In Minnesota, the sports season is fleeting—unless you compete on skis or skates. We have some guidelines to shorten your stay on the sidelines after an injury, and get you back to the game you love.
When you play sports, you want to be in the thick of the action—not sidelined with sports injuries. One of the goals of the sports medicine team at Summit is to try to get our athletes safely back on the field as soon as possible. However, we realize that when athletes resume a sport too quickly, before they are adequately healed and recovered, puts them at risk for re-injury and the chance of extended down time.
Successful recovery from sports injuries requires the right treatment game plan. With early diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate rehabilitation, you can often safely accelerate your recovery.
Maintain good physical condition
Research shows that athletes who are in excellent physical condition not only prevent injuries—they also tend to suffer less severe injuries, and recover quickly.
Seek out prompt treatment
When you seek medical help sooner rather than later for an injury, you lessen the acuteness of the physical damage. Early treatment means less swelling, stiffness, and loss of muscle tone.
Commit to your rehabilitation program
Once your injury has been diagnosed, you will probably work with a physical therapist to strengthen injured tissues and correct gait patterns or other physical habits that may have contributed to your injury. Your therapist will work with you once or twice a week—but you will be responsible to maintain your exercise program every day, whether you are with your therapist or not. The more committed and dedicated you are to your therapy program, the better—and faster—your recovery will be.
Cultivate a positive attitude
Your can-do mindset will help you stick to your rehabilitation exercises even on the days when you aren’t feeling very motivated. The stronger you are when you return to your sport, the lower the chance of re-injury. An upbeat perspective will help you stick to the exercises you need to do in order to rebuild strength in injured tissues.
When you suffer a sports injury, excellent sports medicine care is a necessary, but not a sufficient, component of a speedy and successful recovery. The injured athletes who partner with their medical teams and take responsibility for their recovery are most likely to return to play faster—and safely.
Summit Orthopedics offers comprehensive sports medicine expertise
From Olympians to pro athletes to kids in youth sports and those that just want to be more active—Summit Orthopedics delivers expert care by fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians. If you are recently injured or concerned about ongoing pain, Summit Orthopedics sports medicine specialists have the expertise to evaluate your discomfort and develop a plan to quickly and safely help you get back to being active.
Start your journey to stronger, healthier athletic condition. Find your sports medicine expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a sports medicine consultation.
Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, Plymouth, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as several additional community clinics.
More resources for you
- Ask Dr. Skendzel: When Can My Child Safely Begin Sports?
- Hockey Strengthening Exercises to Try Before You Head Out on The Ice