Physical Therapy Can Help You Get Back to Sports This Spring

Are you looking forward to the beautiful weather this spring? With so many great activities to look forward to, it’s important to make sure your health is in tip-top shape for this season. At ProActive, our physical therapists can help you get over an injury and get ready for spring-time fun!

A physical therapy program can increase your fitness level and help you make the most of your favorite activities. Physical therapists are movement experts who understand the body’s demands and how to prepare for activities like running, biking, and playing sports.

If you’re looking to get more physical activity this season or finally resolve that old injury and aching joints, call ProActive today. We’d love to help you get in the best shape possible so you can participate in all of your favorite activities!

Patient Success Spotlight

“These guys really want/try to help your pain. Drew is probably the best PT I’ve had and I’ve had many in the past. Very informative, he knows his stuff!” – G.T.

How Physical Therapy Can Help You Be Ready This Spring

Sports: Being able to practice the sport you love, whether competitively or just for fun, is essential. Sports provide a way for you to get physical activity while having fun. Your heart rate rises, your blood gets flowing, your muscles get the workout that they need. 

Many sports injuries are caused by not training in the off-season or trying to do too much too soon. Improper training and conditioning can resurface old injuries and new injuries starting. Our physical therapists can help you implement effective strategies to prevent sports injuries this season. 

A few common sports injuries that physical therapy can treat include:

• Ligament sprains
• Muscle strains 
• Overuse injuries (i.e., tendonitis, joint pain)
• Cartilage tears 

It doesn’t matter if you play golf, softball, lacrosse, swim, baseball, or another sport. Our physical therapists at ProActive can help you get in shape and be prepared for the season. We can also guide you to recover from past injuries that may not have adequately healed.

Here are some excellent activities that can get you in shape and help you get back to playing the sports you love this season!

Biking: Biking is a fun activity people enjoy as it warms up outside. Whether you are riding on the road or the trails, biking can prove to be difficult if you’re suffering from injuries that have not healed or chronic pain conditions that restrict your mobility. 

If you haven’t been on a bicycle for several years, you can start out riding just a few times each week. The great thing about biking is that you can go as slow or as fast as you’re able. Riding a bicycle will not only keep you active, but even 15 or 20 minutes twice a week is a good start. 

A physical therapist can show you the best way to ride the type of bike you own. Our physical therapist can help to mobilize your joints, build up strength and improve your endurance so you can continue taking those long bike rides through the park, mountains, or city streets! Having the proper fit can ensure you spend time enjoying the ride instead of recovering from an injury.

Running: One of the best activities to get in shape or decompress from stress is running. Unfortunately, new and old runners alike will experience injuries that prevent them from putting in the miles. Too often, runners ignore their injuries or don’t resolve them entirely, only to worsen or develop a new problem. 

While running may be your chosen spring activity, it certainly can be hard on the body, and without proper guidance, you may find yourself unable to run at all. That’s why participating in a regular physical therapy routine at ProActive is such a good idea.

If you’re having difficulty running at the same levels of speed or distances that you’re used to, it’s a sign you should see a physical therapist ASAP for care. We’ll make sure your muscles are strong, and your plan for training is sound. We can help make sure your joint health is up to par before you hit the trails this season.

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Staff Spotlight: Drew Davis

Physical Therapist at Benton Physical Therapy

Drew is a current resident of Benton, where he lives with his wife Katelyn, their amazing kids and their dog Tucker. In his spare time he likes to get in a good workout and he also enjoys online gaming. One day he would love to visit and bungee jump in Australia and New Zealand. Drew is a graduate of Harding University and he joined our team in June of 2021. He loves learning new techniques so he can better help his patients. When asked what his favorite part of the job is he says “Hearing my patients say “No more Pain”’. 

Waldorf Salad

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp. plain yogurt
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, plus more to taste
• 1 tsp. honey
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 medium Granny Smith apple, diced
• 1 medium Honeycrisp apple, diced
• 3 ribs celery, sliced
• 1 c red seedless grapes, halved
• 3/4 cup coarsely chopped toasted walnuts
• 1/4 c golden raisins (optional)

Directions:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yogurt, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper. Fold in the apples, celery, grapes, walnuts, and raisins, if using.
• Taste the salad for lemon juice and salt, adding more as necessary.
• Serve chilled, spooned over lettuce leaves, if you like.

How Physical Therapy Can Help Your Pickleball Injuries

No matter what your skill level or experience with Pickleball, learning how to prepare your body correctly is the key to enjoying the sport. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America, and the game is gaining more and more players every day. Pickleball is an easy and fun way to stay active. The sport is similar to other racquet sports and is often played on modified tennis courts. 

Unfortunately, people jump right into the sport without any preparation or training to prepare their bodies for the demands on their muscles, tendons, and joints. At ProActive, our physical therapists have proven success working with people of all ages to recover from injury and resume whatever sport they enjoy.

The most common injuries associated with Pickleball

As with any sport, injuries are part of playing the game of Pickleball. The sport’s popularity has opened it up to people of all ages. The game is easy to play for beginners and can also meet the requirements of a more competitive player with the possibility of a fast-paced match for singles or doubles. As the popularity grows, so too does the risk of injury. 

The sport requires abrupt changes of direction and stopping and starting movements, all of which have been linked to non-contact injuries like sprains and strains. There is also the potential for falling and repetitive movement type injuries, especially to the upper extremities. Another potential risk of injury stems from the lack of preparation and the age of the deconditioned athletes. 

The most common injuries in Pickleball include:

• Ankle sprains
• Achilles tendon injuries and inflammation
• Patella (knee cap) tendinopathies 
• Hamstring, adductor (inner thigh), or quadriceps muscle strains
• Shoulder impingements and rotator cuff injuries
• Elbow tendonitis (Tennis elbow)
• Wrist fractures from falls

What to expect at physical therapy sessions

Physical therapy should start immediately following most injuries to ensure the fastest recovery possible. A physical therapist with experience treating sports-related injuries will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine the injury’s severity and identify any other factor that may affect your ability to recover promptly. 

Next, your therapist at ProActive will create a targeted, individualized treatment plan for you to promote an accelerated recovery plan and prevent future injuries associated with Pickleball. 

For example, your physical therapist will guide you through exercises designed to help the injury and return to your pre-injury abilities. We will start with pain management and restoring mobility to the injured area. 

Request an appointment today!

At ProActive, our therapists are experts at treating Pickleball-related injuries. We have proven success with treating athletes of all skill levels and ages.  Call today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists!

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