You’re running down the field or court, and you feel a pop in the back of your leg followed by pain. This basic scenario is far too common in sports, and it indicates that you’ve injured your hamstring.
Reducing a torn hamstring’s recovery time is a common goal for athletes. After all, medical studies report that hamstring injuries account for up to 25% of all sports injuries. One effective way to decrease the recovery time of your torn hamstring is to work with a physical therapist. In fact, physical therapy can offer many benefits when treating a hamstring injury.
How can physical therapy help reduce your torn hamstring’s recovery time?
Physical therapists can and should be involved with your recovery from right after you’re injured until you’re able to return to playing. This level of involvement can help decrease your torn hamstring’s recovery time. Some ways physical therapists can help you achieve this goal is by:
- Decreasing your pain — Your level of pain is often a sign of how far you’ve progressed in the recovery process. Physical therapists can work with you to reduce your pain during the initial recovery stages. For instance, your specialist can show you how to do therapeutic exercises that help decrease pain and maintain muscle tone and flexibility.
- Reducing scar tissue buildup — Scar tissue tends to naturally form in healing soft tissue. However, scar tissue can cause problems later in your recovery process. It can restrict the movement of muscles during therapy, which can trigger pain. Scar tissue can also decrease soft tissue flexibility.
Your therapist can use techniques such as soft tissue mobilization and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) to help you. Both of these techniques can help break down scar tissue and help you avoid the issues it can cause.
- Addressing underlying issues — Poor running form or low muscle flexibility can often trigger hamstring injuries. Such underlying issues can also cause future injuries if they aren’t addressed.
Your physical therapist can help you identify any underlying issues that could lead to future injuries. They can also help you address these issues, which can reduce your risk of future sports injuries.
Find ways to reduce your torn hamstring’s recovery time at Excel PT
Are you looking for physical therapy that can reduce your torn hamstring’s recovery time? Our physical therapists at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy are here to help you find what you’re looking for. We offer free screenings that can confirm if you have a hamstring injury and identify underlying causes of your injury.
Additionally, our specialists are adept at building personalized therapy plans that can offer all the benefits discussed above and more. We can even help you right in your home. To get in-home therapy, all you have to do is make a virtual therapy or at-home care appointment with us.
Contact our team today for more information about our sport injury therapy services or to schedule an initial appointment.
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