Sports injuries
A Message From Stella Dimitrakakis, PT, DPT, CFMT, OCS, SFMA L1 Owner and Founder of Soma Vita Physio & Wellness
If you’ve recently sustained a sports injury or have been dealing with one for some time, you might be tempted to brush it off as “nothing serious” and keep on truckin’.
Or, it’s easy to lose hope and feel “stuck,” as if you’ll never be able to return to your former level of physical activity.
We see this all the time, so if it’s happening to you, know that you’re not alone. Watchung and Morristown, New Jersey ‘s physiotherapy clinics see patients year-round with sports and exercise-related injuries.
Medical professionals and doctors have always advised patients to “rest” or “cease” their activity. We think that this is absurd and dangerous since it raises the possibility of further harm and injury. This is due to the fact that when we don’t use our muscles, they waste away and become weak. To put it another way, it clarifies why so many people with sports injuries wonder:
“It’s Been Months - Why Am I Still Suffering From an Injury That Prevents Me From Being Active and Playing My Favorite Sport?”
The common belief is that if you rest an injury for a few days, you’ll be good to go again afterward. However, even after they return to exercising, they continue to face limitations, which can sometimes be even more severe than they were before. When you’re at rest, the pain usually subsides, but as soon as you start moving again, it flares up again.
Does That Describe You?
Also common is the patient who goes to the doctor but is told to “take a break,” “relax,” “wear a support,” and “try these painkillers to see how it goes,” all of which are things we hear frequently at our physical therapy clinic. The patient returns to the same doctor 4 weeks later complaining that the injury hasn’t healed, only to be prescribed more rest and harsher medication.
The issue is that complete rest is rarely the best advise when it comes to sports injuries like hamstring pulls, ankle sprains, runner’s knee, etc.
Perhaps you’re perplexed and annoyed because various people have given you conflicting information. Maybe you’re worried about your back, but the issue really started in your hip.
When you’ve sustained a sports injury, it can be difficult to determine where the problem lies; typically, the region where you’re experiencing pain isn’t the area that requires attention, and if you rest for too long, other sections of the body become just as painful, if not more so.
Injured people sometimes put off deciding what to do to recover and resume activity because they are unsure how “resting” should be defined. To make matters worse, many people give up and embrace the idea that “their days of being active are over,” as if it were natural or necessary.
Is That How You Feel as Well?
If You’re Currently Frustrated and Living With a Sports Injury, Here Are Seven Additional Reasons Why It May Be Lasting Longer Than It Should:
1. You probably expected it to just fade away on its own, but it hasn’t.
2. The doctor prescribed rest, an orthopedic support, and pain medication, but you found that none of these measures alleviated your condition.
3. You may have heard from a loved one or a friend that sports injuries are more common as people advance in age, and this was enough to make you accept the idea.
4. You’ve gone to doctors and a physiotherapist before, but you didn’t feel any better afterward.
5. You’ve already tried using heat, ice, and sports supports to alleviate the pain and get back to exercising, but nothing has helped.
6. You thought it would be wise to rest because the pain was so intense, but it continues to bother you every day.
7. You thought maybe some “sports massages” would help, so you got a few; however, they were only temporarily soothing (or painful) and did nothing to actually heal your injury.
Those who have experienced any of the above are encouraged to schedule a call with one of our physical therapists to learn more about the options available to them. It’s a good sign that you’ve exhausted all of these options before finally settling on the one that works, so don’t feel bad about having tried them all.
If you would like to schedule a call with us to receive sound advice, please click the link below to do so. Calling us is free of charge, and you’re under no compulsion to schedule an appointment afterward. The next step you take is important, and we want to make sure you take the right one with our help.
1. At the outset, you need to decide to seek assistance; many people delay doing so in the hope that their suffering will eventually fade on its own. The situation hasn’t improved after six months of their bearing with it. Or it becomes worse and they never get back to exercising or playing sports.
2. One of the greatest ways to speed up recovery after an injury is to follow a Physical Therapist’s prescribed exercise program. This will help you feel better, regain your mobility, and get back to playing sports sooner rather than later without re-injuring yourself.
3. Keep in mind that while rest is crucial to your recuperation, “too much rest” will actually slow you down. The common perception is that resting entirely from physical activity is necessary for recuperation. However, rest restricts blood flow, which is essential for healing an injury. In addition to receiving hands-on therapy, it would be beneficial to be given rehabilitation and strengthening exercises to assist you heal the injury and return to full health as soon as possible.
4. Physical therapy has been shown to aid people with sports-related injuries, so get some “hands on” treatment. We treat sports injuries all year long at Soma Vita Physio & Wellness. Physical therapy can help get you back to the life you deserve as soon as possible if your injury is preventing you from participating in sports and staying active, interfering with your ability to do your job, posing a threat to your independence, and preventing you from spending quality time with your family and friends.
We encourage you to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation initial session at one of our Watchung and Morristown, New Jersey Soma Vita Physio & Wellness locations to learn more about how our Physical Therapy staff can assist you in getting back to your regular activities as soon and securely as possible.
Therefore, the Next Question Is…
“How Will Visiting a Physical Therapist at Soma Vita Physio & Wellness Assist You in Completely Recovering From Your Sports Injuries?”
- Within a matter of sessions, we can alleviate your pain and stiffness.
- In as little as twenty minutes, we can help you figure out what's wrong and how to fix your injury for good.
- Pain can "zap" your energy and keep you from playing your favorite sport and doing your favorite activity; we can help you enjoy life with more energy every day and get back to doing what you love safely.
- We'll make sure your issue is "fixed" and that you're "healed," and we'll provide you the right set of exercises to get you feeling better as soon as possible.
- With our assistance, you can reduce or eliminate your reliance on pain medications, which are known to have negative effects on health in the long run.
- It is possible to avoid risky operations and unpleasant injections with our assistance.
- You may thank us later for keeping you away from the doctor's office, where you'll only be instructed to "relax" again.
- Injuries can prevent you from spending time with loved ones, but we can help you get your life back on track so you can enjoy it again.
- We can get you to a place where you can walk and move around without being inhibited by the constant fear that the pain will flare up again.
The physical therapists at Soma Vita Physio & Wellness can get you back to doing the activities you enjoy without the nagging pain and frustration that accompany sports injuries.
Simply click the button below and fill out the brief form to learn more about our prices and appointment availability at our Watchung and Morristown, New Jersey locations.
What Other People Just Like You Are Saying About Soma Vita Physio Wellness in Watchung NJ
32+ 5-Star Reviews!
-Krista S.
“Stella is a miracle worker. I came to Stella 6 months postpartum very discouraged. Prior to having my baby I was an avid runner and did yoga 4 times a week. During labor I herniated a disc in my back and developed really bad sciatica. I worked with a physical therapist for 6 months with a little improvement, but not much. I could not exercise or do simple work around the house or care for my baby without sciatica, and pain in my back hips and legs. I was desperate for help and luckily I found Stella. I told her my goals to be able to take care of my baby and also be able to run and workout again. And she assured me those were completely attainable. Not only did she develop a personalized plan for me and help me achieve my goal, but she also was able to make me stronger and hopeful that I could get back to my usual self. In addition, she teaches you how to prevent additional injuries and also gives you the tools to know what to do if pain resurfaces. She is extremely great at what she does, and so kind and fun and caring. I can now take care of my baby with ease and have started running again. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her.”
- Kevin S.
“I was dealing with a hip injury that I had for 4 months without any improvement in my symptoms. I was frustrated until I visited Soma Vita Physio & Wellness-Watchung. They listened to my story, quickly realized the issues I was dealing with, and created a plan to help me. After the first session, I already felt so much better, and I could really see the possibilities for healing my injury and improving the injured area. The therapist’s expertise and understanding of how to properly heal my injury has made a world of difference for me. I am so thankful. I have a plan and hope that I will be able to heal. If you are serious about physical therapy, you can be confident that you will have success and satisfaction visiting Soma Vita Physio & Wellness-Watchung.”
