Category: Sports Injury

Physical Therapy Clinic in West BloomfieldBlogSports Injury
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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy, Sports Injury

What You Need to Know About Sprains, Strains and Ankle Pains!

While the terms sprain and strain are often used interchangeably, there is a key difference between the two. A sprain is the tearing or overstretching of ligaments. And ligaments are the rows of tissue that connect bones in a joint. The most common location for a sprain happens to be the ankle joint. A sprain to the ankle joint often causes ankle pain. Specifically, a strain is the tearing or overstretching of a tendon or muscle. It’s the tendons that connect bones to the muscles. The most common location for a strain in the lower back and hamstring. To learn more about sprains and strains, give our office a call.�

The Similarities of a Sprain and a Strain and Causes

The symptoms of a sprain and strain are much alike. That’s due to the fact that the injuries are very similar. You may experience swelling, muscle spasm, difficulty with range of motion, limited flexibility and pain around the affected joint. The main difference between the two is that a sprain will usually present with bruising around the affected joint.

The cause of a strain or sprain may be due to:

  • Athletic activities
  • Slipping and falling
  • Prolonged repetitive motion
  • Lifting heavy objects
  • Overexerting yourself

The risk factors for a strain or sprain include not warming up before physical activity, being tired, using improper equipment and being out of shape. Plus, there are environmental risk factors, such as slippery or icy surfaces.

Treatment for Strains and Sprains

Mild sprains and strains are often treated with the RICE technique: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. However, when the RICE technique doesn’t work, it’s time to see a doctor. A doctor may take an X-ray to see if there are any breaks to the bone. If that’s ruled out, the diagnosis is usually a strain or sprain. Your doctor may even recommend a physical therapist. No matter how you incurred the strain or sprain, physical therapy can play a major role in your comeback. A physical therapist will use a mix of different techniques to reduce pain, including ankle pain, improve strength and ramp up coordination. Active treatment includes stretching and exercises. Passive treatments include ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat therapy, and massage. Electrical stimulation and heat therapy are very effective in reducing ankle pain.

Physical therapy has been proven to be effective for ligament sprains like an ACL tear. An ACL tear is a very common knee injury. Physical therapy has also been shown to be effective for an injury to the Achilles tendon and other types of sprains and strains.

The Stats on Ankle Injuries

According to WebMD, “Ankle injuries can happen to anyone at any age. However, men between 15 and 24 years old have higher rates of an ankle sprain, compared to women older than age 30 who have higher rates than men. Half of all ankle sprains occur during athletic activity. Every day in the U.S., 25,000 people sprain their ankle. And more than 1 million people visit emergency rooms each year because of ankle injuries. The most common ankle injuries are sprains and fractures, which involve ligaments and bones in the ankle. But you can also tear or strain a tendon.”

If you’re suffering from ankle pain or a strain or sprain, be sure to contact our office to learn how we can get you on the road to recovery. Our experienced and certified physical therapists will do a comprehensive assessment of your condition and create an individualized treatment program. Live a pain-free life with physical therapy.

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By manish 0 Comments Health and Wellness, Physical Therapy, Sports Injury

Don’t Let Pain Stop You From Getting Back in the Game!

Get rid of the pain by partnering up with a physical therapist. Give Premier Therapy Centers a call today to learn more about how our physical therapists can get you on the path to a pain-free life.

Physical Therapy for Pain Relief

According to WebMD, “Physical therapy is often one of the best choices you can make when you have long-term pain (also called chronic pain) or an injury. It can make you stronger and help you move and feel better.” The goal of physical therapy is to reduce and eliminate pain while improving mobility and function.

During a physical therapy session, you may engage in low-impact aerobic training, strengthening exercises, pain-relief exercises and stretching. Low-impact exercises go easy on the joints and pump up your heart rate. You might be asked to use a stationary bike or to walk fast. You’ll likely be given exercises to work on your core muscles. Using your own body weight with pushups and lunges may be part of the treatment plan. Pain relief exercises designed to target the areas where you have pain will also be done. And with stretching exercises, you’ll be relaxing those muscles.

Physical therapists also use other modalities to achieve pain relief for the patient. Heat packs or ice packs may be applied to the affected area to reduce pain and inflammation. Massage therapy is a gentle therapy that helps reduce muscle spasms and helps your body to relax. Soft-tissue mobilization is used to increase mobility by addressing fibrous areas of muscle tissue. Direct manipulation of the joints can be done to improve functioning and maintain proper alignment. Electric stimulation therapy sends an electric current to the affected area to reduce pain. Ultrasound therapy sends sound waves to the affected area and blocks pain messages that are sent to the brain.

In addition, a physical therapist can educate you about sensory re-education for chronic pain. Even after an injury has healed, the nervous system may still send pain signals. Sensory re-education helps desensitize the nervous system and decrease sensitivity to the affected area.

All around, physical therapy is a noninvasive and holistic approach to pain management. You can avoid having to go under the knife or getting addicted to those pain meds with physical therapy. A physical therapist will do a comprehensive evaluation to determine the root cause of your pain and develop an individualized treatment plan that targets the root cause.

Some Stats on the Efficacy of Physical Therapy for Pain

According to the APTA, “Studies have established the efficacy of physical therapy in treating and reducing pain as well as preventing chronic pain.

  • Low back pain: A review of more than 60 randomized controlled trials evaluating exercise therapy for adults with low back pain found that such treatment can decrease pain, improve function and help people return to work. The American College of Physicians states that “non-pharmacologic interventions are considered first-line options in patients with chronic low back pain because fewer harms are associated with these types of therapies than with pharmacologic options.”
  • Before and after surgery: A review of 35 randomized controlled studies with a total of nearly 3,000 patients found that in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, preoperative exercise and education led to significant reductions in pain, shorter lengths of stay postoperatively and improvements in function.
  • Arthritis: Studies have shown that therapeutic exercise programs can reduce pain and improve physical function among individuals with hip and knee osteoarthritis.

Are you in pain? Be sure to call one of our two MI offices and discover how our physical therapists can help.