Sports Physical Therapy at Saunders
Today, both youth and adult populations are getting more involved in extensive recreational and school sports. With these opportunities, however, comes an increased risk for both acute and overuse injuries. At Saunders Therapy Centers, our clinicians are equipped with the knowledge to evaluate and treat such injuries and also provide education regarding prevention and training regimens for all ages. Treatment of athletic injuries is a subset of our orthopedic injury treatment specialization. We individualize our evaluation and treatment to help you recover and return to your sport/activity, whether you are a weekend runner or a high school athlete. In our treatment plan, we include appropriate sports rehabilitation principles, function-specific training, and education to prevent further injuries. Our clinics are located in Bloomington, Maple Grove, and Saint Paul, MN.
Our sports physical therapy approach includes the following:
- Musculoskeletal Evaluation: We will evaluate muscle strength, imbalances, flexibility, posture, and specific functional tests to analyze biomechanics and movement patterns. From there we work to establish an individualized plan of care to address the findings.
- Manual therapy: Joint and soft tissue mobilization helps to improve the flexibility and stability, promote healing, decrease muscle spasm, and improve efficiency with performance.
- Neuromuscular Re-education Training: This includes performing hands on resistive training or balance/proprioception activities in the gym to improve your body’s awareness and muscular control.
- Sport specific Training: We educate the individual in appropriate interval training programs for throwing and running, and to assist with a safe return to activity.
- Education: Especially with young athletes, it is very important to educate both the individual and family on injury prevention, activity modification, and acute medical management of injuries, so these growing individuals can prevent future injuries.
