What is Sports Medicine?

Sports medicine involves diagnosing, treating, and preventing medical injuries or conditions in individuals who are active in sports. Sports medicine focuses on health issues that are caused during or by playing sports. While sports medicine sounds like something only professional athletes need, it is also beneficial in treating children who play sports in schools or as extracurricular activities as well as adults who play sports recreationally. Sports medicine focuses on helping people reach their body’s maximum capabilities so that they can perform their best in the safest way possible. When an injury happens or a condition develops, sports medicine focuses on treating these issues so the patient can return their original health and continue to play their sport.

What is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy involves diagnosing, treating, and preventing injuries or conditions through physical methods like exercise, massage, and physical training rather than through medications or surgery. Physical therapy involves healing and strengthening the body to increase functionality. Physical therapists understand how the body’s muscles, tendons, ligaments, and tissue work together and create customized plans for each patient’s needs. For example, if someone needs to increase flexibility in their knee, a physical therapist will customize a physical therapy plan made up of stretches, exercises, and massages to promote flexibility. Physical therapy is a great treatment option for individuals after surgery or injury or for individuals with conditions such as arthritis. Medicine and rest can only do so much. When the body has healed enough, physical therapy is an added treatment method that helps the body go back to its normal functionality by increasing flexibility, strengthening muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and building endurance.

Physical Therapy in Sports Medicine

Most individuals who play sports have likely had some sort of physical therapy during their lives. Physical therapy is a crucial component in healing individuals who play sports because of its focus on strengthening and increasing flexibility in the body which helps individuals perform better in the field. In fact, many athletes do physical therapy in order to prevent injuries from happening rather than waiting to take part in it after an injury takes place. It’s important to understand that physical therapy in sports medicine is not the same as other types of physical therapy for post-surgery or post-injury individuals. Sports medicine is a specialized field of medicine and similar to it, physical therapy in sports medicine is a specialized therapy. Expert physical therapists who specialize in sports medicine understand the nuances of active individuals, the nature of sports related injuries, conditions, and surgeries, and are skilled in helping individuals heal and strengthen themselves. In sports medicine, physical therapists focus on healing the individual so they can go back to their game as well as teaching them how to prevent re-injury. They employ sports-specific training specific to the individual and his or her sport.

Call Therapy Plus today for more information on how we can help you! (828) 245-5003