Sport Physical Therapists Are More Than Just Rehab Specialists

Aug 20, 2022

Physical Therapy, Athletes

Have you been looking for someone to help you prepare for an upcoming season? Are you a parent concerned with the other training programs in town and want your child to be taught the right way, starting from day one? Whether recovering from an injury or looking to improve your skills, sports training programs with our physical therapist at Austin Physical Therapy can help you reach your peak performance.

A physical therapist is committed to assisting you in achieving your goals – and developing new ones! Physical therapists are considered the musculoskeletal experts in healthcare. Physical therapists receive extensive training in all aspects of physical performance, from essential activities like restoring daily functions to the most complex sports-related activities.

Peak performance is the point when an athlete is functioning at their best. Athletes and coaches typically think they must only practice longer and harder to attain this peak performance, which is why our sports physical therapists are here!

At Austin Physical Therapy, our physical therapists conduct a comprehensive assessment that includes an injury screen, functional movement tests, and detailed history to understand the individual’s current health status and training schedule. Your physical therapist will be there for you every step of the way until you reach your end goal!

Call our office today and schedule with our sports physical therapy specialists so we can help you reach your peak performance!

Unique benefits of training with a sports physical therapist

Athletes are often taught to push themselves to achieve new goals. Too often, this is interpreted as the only way to achieve results. As experts in how the body works most effectively, a sports physical therapist will emphasize the whole picture.

The body responds best when we warm up properly; measure your efforts to ensure you put in maximum effort without overtraining and recover fully so we can effectively train the next day. Our physical therapists will help athletes learn how to prepare effectively to get the most out of pushing themselves when training.

Step 1 – Overcoming injuries: Injuries are a part of sports, but ignoring them limits your ability to reach your peak potential at best and keeps you on the sidelines at worst. Physical therapy treatments are some of the best ways to overcome an injury and find relief for your pain. Each treatment is designed specifically to the needs of each individual and the condition of their injury, consisting of exercises and activities that are unique to the athlete’s recovery.

Step 2 – Developing healthy habits: While a physical therapist can help you reach physical goals, they can also help you work on general health and fitness goals. For example, proper sleep habits, a clear mental state, a healthy diet, and hydration are fundamental in improving your physical performance.

Overlooking any one aspect will limit your ability to accomplish your goals. Our sports physical therapists are a great resource to ensure you develop healthy habits to address all aspects of your physical potential.

Step 3 – Injury Prevention: One of the most significant risk factors for an injury is having had an injury in the previous 12 months. Athletes want to stay in the game, and too often, they ignore an injury. At Austin Physical Therapy, our sports physical therapists will teach you the tools you’ll need to limit your risk of injury.

Understanding how the body is interconnected and a problem in one area can lead to another injury is a fundamental principle in a physical therapist’s sports training programming. A physical therapist will help you focus on improving your strength in areas that you may not have considered. Our goal is to give you the tools you need to maximize your body’s potential to compete at the highest level possible!

How sports physical therapy will improve my athletic performance

A sports physical therapist can assist you in reaching the pinnacle of your sport and then tackling the off-season to recover and build so you can reach the new pinnacle. At Austin Physical Therapy, we will start with an injury evaluation and a sports functional movement assessment to identify all the factors contributing to the injury and potential for injury.

The start of every program will consist of a thorough history to understand more about the training schedule, the demands on the body, and the athlete’s overall health status. We will use this information to develop a comprehensive program that includes targeted manual techniques, mobility work, strengthening, and any appropriate pain relief technique to address any underlying limitation or injury.

Your physical therapist will then incorporate sport-specific training to ensure you can compete at your highest potential, whether in the gym training or on the field/court competing. The focus will be on progressing your strength and dynamic stability to restore function and prevent injuries. We will also incorporate balance and coordination exercises to stimulate the nervous system and help ensure you can move efficiently with an edge on your competitors.

Our team will teach you how to monitor all aspects of your performance, including proper sleep, mental focus, research-backed nutrition, and proper strategies for recovery. Our goal is to ensure you address your whole body so you can reach your peak performance!

Request an appointment at Austin Physical Therapy today!

Our physical therapists are experts at treating sports-related injuries. We have proven success with treating and training athletes of all ages and skill levels.

Call Austin Physical Therapy to schedule an appointment with one of our sports physical therapy specialists and discuss your performance goals today!

Sport Physical Therapists Are More Than Just Rehab Specialists