Sports Physical Therapy Tips on Preventing Water Sports Injuries

Summers in New Jersey are pretty amazing, aren’t they?   Whether you’re water skiing on Lake Hopatcong, surfing in the Atlantic Ocean or swimming at the local pool club, your options for water sports are pretty much endless. But, no matter what summer sport you or your children choose, unfortunately, injuries can occur. While we may not be able to prevent injuries completely, thankfully we can take steps to decrease your risk of injury. The sports physical therapy experts at Twin Boro Physical Therapy in NJ will guide you through what you need to know about preventing sports related injuries and how treatments can help you get back to your activities if injuries do occur. That includes getting back to water sports while conditions remain suitable for being outside in the surf or on the lake.

No matter your level of play: recreation, weekend warrior, competitive athlete, you will experience wins, you will experience losses…and you may experience injuries along the way. Fortunately, there are some steps active individuals can take to stay healthy in their summer sport of choice.

Swimming Injuries

Sports injuries are common among competitive swimmers. According to a study of NCAA swimmers, male swimmers experience an average injury rate of 4 injuries per 1000 hours of training and female swimmers experience an injury rate of 3.78 injuries per 1000 hours of training.

But it’s not just elite athletes training thousands of hours who are at risk. Old, young and in between, amateur summer sports enthusiasts are just as likely to suffer injuries. Among the most frequent injuries among swimmers include shoulder pain, knee injuries and low back pain.

Swimming Sports Physical Therapy Tips

• Cold muscles will be more prone to injuries, so remember to start your swimming session with a brief warm up to get the blood flowing first.
• Once you’re in the water, make every effort to practice good stroke technique. Ask a coach to watch your mechanics so you can correct any flaws before it leads to pain. Once you feel pain, it might alter your technique even more, causing the injury to become worse.
• Use sports physical therapy prehab exercises on a regular basis such as strengthening the rotator cuff and core muscles. This can help to decrease the chances of suffering from overuse problems.

Water Skiing and Wakeboarding Injuries

Due to rapid boat acceleration, water skiing and wakeboarding tend to have high potential for injuries, especially if you or your child has a pre-existing condition. Leading the injury diagnoses for water skiers include strains and sprains to the lower extremities including Achilles tendon ruptures. Wakeboarders are more likely to experience trauma to the head and shoulders, with injuries such as concussions and shoulder dislocations being more common.

Water Skiing and Wakeboarding Sports Physical Therapy Tips

• Sore muscles are to be expected when increasing any level of physical activity. It’s important to listen to your body and know when to rest and ask for help from a sports physical therapist if you are experiencing persistent pain.
• Reduce your risk of water sports injuries by participating in regular sports physical therapy training such as balance drills, resistance exercises and a proper warm-up protocol.
• Due to the high risk of concussions in wakeboarding, wear appropriate safety gear including an approved helmet.

Find Out the Root Cause with Professional Sports Physical Therapy

Depending on the severity and location of your injury, if it’s not getting any better, consider going to see a sports physical therapy professional. Once the physical therapist identifies the root cause of the problem, a plan of care can be established, taking steps to correct the impairments and decrease the risk of you developing a more serious injury.

Come see one of our sports physical therapy professionals about your summer sports injury; with 51 locations throughout New Jersey, we make it easy to find a sports injury rehab facility near you. Simply search for closest location near you by entering your zip code.

Why Choose Twin Boro

Voted Readers’ Choice Best of New Jersey in 2013, Twin Boro has provided NJ residents with high quality physical therapy and rehab for over 38 years! It’s our award-winning approach, proven results and reputation that sets us apart. By incorporating the One2Four program into each patient’s program, the latest and most reliable scientific research and techniques is incorporated into effective evidence-based practice, we deliver only the highest standard of care with the unique One2Four approach.

It’s no surprise that Twin Boro Physical Therapy has also been voted the best physical therapy practice in New Jersey by the readers of mycentraljersey.com.