Covid-19 has had a huge effect on sports over these past 6 months. While everyone is excited to see athletes get back on to the fields and courts, there is concern that all this uncertainty has left some athletes susceptible to increased risk of injury. We won’t have all the data until after the seasons are over but if the NFL is any indication, we may be looking at more injured athletes than usual. We are finding that most athletes are in a cycle of either over-training or under-training prior to their return to team activities. No one is to blame, as navigating the pandemic has not been easy for athletics. Everything for sports has been in flux since March, and with new guidelines being released throughout the summer and fall, it definitely wasn’t easy to know when athletes would be headed back to training camps, to the field or if team workouts would even be happening in 2020. The simple truth is that an athlete’s body just may not be prepared for sport in many of the ways it is accustomed to.
Training Concerns for Athletes During the Pandemic
Even if an athlete has done everything they could during the offseason, it is not always possible to replicate what it is like working out with a team or being guided in person by a coaching staff. “… such sporting activities require training in evasive maneuvers and contact situations. It is also near impossible to practice and hone the skills for game strategy when working alone.1” Compound this with the fact that many athletes probably haven’t had the same level of contact with their athletic trainers in the absence of on-campus, summertime practices and training. In addition, most athletes experienced an abrupt end to their spring season, so old injuries are lingering. This can mean some of those small, nagging injuries, may not have been addressed as they normally would through more consistent points of contacts with training staff. It hasn’t been easy on anyone, from athletes to coaches to administration to medical staff. As we all navigate our ‘new normal’ for athletics this year, Spooner Physical Therapy is here to help.
How can Spooner Physical Therapy Help?
Spooner Physical Therapy provides collaborative care throughout an athlete’s rehabilitation and helps the athlete achieve return to sport in the most optimal manner possible. We believe in a team approach that starts with communicating and working in partnership with the athlete, all of their healthcare providers – including their physicians and athletic trainer – and also working closely with their coaches as they transition back to their sport. We don’t just offer post-injury treatment, we also want to set the athlete up for success, through complimentary movement screening which helps to identify any deficits which could potentially lead to future injury. We develop a comprehensive plan based on what we uncover during the screening to ensure the best athlete takes the field. Whether you are the athlete, a parent/guardian, an athletic trainer, or a coach we understand that you are dealing with more than ever before and that is why during this ever changing, uncertain time, we want you to know that Spooner Physical Therapy is here to support you.
If you are suffering from an injury or working toward getting back to sport and you would like to schedule an appointment with a Spooner physical therapist, you can click here to get started.
Resources: