Acute Injury Management

Getting your sports injuries treated quickly

Whether it’s severely twisting an ankle on the basketball court or sharp knee pain while running, it can be a challenge to properly manage acute injuries. 

Do you schedule an appointment with a doctor and wait until you can be seen? Do you immediately go to an urgent care facility? Do you suck up the pain, try the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and hope it feels better in a week or two?

All are options. But the best solution often is contacting a physical therapist as soon as possible. 

In most states, you won’t need a referral for physical therapy and can go directly to a center, where clinicians can assess your situation and begin treatment quickly.

The benefits of physical therapy 

Direct access: Waiting on an injury to get better without treatment can push your recovery back weeks or months. Oftentimes, the first visit to a physical therapy center begins with an evaluation and ends with therapy and a plan of exercise/treatment to take with you. 

Even if you can get into see a doctor immediately, that first visit will be a consultation, and in many cases, you’ll be referred to a physical therapist anyway. Going straight to our centers saves you a step, and can also save you money and unnecessary testing while potentially expediting a return to your normal. 

Direction of care: Googling your ailment and reading about what to do for it can be helpful. It also may result in misidentifying an issue that ultimately hinders your return to your activities.

Our physical therapists are professionally trained clinicians with a deep understanding of the human musculoskeletal system and sports injuries. They will accurately diagnose your situation, immediately provide a proper direction of care and establish an approximate timeline for recovery. That could mean starting a physical therapy session that day or getting a referral to see a specialist. Regardless, we will create a plan Day One. 

Individual treatment: A sprained ankle for one patient isn’t necessarily the same for another. Maybe it’s in a slightly different location or more severe than another’s. Personal histories also play into assessments. 

Whether it’s administering hands-on treatment to promote blood flow and reduce pain or using advance technology to restore mobility and range of motion, all treatment plans are individualized based on your specific needs and goals.

Pre-operation strength: It’s possible a weekend warrior’s knee tweak ends up as an ACL tear and requires surgery. Our physical therapists will recognize that and get you placed on the right road. However, time won’t be wasted in those instances. 

While waiting for surgery, physical therapists can help you prepare by strengthening the areas around the injury. The stronger and better prepared you are going into surgery, the quicker and simpler rehabilitation can be. 

Common acute injuries managed with physical therapy

• Muscle strains such as hamstring and calf pain
• Ankle sprains
• Knee joint issues

If you are dealing with an acute sports injury and you aren’t sure what your next step is, contact one of our therapy centers to make an appointment. Our trained clinicians will assess your situation, create a plan of action and care and, in many cases, get you started the day of your appointment on your way to a speedier recovery.