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“My exercise routine has been continually updated and personalized to meet my specific needs and ensure that I am meeting my goals to full recovery.”

– Olivia Z.

At Specialized Orthopedic Physical Therapy, we do more than just treat sports injuries. You see, all of our PTs are athletes themselves, so they understand intimately what is at stake for your high school and collegiate athlete.

Time is critical

Every athlete wants to get back into the game to support his or her teammates, to compete for scholarships and championships, to be scouted by the pros. So we get you into the office immediately following your injury so we can diagnose and prescribe the right treatment as quickly as possible for a speedy recovery.

Prudence is necessary

While every athlete wants to jump back in as quickly as possible, we know that the top priority is long-term physical health. A few glory years on the field are not worth a lifetime of chronic pain and injuries. This is why we take the time to talk with you and your child, athlete to athlete, about the important decisions that need to be made regarding the injury, treatment, and continued play.

Future health is the goal

As long-time athletes, we know what the strains look like over the decades. This makes us particularly well-suited to help your child understand both the immediate and the long-term impact of the injury on his or her future health and well-being. We prescribe a PT regimen with the goal of establishing a lifetime of healthy physical activity.

Common Soccer Injuries

While not officially a contact sport, anyone who has played soccer knows how physical the game can be. Among high school sports, girls soccer has the highest number of concussions each year. The popularity of youth soccer leagues means we see a lot of soccer injuries.

Naturally, soccer players share a number of common injuries with runners, but they also have a few particular to the soccer field.

  • Fractures: bones break through collision between players or landing awkwardly when planting the foot. Bone fractures require weeks, and sometimes months, of rest to heal which often causes surrounding muscle weakness and instability.
  • Groin Pull: injury or tear to the inner muscles of the thigh. Players sometimes hear a popping sound at the time of the injury with immediate sharp pain.
  • Achilles Tendonitis: inflammation of the Achilles tendon that connects your heel to your calf muscles. Repetitive stress to this tendon will cause pain and stiffness as well as the inability to run or jump.
  • Shin Splints: small tears in the muscles that surround your shin bone. Pain is very similar to a stress fracture of the shin bone and is an early warning sign that a stress fracture could occur.
  • Hamstring Strain: pull, tear, or rupture of the muscles on the back of the thigh. Sudden and severe pain while running followed by continued pain while walking, straightening your leg or bending over. This may also be accompanied by diffuse bruising in the back of the thigh within 24 to 48 hours.
  • Ankle Sprain: excessive strain applied to the ligaments of the ankle. Sudden and severe pain after planting foot awkwardly or “rolling” the ankle during a fall.
  • ACL and MCL injuries: injuries to the ligaments that stabilize the knee, sometimes resulting in tearing. Players will often feel a “popping” sensation as they run, turn suddenly, or slide tackle.

Is it Time for my Child to See a PT?

  • Quick diagnosis and treatment of an injury speeds your recovery time in most instances. Because most sports injuries are caused by overuse, extended periods of strain, and improper mechanics, identifying the injury is the first step to a full recovery.
  • Getting an immediate consultation with your PT allows us to diagnose the problem and quickly determine the severity of the injury. However, the idea of stopping all activity is rarely a popular decision with the athlete, so he or she may attempt to hide their injury from you.
  • Because our primary goal is the future health and well-being of our patients, we want to see your child as soon as you notice certain symptoms of strain and possible injury. These might include:
    • Limping or difficulty walking
    • Discomfort when sitting for prolonged periods
    • Stiff legs or knees when getting up
    • Unusual weakness while trying to lift or carry something
    • Pain strong enough to require pain medication more than 2 days in a row
    • Reduced physical performance

Remember, to see a physical therapist, you do NOT need to first see your PCP and receive a referral (unless your health insurance policy dictates otherwise). You have the right to see any PT you choose for treatment of your pain and injuries. Feel free to call our office and we can help you determine if a PCP referral is needed. (401) 384-6490