Physical therapy Fayetteville NC isn’t just for people recovering from car accidents or surgery — athletes can also benefit. In fact, a physical therapist can help your team improve their performance and decrease the chance of injury. The key is finding a clinic that specializes in sports medicine.

Keeping Your Team Strong and Healthy

Exercise is essential for staying healthy but can also wear on the body, especially if you perform repetitive motions. Competition is a huge motivator in sports, but athletes can get hurt if they push themselves past their limits. Part of keeping your team in peak condition is knowing how to address tired and inflamed muscles caused by excessive physical activity. Physical therapy can reduce these issues and even help athletes avoid them in the first place.

Reduce Stress

Competing can be mentally and physically stressful, leading to high cortisol levels. While this hormone can help you deal with intense situations in short bursts, elevated levels can have severe consequences in the long term:

  • Concentration and memory impairment
  • Anxiety
  • Weight gain
  • Depression
  • Digestive problems
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Headaches
  • High blood pressure

Stress can also cause muscle painful muscle tension. Physical therapy reduces physical pain and mental stress through massage. This type of therapy can improve blood circulation to the massaged area, bringing energy and oxygen to cells to keep them healthy. Massage also releases pressure points, which can reduce pain and tension, leaving patients feeling rejuvenated.

Come Back Strong

Unfortunately, accidents sometimes happen during games or practice, leading to athlete injury. When the injury requires long-term healing, team members risk losing the strength and skills they’ve built over months and even years. Physical therapists can help patients maintain their athleticism without putting their health at risk. In fact, a well-made care plan can actually speed up the recovery process.

Physical therapists can also teach recovered patients how to avoid re-injury. The risk of sustaining the same injury is high for several years after recovery, so athletes must be extra careful when returning to competitions.

Maximizing the Potential of the Team

Professionals and amateurs alike are welcome in sports medicine physical therapy clinics. Just like coaches identify their team’s weak points and devise strategies to strengthen them; physical therapists can determine patients’ weaknesses and create plans to address the issues. Muscle building, flexibility and stamina all affect how the body moves, and physical therapists have the expertise to see the big picture.

For example, physical therapists can help team members improve their range of motion through stretching. Muscles can tighten after exercise, making them feel stiff. Over time, they may pull on joints, increasing the risk of injury. A stretching routine created by a physical therapist ensures athletes stretch correctly, keeping them flexible and pain-free.

Looking for a Greensboro physical therapy clinic may be the best decision for your sports team. A top-notch physical therapist can make all the difference, especially if team members hope to play in the big leagues. Your athletes deserve the highest quality care and a physical therapist as dedicated to their health as they are to giving 110%.