How Physical Therapy Can Help You Get Ready for Fall Sports
Before you know it, the cooler season will come, and so will fall sports! Are you wondering how to prepare yourself for your favorite autumn activities? Or have you been struggling with an old injury that just doesn’t seem to be going away? Either way, Soleil can help.
Everyone involved in athletics knows that one thing is for sure: competition comes with a risk of injury. Fortunately, physical therapy can help athletes recover from injuries and prepare them for their upcoming seasons.
Whether you compete in cross-country running, football, or soccer, our team can help you resolve an injury and provide you with the tools you need to be at your peak physical condition for the start of the season.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“I have been seeing Dave for my TMJ for 2 months. It was a great experience and the exercises and treatments he has given me have been very helpful. I would highly recommend Dave and the practice. The staff were always great about contacting me if there was a cancellation so that I was able to see Dave every week. So happy that my primary care doctor told me about Soleil.”
– K.M.
How Physical Therapy Helps Athletes Prepare for Fall Sports
Playing the sport you love, whether competitively or just for fun, is an important part of staying healthy and enjoying your life. And making sure your body is strong, stable, and prepped for the game is vital for maintaining high performance. Conditioning is a significant part of staying healthy when you play sports. Fortunately, we offer customized conditioning programs that can lower your risk of sustaining an injury during the game and improve your performance.
These programs focus on keeping you healthy and strong. They incorporate sports-specific strengthening and training methods to ensure your body can tolerate the demands of your sport while improving your ability to compete at a high level. Techniques like targeted exercises, lifting weights, and proactive recovery practices further help prevent athletes from injuring themselves. In short, a physical therapy-focused conditioning program can prepare you for the ups and downs of the fall sports season.
Understanding Sports Injuries (And The Role Of Physical Therapy)
One significant aspect of physical therapy is that it can help you prevent an injury this fall. Injuries are a part of any sports season and are typically placed into two categories: acute or overuse.
Acute injuries are caused by a specific incident, such as:
- Sprains
- Fractures or dislocations
- Concussions
In contrast, overuse injuries are caused by repetitive movements or poor technique. Some examples of overuse injuries include:
- Tendinitis
- Tennis elbow
- Shin splints
- Jumper’s knee
- Stress fractures
More About Common Sports Injuries: Sprains and Strains
Sprains are extremely common in sports. Ligaments connect bones together and help support your joints. When a ligament is stretched beyond its limits, a sprain can occur. Once the ligament is stretched, it becomes looser and more susceptible to being sprained again in the future.
Strains are similar to sprains but occur in muscles and tendons, not ligaments. Tendons connect muscles to bones. Once a tendon or muscle is injured, it needs to be resolved fully, or it can lead to persistent pain and limitations in function.
Injury Prevention with Physical Therapy
Receiving physical therapy before you begin playing this fall could make all the difference in how ready your body is to be out on the field or court. The process begins with an injury screening to identify any underlying conditions that can lead to future injuries. Once we identify limitations, restrictions, and weaknesses, we’ll provide you with a personalized program to resolve them.
As you progress through rehabilitation, the intensity and complexity of your program will increase accordingly. We design your program to meet your specific needs, including incorporating sports-specific training to prepare your body for the demands of a competitive sports season.
Request an Appointment To Get Started
Encouraging healing and avoiding injury are top priorities at Soleil. In addition to directly treating injuries, we can help you improve your range of motion, strength, and overall function to prevent additional harm from occurring and get you ready for your sport.
Are you an athlete prepping for fall sports? Schedule an appointment today to learn more about how physical therapy can get you geared up to have your best season yet!
Meet Our Team
Shannon Paisley
Office Manager
Wernjane Yue
MS, MAOM, Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist
Ron Maciel
B.S., PTA
Dave Bacani
PT, DPT, MSPT, MTC, Cert. DN Clinical Director
Recipe of the Month: Blueberry Muffin Bread
Ingredients:
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2/3 cup (135g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream, at room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup (80ml) milk, at room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 cups (210g) fresh blueberries
- Optional: 2 Tablespoons blueberry jam and/or crumb topping
Instructions:
- Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
- Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. On medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the sour cream and vanilla extract on medium speed until combined. With the mixer running on low speed, add the dry ingredients and milk into the wet ingredients and beat until no flour pockets remain. Fold in the blueberries.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 60-65 minutes, loosely covering the bread with aluminum foil at the 30 minute mark to help prevent the top and sides from getting too brown. A toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf will come out clean when the bread is done. Remove from the oven and allow the bread to cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack.
- Cover and store bread at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.