Do you believe sports medicine may be beneficial for you? If you live or work in Manahawkin, NJ, look no further than Twin Boro Physical Therapy to get started today. Our experts will guide you through the process from start to finish so you can feel confident in your care.
Athletes of all ages and ability levels can benefit from sports medicine. At Twin Boro Physical Therapy, we understand that minimal recovery times are important to reduce strength and skill loss. We utilize the latest evidence-based methods to ensure our athletes are on the most optimal road to recovery.
Many of our skilled experts have over 25 years of experience. This experience, alongside the latest research in sports rehabilitation, has led us to be voted the best private physical therapy practice in the state. We are dedicated to continual improvement, and our outcome-driven approaches have helped sports medicine patients across the state.
Sports Medicine for Gymnasts
Most Common Injuries
Because of the nature of the sport and the constant risk of learning new acrobatic skills, injuries in gymnastics are common and can affect any part of the body. The most common injuries we see are:
- Wrist, hand, and finger fractures
- Cartilage injuries
- ACL tears
- Knee and back pain
- Spinal fractures
- Herniated spinal discs
- Achilles tendon strains/tears
- Ankle injuries
- Shoulder instability
- Nerve injuries
- Concussions
Most Common Injury Causes
To avoid injuries, one of the most important safety lessons gymnasts are taught is how to fall correctly, especially to avoid head, neck, and spinal damage. However, this is not always possible. Common causes of injuries include:
- Landing awkwardly
- Missing footing on an apparatus
- Overuse injuries
- Insufficient strength or flexibility
- Imbalances of strength
- Loss of balance
Overuse injuries are very common as a result of repetitive movements and practice. Gymnasts often practice for 4-5 hours many days of the week, and this can easily lead to wear and tear on certain areas of the body. Beyond this, gymnasts often have a “good side” that they favor for twisting skills. This can lead to strength and flexibility injuries, as well as overuse injuries on this side. Gymnasts need to pay special attention to strength and flexibility on the side that is not used as frequently.
How to Prevent Injuries
To prevent injuries, strength training and careful skill progression are both very important. This helps to ensure that the body (core, arms, legs, and back) is strong enough to withstand the stresses of the skill. A strong core is especially important to provide a good base for twisting movements and stability, especially on the balance beam.
Sessions aimed at strength and flexibility should be incorporated into every practice session. However, rest is equally as important! If you don’t give your body time to heal from the microdamage of each intense training session, your muscles will not be able to grow stronger and your coordination will lessen.
Ready to get started?
Sports medicine can not only help you recover from an injury but help you prevent injuries from occurring. If you feel as though our skilled experts can help, and you live or work in Manahawkin, NJ, look no further than Twin Boro Physical Therapy for expert care. We can be reached by calling 609-978-2228 or visiting our website.
