Sports Injury Rehab
Sports injury rehab treats injuries from sports and exercise, whether a sudden sprain or tear or an overuse problem that built up over months. Sports physical therapy finds the source of the problem, restores motion and strength, and gets you back to your sport. We provide sports rehab in Chubbuck and Pocatello, Idaho, with Matt Krammen, PT, DPT, Cert DN, an orthopedic physical therapist who spends his own time mountain biking and skiing.
Sudden injuries and overuse injuries
A sports injury usually falls into one of two groups, and rehab differs for each.
Acute athletic injury
Torn muscles, sprained or ruptured ligaments, dislocated joints, broken bones and herniated discs from falls, awkward moves or hard impacts. Once healed and rehabbed, these can leave you ready to compete again.
Chronic sports injury
Overuse builds slowly. A weak or imbalanced area overloads one tissue, or tiny tears have no time to heal before new ones are added.
Scar tissue from an old injury
Adhesions can restrict muscles and connective tissue and cause pain long after the injury, which is why a badly healed injury can limit your performance.
Common injuries, and where to read more
Knee and leg
Runner's knee and jumper's knee are overuse problems. Read Knee Pain. An ACL tear needs a plan of its own, covered under ACL rehab below.
Shoulder and elbow
Rotator cuff strain and tennis or golfer's elbow come from repeated swings. See Shoulder Pain and Elbow Pain (Tennis & Golfer's Elbow).
Foot and ankle
Ankle sprains and plantar fasciitis are covered on Foot & Ankle Pain.
Hip and groin
Hip strains and tightness can hold back a runner or a cyclist. See Hip Pain.
Head injuries
A hit to the head is a medical matter first. Our Concussion page covers recovery.
Wrist and hand
Overuse can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. See Hand & Wrist Pain.
What sports PT looks like from first aid to the finish
Physical therapy helps at every stage of a sports injury, from the first days to the final phase of rehab. Your therapist examines your muscles and joints, posture, range of motion and symptoms to pinpoint the exact source and cause of the problem.
Early on you may need first aid such as rest, ice, compression and elevation to calm pain and swelling. After that, treatment depends on what is going on.
- Gentle range-of-motion exercises so injured tissue heals without adhesions
- Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and manual therapy to work on adhesions from an old injury
- Dry needling for tight, painful muscle
- Deep tissue laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound and electrical stimulation to ease pain and support healing
- Strengthening and balance exercises through Therapeutic Exercise
- Blood flow restriction training to build strength when heavy loading is not yet possible
ACL rehab and getting back to your sport
An ACL tear is a serious knee injury, and ACL rehab is long, so it helps to start with a plan. If you have had surgery, see Post-Surgical Rehab for what recovery looks like. Return to sport depends on how your strength, motion, balance and confidence compare to before, and your therapist tells you honestly where you stand rather than guessing from a calendar.
A course of physical therapy can seem long, but that is good for your safety and your complete recovery.
Runners, young athletes and weekend players
The same approach works at every level, adjusted to the demands of your sport.
Running injury
Overuse is behind most running injuries, with knees, feet and hips taking the load. We look at strength and how you move.
Youth sports injury
Young athletes get the same sprains, strains and overuse problems.
Weekend warriors
A weak spot here and there, or skipping a warm-up, can set you up for a muscle tear. We work on both.
Sports rehab questions
Do I need a doctor's referral for sports PT near me?
Idaho allows direct access to physical therapy, so you do not need a referral from a doctor to begin. Some insurance plans, and Medicare typically, may still require one. If you are unsure, call us and we will check your plan.
Is sports injury rehab covered?
We accept most insurance plans and verify your benefits before you arrive. Auto injury liens, Medpay and workers compensation are accepted, and there is a self-pay option. Call the office to confirm your plan.
Sports injury rehab in Chubbuck, Idaho
Call or request an appointment at our Chubbuck clinic. We see patients from Chubbuck, Pocatello and the surrounding area.
We see patients at our Chubbuck clinic from Chubbuck and Pocatello, Idaho.