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, Pro-Active Physical Therapy 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.
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:
- Tennis elbow
- Shin splints
- Jumper’s knee
- Stress fractures
- Tendinitis
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.
Savor a Pain-Free Football Season
As Friday night lights illuminate the field and the spirit of football echoes throughout the community, ensure that back pain doesn’t get in the way while rooting for your team in the stands. Experience the thrill of the season without the discomfort of back pain. Our treatments are designed for your unique needs, ensuring you’re game-day-ready every time.
Your game plan to tackle back pain involves the following:
Effective Treatment
Effective treatments to alleviate pain and guard against future flare-ups.
Customized Strategies
Customized strategies to boost your mobility and strength so you can cheer on your favorite teams without hesitation.
Game Day Tips
Tips to enjoy those tailgate barbecues and halftime huddles without a second thought to your back.
Get ready to chant, cheer, and celebrate without restraint. Connect with Pro-Active Physical Therapy today, and let’s ensure you’re in prime shape for every touchdown this season!
Request an Appointment To Get Started
Encouraging healing and avoiding injury are top priorities at Pro-Active Physical Therapy. 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!
Real Results. Real Recovery.
Meet Leslie Jacobs, PTA
We’re excited to introduce Leslie, one of our dedicated Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA) at our Sheridan clinic!
Originally from Pine Bluff and raised in Grapevine, Leslie is passionate about helping others regain their strength, confidence, and independence. She loves watching her patients’ progress from where they begin their recovery journey to where they end up and enjoys getting to know each person along the way.
When she’s not in the clinic, Leslie loves spending time with her beautiful baby girl, as well as her three nieces and one nephew, who hold a very special place in her heart. In her free time, you’ll often find her enjoying family and friends, shopping, relaxing at the beach, or kayaking whenever she gets the chance.
One thing Leslie wishes everyone knew about physical therapy is that it is personalized to fit each individual’s unique needs to more effectively improve your daily function, mobility, and overall quality of life.
Mexican Tortilla Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil, plus more for greasing
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- Kosher salt & black pepper
- 2 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp. ground cumin
- 1 (15-oz.) can black beans, drained
- 1 (15-oz.) jar medium salsa
You’ll Also Need
- 6 (8-inch) flour tortillas
- 8 oz. sharp cheddar, shredded
- 8 oz. pepper Jack, shredded
- 1 (14.75-oz.) can creamed corn
- Sour cream
- Chopped tomatoes
- Fresh cilantro
- Extra chopped onion for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking dish. Heat oil in a large skillet and cook the onion and bell pepper for 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in chili powder, flour, and cumin; cook 1 minute. Add black beans, salsa, and 1/4 cup water. Simmer 2–3 minutes, stirring and scraping the pan, then remove from heat.
- Spread a thin layer of the beef mixture in the baking dish. Layer with 2 tortillas, one-quarter of each cheese, half the creamed corn, and half the remaining beef mixture. Repeat with 2 more tortillas, another quarter of each cheese, the remaining corn, and remaining beef mixture. Finish with the last 2 tortillas and the remaining cheeses.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the filling is bubbling. Let stand for 10 minutes.
- Top with sour cream, chopped onion, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro before serving.
