Sports Injury Clinic Novato, San Anselmo & Marin County, CA

Sports Injuries

Return to Your Sport Quicker With Physical Therapy

You don’t have to be a pro to be considered an athlete. Perhaps you are training for a competition or simply trying to improve your skills at your sport of choice – whatever the case may be, you are considered an athlete nonetheless. At Sport and Spine Therapy of Marin, we are dedicated to helping our patients recover from sports injuries as quickly as possible. If you are looking for relief, contact our San Anselmo or Novato physical therapy practice today to schedule an appointment.

Do I have a sports injury?

The term “sports injury” is all-encompassing, in the sense that it can refer to any type of injury sustained while performing an athletic activity. When thinking of a sports injury, most people’s minds immediately go to something sudden, such as a pro football player colliding with another. While this indeed falls in that category, a sports injury can also occur just as easily from lifting heavy weights at the gym or running in ill-fitted shoes. Essentially, anything that brings you pain while exercising can be considered a sports injury.

So, whether you hurt your arm by swinging a bat too aggressively, rolled your ankle on the soccer field, or strained your back while hiking your favorite trail, Sport and Spine Therapy of Marin is here to help. It is important to make sure that you seek help as soon as you feel pain, because one of the most important aspects to rehabilitating a sports injury is treating it as soon as possible. Your recovery time and treatment plan will be dependent upon the severity of your injury, your health history, and whether or not the injury requires surgical intervention.

The 4 most common types of sports injuries:

There are a number of different injuries that can occur while performing an athletic activity. The 4 most common include:

  • Strains or pulled muscles. Your muscles and bones are connected by tendons. When a tendon is stretched beyond its limits, a strain or “pulled muscle” can occur. Once the tendon is stretched, it is more likely that the affected area will be strained again in the future.
  • Sprains. Your bones are connected to one another by ligaments. When a ligament is stretched beyond its limits, a sprain can occur. Much like with a strain, once the ligament is stretched, it is more likely that the affected area will be sprained again in the future.
  • Shin splints. Medial tibial stress syndrome (also known as shin splints) is a pain that can be felt within the shin bones. This pain occurs when excessive stress is placed on the shinbone and the connective tissues surrounding it. Shin splints often leave you feeling debilitated and limited due to the harsh impact they have on your shins; however, they can be avoided by wearing proper footwear, strengthening your core and leg muscles, and warming up before exercise.
  • Knee injuries. Did you know your knee is the most complex joint in your body? While this means that it has the ability to accomplish numerous physical feats, it also means that it is one of the most commonly injured body parts. Knee injuries may include dull aches that run from your hip to your knee, repetitive-use injuries that make it difficult to move your knee, or more severe injuries such as an ACL tear that may require intensive rehabilitation or surgical correction.

How can I get treatment for my sports injury?

At Sport and Spine Therapy of Marin, our physical therapists are highly trained movement specialists. At your initial appointment, our physical therapist will conduct a physical evaluation in order to prescribe the best treatment plan for your specific needs. Some diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound may also be conducted, in order to determine the root cause of your pain and come to the best possible conclusion for treatment.

Once your diagnosis has been determined, our San Anselmo or Novato physical therapists will create a specialized treatment plan for you, taking into account the nature of your injury, your fitness level, your lifestyle, and any medical risks you may have. Treatment plans typically consist of manual therapy, stretching, and strengthening exercises. Manual therapy is used to increase your range of motion and reduce scar tissue, stretches are used to improve balance and mobility, and strengthening exercises are used to enhance the injured and surrounding areas. These are all done in order to help you recover after your sports injury and to prevent further injury from occurring in the future.

If you have recently sustained a sports injury, Contact Us Today at Novato, San Anselmo & Marin County, CA Centers. We will set up a consultation for you so you can get started on your road to recovery. At Sport and Spine Therapy of Marin, we are dedicated to helping you return to your sport as quickly as possible!