Physical Therapy for Extreme Athletes
Extreme Athletes: Crushing Injuries While Crushing Records
Physical Therapy for Extreme Athletes
You only have to spend a few minutes on YouTube, TikTok or Pay Per View to realize that Americans love extreme sports. From UFC to heliskiing, obstacle course racing and ultra distance running, Crossfit to rock climbing, for many, the adrenaline rush is worth the risk. For every individual participating in an extreme sport there are even more who love to spectate. While success at extreme sports can bring all the glory, the road to success does not come without risk. For those who spend their lives pushing their bodies to the extreme, pain and injury are almost unavoidable, but an athlete that hopes for a long career needs to have a great team of professionals on hand, a physical therapist being one of them.
If you are unfamiliar with the sport of ultra distance running, you may not know that a beloved female ultra athlete achieved a feat in the summer of 2023 that is unlikely to be repeated in our lifetime. Courtney Dauwalter ran and won three of the toughest and most competitive ultra races on the planet in the same summer–the Western States 100 miler (June, 2023), the Hardrock 100 miler (July, 2023) and the Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc (UTMB) 106 miler (August, 2023). She also set course records in the first two races. Even if you are not a fan of trail running, it doesn’t take much to imagine how difficult it would be to race as hard as you can over 300 miles across three races with barely a month’s time to recover in between. This my friends, is an extreme athlete’s dream and the type of feat for which they rigorously train their bodies.
HAVING A PHYSICAL THERAPIST ON THE TEAM
An extreme athlete will typically have a team of professionals that help them stay healthy and succeed in their sport. Trainers, sports psychologists, physicians, massage therapists and physical therapists work to optimize an athlete’s physical and mental health. Because of the high volume of training most of these athletes participate in and the extreme forces many of their bodies undergo, having a rehabilitation professional experienced in treating these kinds of athletes is essential. Physical therapists support extreme athletes in a few different capacities.
Injury prevention: Injuries happen. It is almost inevitable if you are riding a bike off a huge jump, scaling five hundred foot walls or running hundreds of miles. So while not every injury can be prevented, there is a lot physical therapists can do to minimize the frequency and severity of injuries. The off-season, for example, is an important time to put in hard work in the training room that builds a base from which you can compete. This is also a great time to visit your physical therapist. At this time your PT can perform testing and screens to evaluate any losses in muscle performance, strength, flexibility, etc that have occurred throughout the season and look for any impairments that may predispose you to future injury. They can review your past season and performance, identify and past injuries and with this information craft an even better exercise plan to get you through the next year.
Address the niggles: A niggle is that annoying little pain or discomfort that crops up during training or competition. It is not severe enough to stop you from training but it doesn’t seem to be resolving on its own either. It’s also pretty easy to ignore but ignore the niggle too long and it can suddenly transform into a full-blown injury. When you have a good physical therapist on your team you can visit them as soon as these symptoms arise. Your physical therapist can assess your training plan and make suggestions if needed. For example, you may need to modify your warm up or recovery routine. You may benefit from incorporating some different exercises into your weekly training. When necessary your PT can also apply manual therapy interventions to promote tissue healing and manage discomfort.
Recover from the injuries: Given the nature of the activities in which many extreme athletes are involved, the types of injuries incurred are highly variable. Injuries may occur due to accidents while performing their sport or as a result of training in the gym, for example. Along with post surgical rehab, physical therapists often treat muscle contusions, tendinopathies, strains and sprains, fractured bones, concussions and head injuries, joint pain, back and neck pain and much more, in extreme athletes.
EXTREMELY SKILLED REHAB FOR EXTREME ATHLETES
When injuries do strike, it’s time to hit the rehab room. If you have been working with your PT for a while, they already know your body and your sport and understand how demanding your extreme sport is. Because of the stresses and forces applied to the body when performing extreme sports, you want to work with a PT that understands how to get your body back to the level that it can withstand these stresses. Applying evidence-based treatment protocols and return-to-sport guidelines helps reduce the risk of reinjury.
Here at Evolve Physical Therapy our sports PTs love our extreme athletes. Many of us grew up athletes and value the dedication and commitment it takes to succeed in these types of endeavors. So whether you are injured now or looking to add a skilled PT to your team, call Evolve Physical Therapy today to learn how we can help make you a better athlete.
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