Whether you’re a competitive athlete or just enjoy pickup games with friends, sports that involve throwing can take a toll on your arms, leading to specific throwing injuries that others may never experience.
No matter what sport you love or how severe your injury, our physical therapists are here to help you get back in the game and your everyday life with healing techniques and preventative measures to reduce your risk of future injury.
Types of throwing injuries
There’s a reason terms like “golfer’s elbow” and “tennis elbow” are well-known, because the joints that make up the arm are frequently subjected to extreme accidental forces and repetitive stress in the name of sports. We see all kinds of patients for the common injuries associated with throwing and swinging motions, including:
- Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
- Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Torn rotator cuff
- Shoulder pain
- Overuse injuries
How we treat throwing injuries
Throwing injuries can be straightforward to address, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t complex. The delicate yet resilient bones and joint tissues in the arms respond very well to the careful rehabilitation of evidence-based physical therapy techniques because medical professionals have studied them for years to develop tried-and-true methods for healing. Simply resting the arm can help relieve symptoms, but without targeted intervention for the specific cause of your pain, discomfort, or other symptoms, the chances of re-injury can be high.
Every throwing injury is different, which is why we take a personalized approach to each person who seeks treatment. In general, our treatment plans include a mix of the following techniques:
- Scapula strengthening exercises
- Manual physical therapy
- Dry needling for trigger point therapy
- Kinesiology taping for flexible support while performing
- Athletic technique training
What to expect from your appointment
Whether you’re currently experiencing the symptoms of a sports injury or are simply looking to make sure you’re using the best injury prevention techniques for your given sport, we begin every treatment plan with a thorough evaluation to fully understand your lifestyle and goals from physical therapy.
Your appointments and at-home care plan will likely consist of performing exercises, stretches, and range-of-motion training in addition to other treatments you’re interested in that can benefit your specific scenario. The more consistent you are with the care plan, and the closer communication we have with you, the better chance of having a long-term positive outcome from the treatment plan and preventative care strategy.
Find healing and injury prevention for throwing injuries near you
If you’re regularly playing sports that involve throwing, swinging, or using your arms aggressively, it may not be a matter of if, but when you’ll feel something off about your game. Learn more about our treatment options and how a preventative care plan can enhance your performance and overall lifestyle by contacting us today. You can easily start a conversation with our team by calling a nearby clinic location or contacting us online.
