Four signs you need physical therapy for a sports injury

Athletes are tough and known for pushing their bodies to the limits. Because of this, it can be hard to know when you’ve pushed it too far and need professional treatment for an injury. No, we’re not talking about the obvious like broken bones or sprains, but the slow building injuries that you may mistake for normal pain and gain that comes with the game.

Sports injuries can affect just about any part of your body since there are so many types of sports and so many ways to get hurt. To help you know when your pain is serious and requires professional treatment, we put together this list below of signs to look out for. Keep in mind that this list doesn’t cover everything, so do not hesitate to get help just because you don’t identify with any of the signs in this list.

Four signs of a serious sports injury

1. Knee pain — Your knee is responsible for a lot of actions related to sports and daily life. Sudden pain in the knee accompanied by swelling or loss of motion may be the sign of damage to one of your ligaments.

2. Head pain — A sudden impact that causes your brain to crash against the inside of your skull can cause a concussion. This is most common in contact sports but can happen in any type of sport. If you have a headache, confusion, dizziness, slurred speech or nausea after an impact, you may have a concussion.

3. Joint pain — Overuse, overexertion or impact can cause pain and loss of mobility in one of your joints. The shoulders and elbows are particularly at risk for these types of injuries due to their frequency of use in sports.

4. Hamstring or groin pain — Overexertion can cause strains or tears in your muscles. The hamstrings and groin muscles are especially at risk due to the high amount of running that many sports require.

In general, any kind of extreme or long-lasting pain should not be ignored. It may be tempting to try to be tough and push through the pain, but this can result in a greater injury. Please do not hesitate to seek treatment if you’re an athlete and are suffering from pain.

Contact Armor Physical Therapy for a sports injury treatment

The physical therapists at Armor Physical Therapy are skilled in treating many conditions and injuries, especially those that affect athletes. Whether you’re a professional or an amateur, physical therapy can help you recover faster and more fully so you can get back to doing what you do best. Please contact us today if you’re ready to schedule an appointment for a sports injury treatment.