Sports injuries occur during activities, whether one is playing sports, exercising or working in a demanding physical environment. When an injury happens, it's important to see a physical therapist in Cheyenne, WY. Red flags include severe swelling, pain or numbness, aches, or if you cannot put weight on a certain area. When you experience this pain throughout your day, it's crucial to see your local doctor have it fixed so it does't become a long-term injury. Learn how to prevent sports injuries on the NIH website, and read about some of the top ones below.
Torn ACL
“ACL†stands for anterior cruciate ligament, which connects your leg bone to your knee. This type of injury often occurs when you quickly change directions or something hits the side of your knee extremely hard, which causes the ligament to tear. Upon this hit or change occurring, athletes experience pain and knee swelling. Some may also feel their knee is not stable, and as time goes on, there is a loss of full range motion, additional pain, and discomfort. While surgery is sometimes required, for others, physical therapy can help to get you back to normal in a few months.
Hip Flexor Strain
Hip flexor muscles help your legs or knees move up. People who do not stretch or warm up before exercise or playing sports are especially prone to this injury. When you tear or stretch these muscles too much, you can get an injury. Usually this happens when athletes have a quick change in direction or sudden movement. When the injury happens, you may experience pain, bruising, swelling or spasms in the area. After this injury occurs, stay off the area, ice the injury and take pain medication. If the injury does not heal, that is your key to look into physical therapy in Cheyenne, WY to help you solve the problem.
Shoulder Impingement and Rotator Cuff Damage
The rotator cuff muscles hold the shoulder together and manage the shoulder’s movements. When these muscles experience continuous weight or stress in a straight or upward motion, the head of the joint can become loose. Tendons can become swollen and very painful. If you experience this pain, no matter if it is minor or severe, talk to your doctor. They can assess the severity and see if medicine can resolve the issue or if physical therapy or surgery is needed.
Pulled Muscle
This injury is common to many who have played sports or even just have done strenuous work. When a muscle is pulled or stretched suddenly, the muscle may feel tired or weak, and it may not be flexible. It can also fall. This injury usually happens when one fails to stretch or warm up properly. Usually with this type of injury, an anti-inflammatory can resolve the issue. However, if time passes and the injury worsens, see your doctor.
If you experience an injury while exercising, playing sports, or through strenuous work, North Platte Physical Therapy’s premier services can help you get back to quality you are used to. With over 3.5 million injuries each year, you need a go-to therapist to help you resolve your issue. It is best to see a doctor as soon as possible to get back to normal. We can help with athletic training and treatments to help with injuries. Learn more about our sports medicine services today!