Sports injuries in teens can be devastating and prevent young athletes from performing at their full potential and participating in the sports they love. In this physical therapy education article, we are going to talk about how to best prevent and treat teen sports injuries.
Focus on Prevention First
As the saying goes – the best offense is a good defense. This rings true when it comes to teen sports injuries as well. Preventing such injuries should be the initial focus. Physical therapy can be a great help in preventing these injuries before they arise. A physical therapist can evaluate your teen’s form (running, throwing, etc.) and look for areas of improvement. They can then work directly with the athlete to develop prevention strategies.
Another way to prevent youth sports injuries is to avoid single sport specialization. When teens specialize in just one sport it can make them more susceptible to injuries as specialization prevents certain muscles from maturing as fast as others. This can lead to imbalance and, ultimately, injury.
Physical Therapy for Teen Sports Injuries
Despite the best prevention tactics, injuries are sometimes inevitable. When teens do sustain sports injuries, the best initial treatment method is often physical therapy. Working with a physical therapist can help decrease pain and increase mobility and range-of-motion after an injury.
Minneapolis Physical Therapists
At OrthoRehab Specialists, we offer direct access to physical therapy services to patients in Minnesota. What does that mean? You can set up an appointment with us with or without a referral. We also have established relationships with more than 600 local providers who regularly refer their patients to us for continued care when necessary. If you are in need of physical therapy, contact our rehabilitation specialists to set up an appointment at our Minneapolis or Edina clinics today!