Why Do Athletes Use Sports Therapy Clinics?

Sports therapy clinics, also known as sports medicine clinics, are clinics that specialize in sports medicine. Sports medicine clinics offer physical therapy but also a host of other services that cater to sports injuries and conditions.

Why do athletes use sports therapy clinics? Sports therapy clinics don’t just treat the injured. They also focus on preventative medicine and education to help the athletes avoid injury altogether. Typically sports injury clinics will specialize in injuries or conditions that affect the head, spine, neck, shoulder, elbow, forearm, hip, pelvis, knee, leg, ankle and foot.

Common injuries treated at sports therapy clinics include concussions, osteoporosis, fractures, sprains, herniated disks, chronic instability in bones and joints, dislocations, rotator cuff tears,  joint tears, burners and stingers, tendon dysfunction, muscle strains, injuries to the ACL, MCL, or PCL, torn cartilage, pulled hamstrings and more.

Sports therapy clinics also typically treat conditions such as; arthritis, osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis  lumbar spinal stenosis, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, tendinitis, bursitis, thoracic outlet syndrome, tennis elbow, femoroacetabular impingement, burning thighs, discoid meniscus, runners knee, osteonecrosis, adult flat foot, clubfoot, bone spurs, tendon dysfunction, sesamoiditis, claw toe and more.

Many conditions treated in sports therapy clinics affect hundreds of thousands of non- athletes as well. Osteoarthritis is a prime example. Osteoarthritis affects a large percentage of the aging population because it is a condition where the cartilage inside the joints breaks down over time as a result of ongoing wear and tear. Torn ACL’s are very common in teens and young adults and can occur as a result of merely horsing around too roughly. Non-athletes who suffer a sports injury are best served to seek treatment at a sports therapy clinic because they offer advanced treatment that may not be available in a traditional physical therapy clinic.

A good sports therapy clinic will provide a multi-disciplinary medical team. When choosing sports therapy clinic you should choose one with access to:

1.       A primary care Physician. One who can come up with an all-encompassing treatment plan for your injury or condition.

2.      Physical Therapists who work with patients to improve physical conditioning and joint function.

3.       Dieticians to work with patients to control health, nutrition and weight.

4.       Occupational Therapists who educate patients on how to minimize pain and protect themselves from further injury while at home.

5.       Rheumatologists who specialize in treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis.

6.       Physiatrists whose primary focus is on physical rehabilitation.

7.       Social Workers who help patients to deal with social challenges like home health care and other needs to support a medical condition.

8.       Psychologists who help patients cope with the emotional difficulties that result from medical conditions (e.g. loss of sleep, depression, anxiety).

9.       Orthopedists who provide surgical treatment of bone and joint diseases.

10.   Licensed Acupuncture Therapists and more.

When selecting a sports therapy clinic do some research. Visit their website  and read about their services. If you are an athlete, ensure that they offer a  wide range of services and are reputed in the industry. Look for evidence of  client testimonials and pay attention to well known brands where there is an  affiliation. This will ensure that you establish a long term relationship with  a sports therapy clinic that is able to address all of your needs whether you  are injured or not.

For more information about sports therapy clinics or to book a consultation  with our team please call 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesmphysiotherapytoronto.ca  today.