Ready to see how physical therapy can help relieve pain, promote recovery, or just generally improve your life? Residents of East Orange, New Jersey, should look no further than Twin Boro Physical Therapy in West Orange to get started today.
With 51 convenient locations across 16 New Jersey counties, Twin Boro Physical Therapy is the largest private physical therapy practice in the state of New Jersey. Our highly experienced therapists, many of whom have over 25 years of experience, are proud to treat each and every one of our patients with dedication, commitment, compassion, and respect.
What Are the Most Common Sports Injuries?
Spending all week at the computer and then immediately playing an intense sports game can take a toll on the body. What may seem like “not that much” physical exertion can be over-taxing your muscles, ligaments, and joints. It’s important to take the necessary steps to prepare your body for physical activity and promote longevity. If you do this, you’re much more likely to be able to make your favorite activities life-long hobbies! The most common injuries we see from sports are:
- Ankle sprain
- Hamstring strain
- Shin splits
- Knee injuries
- Tennis elbow
- Groin pulls
Overwhelmingly, the most common sports injuries are strains and sprains. But how do we prevent these?
A Guide to Strains and Sprains
Sprains are injuries to the ligaments, which are the connecting tissue between bone to bone. When you forcefully put stress or stretch on these ligaments, it can cause them to partially deform or tear.
Strains, on the other hand, are injuries to the muscles or tendons, which connect muscles to bones. This is commonly referred to as “pulling a muscle” and occurs when over-exertion of a muscle causes a tear either in the muscle itself or the connecting tendon.
Normally, tendons, muscles, and ligaments can return to their original shape after lengthening. It is only when they are pulled too far out of their typical range that injuries such as sprains and strains occur.
Some sports injuries are unavoidable, but many can be prevented or limited through using proper sports practices. Some of our top tips to prevent sprains and strains are:
- Work out throughout the week. Not only will this benefit your health overall, but it’ll help prevent you from getting injured during weekend outings. It’s important to condition your body for the types of activities you want to do, and this is done through consistency. Gently working out the muscle groups during the week that you plan to use on the weekend is a great way to prevent injury.
- Warm-up every time you play a sport. Warming up the muscles and increasing blood flow will help your muscles and soft tissues be more resilient to stretches and stresses. Many people skip this step, but it is perhaps the most important way to avoid injuries.
- Avoid overuse injuries by stopping when you are fatigued. When you are tired, you are less able to use “protective mechanisms” and protect your body from becoming injured. When this happens, your form will decrease and you will likely put more stress or torque on fragile joints and soft tissues.
Contact Us
Ready to begin? Residents of East Orange, New Jersey, should reach out to Twin Boro Physical Therapy in West Orange to get started today. We can be reached by calling 862-520-4027 or by visiting our website. We look forward to getting started!
