Farmingdale: Prevent Injuries with Physical Activity

N E W S L E T T E R

TIPS FOR PREVENTING AVOIDABLE INJURIES WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

LET’S GET BETTER!

OUR RONKONKOMA CLINIC LOCATION IS BACK OPEN!

• How Can I Better Prevent Injuries? • Exercise Essentials INSIDE: Perhaps the most common injury that people endure from physical activity is an overall feeling of soreness, caused by overusing the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. When the muscles, tendons, or ligaments are over-stretched, the tissues experience minor damage in the form of microscopic tears. This typically occurs when completing an exercise that the body is not used to, or exercising for the first time after a prolonged period of rest. The soreness may linger for a few days but usually goes away on its own. However, the severity of the damage determines how long the body will need to recover. What are some common injuries? At Farmingdale Physical Therapy West, our licensed physical therapists can guide you through proper exercises, stretches, movements, and body control, in order to prevent future injuries from occurring. Many injuries occur due to improper techniques or overexerting your body. Some of themost commonly sustained injuries include sprains, strains, and tendinitis. Many people think “sprains” and “strains” are synonymous; however, they have one distinct difference. Sprains occur when a ligament is stretched beyond its limits or torn, while strains occur when a tendon is stretched beyond its limits or torn. Tendons are tissues that connect muscles to bones, and ligaments are tissues that connect bones to one another. Sprains and strains can both range from mild to severe, and even mild ones may take up to 6 weeks to heal. When they

• Healthy Recipe • Our Commitment To You!

become more severe, braces or surgical correction may be necessary. This will require a longer recovery time, up to 8 weeks or longer, and physical therapy treatments will likely be prescribed. It is important to note that it is in your best interest to have a physical therapist make sure a sprain or strain is fully healed before returning to your normal level of physical activity, as it is common for old sprains and strains to develop again in the future if they have not been properly rehabilitated. Tendinitis is an overuse injury that causes the tendons to become inflamed. There are several reasons why tendinitis may occur, but whatever the case may be, we know that it has developed as a result of unnecessary amounts of strain. For example, some people may develop tendinitis in their shoulders or elbows because of improper posture. If the neck and back are not properly aligned, unnecessary stress is placed on other parts of the body. Movements in the shoulders and arms are altered as a way to compensate, causing increased strain on the tendons. Tendinitis can be corrected with physical therapy treatments since PTs are trained in relieving pain, decreasing inflammation, and restoring you to your normal posture, motion, and function.

For more information on how you can prevent severe injuries, contact Farmingdale Physical Therapy West today.

FARMINGDALE PHYSICAL THERAPY WEST CALL TODAY! 516-731-3583

Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator