As physical therapists, we see athletes all too often that are injured early in the season. So, why would that be? If you ask the athlete they may say that they couldn’t see it coming or a freak accident. However, when we peel back the curtain, their injury is just the tip of the iceberg.
Am I Prepared for the Season?
As an athlete, you must ask yourself, “Am I prepared for this season?”
The answer may surprise you when you think about the demanding physical nature of sports. Running, endurance, strength, throwing, agility, directional changes are just a few of the many demands a sport may have. So, think again, are you prepared? What did you do that will separate you from the next person, or even your opponent?
Am I Doing Enough?
Oftentimes, the work and preparation an athlete puts in during offseason training may not be enough. Lifting weights is important, but are you targeting the muscle groups that are important to your sport and your position? Running is great, but are you matching the endurance your sport requires and do you have the proper technique? Doing some agility drills would be good for sports that demand lateral quickness and changes of direction, but are you doing so in a way that will help you avoid injury? For throwers, are you ramping up a throwing program leading into the season so that you can meet the demands of volume of early-season practices?
Am I Doing Too Much?
On the other side of the coin, we often see athletes that over-train in the offseason. This in itself can lead to offseason injuries, as well as fatigue and pain when the season begins. The athlete may have the right attitude and motivation, but may not even realize that he or she is improperly loading themselves up, leading to mechanical breakdowns and injury.
What Should I Do?
Hopefully this article allowed you to have a moment to reflect on the question, are you prepared for your sport? The best offseason program you can have is the one that is individualized to YOU. That is why it is so important to be assessed by a trained professional that can help guide you into your season, prevent injury, and optimize your performance. If you do have an injury or pain, consider being assessed by a professional right away. Overuse or lingering injury can be detrimental to a season.
At FX Physical Therapy, our Doctors of Physical Therapy are trained to evaluate athletes, guide them through offseason programs, give sport-specific training, prevent injuries, and assess those injuries if they happen to occur. Not sure if Physical Therapy can help? Come in for a FREE Injury Screen, where we can address your physical condition and your goals to see if our DPTs can help keep you on the field and off the bench for your best season yet.
