in the sporting population. Painful conditions of the hip most likely occur as a result of structural differences in the joint as well as lack of adequate stability from the muscles.

Common causes of hip pain

• FAI-femoroacetabular impingement
• Labral tears
• TFL/ITB syndrome
• Trochanteric bursitis
• Muscle strain/sports hernia

Knee Pain: Perhaps the most complex joint in the body, an acute knee injury can have severe consequences to the athlete. Sports involving cutting and sudden turning/twisting movements are the likely causes for injury. Adequate time for healing and proper rehabilitation tailored to the athlete’s sport will help in returning back to the game.

Common causes of   knee pain

• MCL sprain
• Medial meniscus tear
• ACL sprain/tear
• Quadriceps/Patellar tendon strain
• Bursitis
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome

Foot & Ankle Pain: This is another frequently involved joint in sporting injuries. Considered to be Mother Nature’s amazing feat of architecture the foot and ankle joints take on loads that is several times its body weight and becomes vulnerable to damage.

Common causes of foot & ankle 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

We will help you recover well and get you back to your sport. My care will be tailored to your needs.