Physical Therapy Can Help You Get Back to Sports This Spring

Physical Therapy Can Help You Get Back to Sports This Spring

Are you looking forward to the beautiful weather this spring? With so many great activities to look forward to, it’s important to make sure your health is in tip-top shape for this season. At Priority Physical Therapy, our physical therapists can help you get over an injury and get ready for spring-time fun! 

A physical therapy program can increase your fitness level and help you make the most of your favorite activities. Physical therapists are movement experts who understand the body’s demands and how to prepare for activities like running, biking, and playing sports.

If you’re looking to get more physical activity this season or finally resolve that old injury and aching joints, call Priority Physical Therapy today. We’d love to help you get in the best shape possible so you can participate in all of your favorite activities!

How Physical Therapy Can Help You Be Ready This Spring

Sports: Being able to practice the sport you love, whether competitively or just for fun, is essential. Sports provide a way for you to get physical activity while having fun. Your heart rate rises, your blood gets flowing, your muscles get the workout that they need. 

Many sports injuries are caused by not training in the off-season or trying to do too much too soon. Improper training and conditioning can resurface old injuries and contribute to new injuries starting. Our physical therapists can help you implement effective strategies to prevent sports injuries this season. 

A few common sports injuries that physical therapy can treat include:

It doesn’t matter if you play golf, softball, lacrosse, swim, baseball, or another sport. Our physical therapists at Priority Physical Therapy can help you get in shape and be prepared for the season. We can also guide you to recover from past injuries that may not have adequately healed.

Here are some excellent activities that can get you in shape and help you get back to playing the sports you love this season!

Biking: Biking is a fun activity people enjoy as it warms up outside. Whether you are riding on the road or the trails, biking can prove to be difficult if you’re suffering from injuries that have not healed or chronic pain conditions that restrict your mobility. 

If you haven’t been on a bicycle for several years, you can start out riding just a few times each week. The great thing about biking is that you can go as slow or as fast as you’re able. Riding a bicycle will not only keep you active, even 15 or 20 minutes twice a week is a good start. 

A physical therapist can show you the best way to ride the type of bike you own. Our physical therapists can help to mobilize your joints, build up strength and improve your endurance so you can continue taking those long bike rides through the park, mountains, or city streets! Having the proper fit can ensure you spend time enjoying the ride instead of recovering from an injury.

Running: One of the best activities to get in shape or decompress from stress is running. Unfortunately, new and old runners alike will experience injuries that prevent them from putting in the miles. Too often, runners ignore their injuries or don’t resolve them entirely, only to worsen or develop a new problem. 

While running may be your chosen spring activity, it certainly can be hard on the body, and without proper guidance, you may find yourself unable to run at all. That’s why participating in a regular physical therapy routine at Priority Physical Therapy is such a good idea.

If you’re having difficulty running at the same levels of speed or distances that you’re used to, it’s a sign you should see a physical therapist ASAP for care. We’ll make sure your muscles are strong, and your plan for training is sound. We can help make sure your joint health is up to par before you hit the trails this season.

Recipe of the Month: Healthy Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups plus 1 tsp white whole wheat flour or regular whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp fine salt
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
• ½ cup honey or maple syrup
• 2 eggs, preferably at room temperature
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• 6 oz blueberries
• 1 tbsp turbinado sugar

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease all 12 muffin cups with butter, coconut oil, or cooking spray, or line with muffin liners. In a large bowl, whisk together 1¾ cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk oil and honey or maple syrup. Add eggs and beat well, then mix in yogurt and vanilla. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir with a large spoon just until combined (a few lumps are fine). In a small bowl, toss blueberries with the remaining 1 tsp flour to prevent sinking, then gently fold into the batter. Batter will be thick. Divide batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups and sprinkle tops with turbinado sugar.
3. Bake 16–19 minutes, until tops are golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool the pan on a rack; run a butter knife around edges if needed to release. Store muffins covered at room temperature for 2 days, refrigerate up to 5 days, or freeze up to 3 months.

3 Natural Ways to Beat Spring Allergies

It’s finally spring! For most people, this means warm weather, getting outside, and appreciating the blooming flowers and beauty of nature. However, if you have allergies, you might be dreading all of the above. 

Don’t give up on the idea of enjoying the season just yet. Did you know there are several natural ways you can help lessen the severity of your allergies? Here are three ways you can start fighting off your allergies, beginning today!

To discover more natural methods for allergy relief, contact Priority Physical Therapy today!