As an orthopedic specialist, it can be worrisome to hear a patient say, “Well, I tried doing some physical therapy on my own, but it didn’t work. So now I think I need surgery.” One of the most pervasive myths in sports medicine is that a do-it-yourself approach to physical therapy can work. While it’s certainly true that certain stretches or exercises can help you build strength after an injury, there is no replacement for professional physical therapy. (more…)
As an orthopedic specialist, it can be worrisome to hear a patient say, “Well, I tried doing some physical therapy on my own, but it didn’t work. So now I think I need surgery.” One of the most pervasive myths in sports medicine is that a do-it-yourself approach to physical therapy can work. While it’s certainly true that certain stretches or exercises can help you build strength after an injury, there is no replacement for professional physical therapy.
Why Is Physical Therapy so Important?
To become a physical therapist, a person must complete doctoral-level schooling (a Doctor of Physical Therapy, or DPT, degree). Physical therapists are experts in the science of movement. They work in conjunction with orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine specialists and rehabilitation experts to help patients regain their optimum levels of physical functioning.
Receiving physical therapy may make the difference between a full recovery or a nagging injury that never quite heals. If you’d like to avoid that “bum knee” or “bad shoulder” designation that prevents you from doing the things you love, visiting a physical therapist is an excellent decision.
What Can a Physical Therapist Offer That I Can’t Get on My Own?
Receiving physical therapy from a professional provides numerous benefits over doing it on your own. This may include:
- Comprehensive assessment of injury severity and range of motion.
- Assessment of gait, balance and ability to perform everyday activities.
- Use of ultrasound to penetrate tissue, reduce pain, promote muscle relaxation and facilitate recovery.
- Electrical muscle stimulation to strengthen muscles that are weakened or cannot be stimulated voluntarily.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to reduce pain.
- Therapeutic massage to relax muscles and improve range of motion.
- Creation of an individualized program of therapeutic exercise designed to increase range of motion, improve strength, boost flexibility and improve overall functional capacity.
Although you may be able to perform stretches and certain exercises at home, doing so may increase your risk of re-injury. Additionally, a physical therapist can help you prevent compensatory injuries caused by favoring your healthy joint or limb.
Everyone deserves the best possible recovery after an injury. Although it’s good to trust your own intuition about the severity of an injury, a comprehensive assessment by sports medicine specialists can help you receive an individualized treatment plan that will help you recover. Physical therapy is an essential part of that recovery process. Contact your Jacksonville orthopedic specialists today if you’d like to learn more about how physical therapy may help you achieve your peak level of functioning.
How Much Exercise is Too Much?
Starting a new exercise program often feels like a challenge, but the thrill of initial success may motivate you to train more and more. Unfortunately, some people begin to exercise too much and cause themselves injury. Jacksonville orthopedic specialists recommend listening to your body to know when you’re exercising too hard. (more…)
What Exactly Are Shin Splints?
Leg pain is a fairly common occurrence for athletes—especially long distance runners. Running puts pressure on the joints, including the hips, knees and ankles, as well as on the feet and legs. Whenever pain develops in the lower legs it is often assumed to be shin splints, but shin splints are actually a specific problem that can develop in the shins, the bones that run along the front of the lower legs.
Shin splints are a sort of overuse injury that develop when inflammation builds up around the soft tissues of the lower leg. The injury can develop in two areas surrounding the shin. When they develop on the outer edge of the mid region of the leg, near the shinbone, they are called anterior shin splints. When they develop on the inside of the leg they are referred to as medial shin splints.
So, What Are Shin Splints?
There is some disagreement among experts as to what exactly causes shin splints to develop. The leading theories include:
- Shin splints may be caused by small tears in muscle that has been pulled off the bone.
- Inflammation in the tissue sheath that wraps around the shin bone.
- Inflammation in the muscles surrounding the shin bone.
Many sport and exercise doctors believe that they are actually caused by a combination of several of these factors. What medical experts do agree on is that shin splints are unique to athletes, they are caused by regular physical activity, and whatever is the primary cause of the pain, the best way to treat shin splints seems to be clear.
Because they are caused by overuse, shin splints are pretty much reserved for regular athletes. They can happen to athletes of any age or expertise level, from youth soccer all the way to professional ball players.
Rest Is Best
Experts agree that the best way to treat shin splints is with a combination of rest, ice and stretching. It is recommended to stop running entirely when shin splints first develop, as they will grow worse over time. Secondly, ice the shins regularly to reduce inflammation in the legs. Doing basic Achilles stretches often helps to ease the pain of shin splints and stretch the muscles and tissues surrounding the shin bone.
If you are going to continue working out while struggling with shin splints, the best thing you can do is wrap the injury. Don’t wait too long before seeking the medical expertise of a sports medicine doctor. The sooner you can get treatment and address the pain, the sooner the pain of shin splints can go away.
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Free Injury Evaluation Clinic
Bumps n’ Bruises is back!
Our sports medicine physicians will be available every Saturday morning through November for –
- Free injury assessment by an expert orthopedic specialist and physical therapist
- Recommended home treatment for simple injuries
- Treatment options and recovery information available for your coach and athletic trainer
- Open to every school and athletic program
There are three convenient locations for you to choose from! All locations are available from 9:00AM to 10:00AM for evaluations.
Brooks Rehabilitation CST
- 10423 Centurion Parkway North, Jacksonville, FL 32256 (Inside the YMCA)
Preferred Physical Therapy Fleming Island
- 1835 Eastwest Parkway, Suite 16, Fleming Island, FL 32003
Atlas Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine St. Johns
- 165 Hampton Point Drive, Suite 3, St. Augustine, FL 32092
The Truth Behind Cracking Your Knuckles
Everyone has done it at least once, and chances are you know someone who is a regular offender. After a few hours of typing away at the keyboard or a long afternoon lifting weights at the gym, a quick movement of the hands delivers an instant feeling of relief as each knuckle performs a quick crack in its place. (more…)
Supplements to Take for Healthier Bones
The American diet is a leading source of obesity and a range of other health problems, including poor bone health. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research found that 54 million Americans older than age 50 are affected by osteoporosis or low bone mass. Having weak bones may increase your risk of injury, resulting in the need for specialized orthopedic treatment to avoid long-lasting effects. Fortunately, no matter what your age, supplementing your diet with important vitamins and minerals can improve bone health. (more…)
5 Ways to Ease Back Pain From Scoliosis
An estimated 5 to 7 million Americans suffer from scoliosis, reports the American Chiropractic Association. This condition is characterized by abnormal curvature of the spine. For most people, the spine is straight and tall to support our body posture. People with scoliosis have a spine that curves more than 10 degrees to the right or left. This spinal curvature contributes to significant back pain but may also negatively affect lung or heart functioning. Addressing the back pain associated with scoliosis is an important way to improve well-being among people who suffer from this condition. (more…)
Is It Safe to Crack Your Own Back?
There’s nothing more satisfying that hearing the popping sounds that travel up and down your spine when you crack your back. But is cracking your own back really safe? Although a crack here and there probably won’t do you any harm, habitually cracking your own back may lead to more serious problems. (more…)
Why You Should Beware of ‘Text Neck’
Modern technological advancements have done wonders to improve productivity and efficiency in the past few decades, but new technologies are not without their drawbacks. We’ve all heard of people who developed carpal tunnel syndrome after too much typing, but there is a new scourge affecting smartphone users: “text neck.” (more…)
Why Are Women More at Risk of ACL Injury?
Although women are often said to have better flexibility than men, they are much more likely to experience knee ligament injuries, according to the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Female athletes who participate in sports involving pivoting or jumping, such as basketball, volleyball and soccer, are two to 10 times more likely to injure a knee ligament than their male counterparts. This has significant implications for training, recovery from injury and lifelong joint health. (more…)
