Millions of Americans play some form of recreational sports every year. There are many advantages to doing so, including boosting physical fitness. However, playing sports can also lead to knee injuries.
One study found that more than 6.6 million knee injuries were treated in U.S. emergency rooms between 1999 and 2008. This study also reveals that nearly 50% of the knee injuries treated were the result of playing sports. There are many steps you can take to treat a knee injury. Physical therapists can show you three of the most important steps to take for your injury.
Three treatment steps to take for sports injuries to your knee
Physical therapists are experts at treating the human musculoskeletal system, which includes the knee joints. Since they help many patients treat knee injuries from sports every year, these specialists have plenty of tips that can help you treat your knee injury.
Three of the steps physical therapists often recommend taking for knee injuries are:
- Rest your knee — It’s important to rest your injured knee for the first few days after your injury. This allows the body to spend more effort in its natural healing processes. Also, trying to continue playing sports or doing other activities can make your injury worse.
- Ice your injury — Soft tissue injuries tend to cause inflammation and swelling in the knee. Applying ice to your knee can help reduce these symptoms. It can also help decrease the pain that inflammation and swelling can trigger.
Make sure to place a cloth or towel between your skin and the ice pack. This should help prevent the pack from sticking to your skin. Try to apply the ice pack to your knee for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Do so three to four times per day.
- Seek professional help — It’s important to seek professional help for knee injuries. After all, it’s hard for the average person to know how serious their injury is. Medical professionals, like physical therapists, can help you learn the severity of your injury. They can also identify the type of injury you have and offer effective treatment for it.
Come to SOL Physical Therapy for help with a sports-related knee injury
Have you recently injured your knee while playing sports? Our SOL PT team is ready and willing to help you find effective treatment for your injury. We can evaluate your knee to determine what type of injury you have. Our physical therapists can then construct a personalized therapy plan for you, and this plan may use therapy methods like:
- Active Release Techniques®
- Graston Technique®
- Therapeutic exercises
- Virtual therapy
Contact our team today for more information about our knee injury treatment services or to schedule your initial appointment.
