Sports Injuries
Sports Injury Treatment with Total Physical Therapy
As one of the best full-service sports physical therapy providers in Denver, Colorado, we at Total Physical Therapy are committed to assisting you in recovering fully and quickly from your sports injury. We pride ourselves on our personalized care where you receive maximum one-on-one time with your doctor.
At Total PT, we use proven therapy techniques to help you recover from pain and injuries quickly. Our methods are based on evidence so we can effectively prevent future injuries. Our goal is to help you heal so you can get back to competing as soon as possible. Whether you’re a high school, college, professional athlete, or simply someone who wants to return to their active lifestyle, our physical therapists use specialized techniques specifically designed for athletic recovery.
Common Sports Injuries
Injuries can happen frequently in any sport, regardless of skill level. Injuries can keep players out for a long time and impact any body part, affecting physical performance significantly.
If left untreated, sports injuries can become worse and may even permanently limit your ability to participate in sports. This is why receiving professional physical therapy care is so important for athletes who have suffered an injury. Our highly trained physical therapists have experience in treating many common types of sports-related injuries.
Common sports injuries that can benefit from physical therapy include:
- Back, joint, or muscle pain
- Ankle sprains
- Knee Injuries
- Shin splints
- Pulled muscles
- Torn ACLs
- Tennis elbow
- Hamstring strains
- Hip flexor strains
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Groin pulls
- Tommy John surgery
- Stress fractures
- Concussions
How Does Physical Therapy Treat Sports-Related Injuries?
All kinds of athletes can sustain injuries. This includes professional athletes, those in recreational leagues, or people who simply enjoy being active. Injuries can happen to anyone, especially those who are physically active.
Without proper treatment, these injuries can linger and even become more serious. Physical therapy helps athletes heal, recover, and return to their favorite activities. Each injury and recovery process is unique.
Following a sports injury, your therapist at Total Physical Therapy will make a plan to reduce pain, improve movement, and increase your flexibility. Your injury treatment plan may include stretching, manual therapy, massage, Kinesio taping, dry needling, or any of our other techniques. The specific treatments chosen will depend on the type and severity of your injury.
Your Sports Injury Evaluation
Effective treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis. At your first visit, you work one-on-one with your doctor of physical therapy, who reviews your injury history and goals, then performs a hands-on evaluation of your range of motion, strength, joint stability, and movement mechanics. The aim is to find the root cause of the problem, not merely its symptoms, so your plan addresses why the injury happened in the first place. From there, we build a personalized treatment plan around your sport, your timeline, and the specific demands you need to get back to.
The Stages of Sports Injury Rehabilitation
Recovering from a sports injury is a progression, and rushing it is one of the most common causes of re-injury. Your rehabilitation generally moves through four stages:
- Protect and calm. Control pain and swelling, protect the healing tissue, and restore basic range of motion and everyday movement.
- Restore mobility and early strength. Rebuild full range of motion along with foundational strength and neuromuscular control.
- Build strength and function. Progress to heavier loading and sport-relevant movement, rebuilding strength toward symmetry with your uninjured side, and reintroduce running, hopping, and agility.
- Sport-specific training and return. Train the cutting, landing, and sport-specific movements your activity demands, then return once you meet objective criteria.
You move to the next stage when your body is ready for it, not on a fixed calendar. For injuries that follow surgery, this process ties closely to our post-surgical rehabilitation and rehab and recovery programs.
Return-to-Sport Testing
One of the most important parts of sports rehabilitation is knowing when it is actually safe to go back. Rather than clearing you on the calendar alone, we use objective return-to-sport testing: measurable benchmarks that show your body is ready for the demands of your sport. Depending on your injury, that may include:
- Strength symmetry between your injured and uninjured side, often targeting around 90 percent
- Single-leg hop tests for distance and control
- Movement-quality and neuromuscular-control assessment
- Your own confidence and readiness to compete again
This matters because research consistently shows that athletes cleared by meeting objective criteria have significantly lower re-injury rates than those cleared by time alone. Testing before we clear you is how we help you return quickly and, just as important, safely.
Benefits of Physical Therapy for Sports Injuries
Physical health and performance are essential for the success of an athlete at any level of competition. No matter your chosen sport or activity, physical therapy offers several benefits to treat your injuries, speed up your recovery process, and improve performance.
Some of the top benefits of physical therapy for sports-related injuries include:
Provides quick pain relief.
Improves muscle and joint flexibility
Restores
mobility
Improves and speeds up your recovery
Rebuilds
strength
Provides an outlet to reduce stress and anxiety
Improves overall performance
Preventing Sports Injuries with Physical Therapy
Avoiding sports injuries is crucial for athletes to succeed and continue enjoying their favorite physical activities and sports. Properly warming up and stretching before engaging in physical activity is important for preventing sports injuries and maximizing performance.
To further prevent injuries, many athletes and weekend warriors regularly work with physical therapists who specialize in sports medicine. Not only does this help prevent future injuries, but receiving regular sports physical therapy care can also take your athletic performance to the next level. With Denver physical therapy, you’ll stay at the top of your game.
Sports Physical Therapy FAQs
What does a sports physical therapist do?
A sports physical therapist evaluates, treats, and rehabilitates athletic injuries and helps you return to activity safely. At Total PT, you work directly with your doctor of physical therapy one-on-one, from your first evaluation through return-to-sport testing.
Do I need a referral to see a physical therapist for a sports injury?
Colorado allows direct access to physical therapy, so in most cases you can begin without a physician referral. Some insurance plans have their own referral requirements for coverage, so it is worth checking with your provider.
How long does it take to recover from a sports injury?
It depends on the injury, its severity, and your goals. A minor sprain might take a couple of weeks, while recovering from a surgery such as an ACL reconstruction can take several months. Your evaluation will give you a realistic timeline for your situation.
When can I return to my sport?
When you meet objective return-to-sport criteria, adequate strength symmetry, functional test performance, movement quality, and confidence, rather than a set number of weeks. Returning on criteria instead of the calendar lowers your risk of re-injury.
Can physical therapy help prevent sports injuries?
Yes. Beyond treating injuries, sports physical therapy can identify the movement patterns and weaknesses that raise your injury risk and address them through targeted strengthening and movement training.
Schedule Your Denver Physical Therapy Appointment Today
Schedule your appointment with Total Physical Therapy today and get back in the game.