For many athletes, bumps and scrapes are a normal part of their sport. And a lot of the time, over-the-counter painkillers, an ice pack and rest are enough to get back in playing shape. But when an injury is more serious, physical therapy may be required for recovery. And this goes for athletes of all ages and levels of competition.

“It ranges from young athletes to weekend warriors and everyone in between,” says physical therapist (PT) Scott Gorham. “If your main priority … is to be active for a specific sport or activity, then sports physical therapy is definitely for you.”

During our conversation on the For Health’s Sake podcast, Scott explains what exactly makes physical therapy so important for an athlete’s healing. We cover:

• Types of injuries physical therapy can help with
• How a PT evaluates an injury
• How physical therapy helps develop certain aspects of athletic ability
• Common treatment methods
• The role of physical therapy in injury prevention
• What an injured athlete should do before returning to their sport

Get back in the game

Sports physical therapy is about more than recovering from an acute injury. It’s about helping you continue to participate in your sport to the fullest possible extent, while minimizing your risk of further injuries. If an injury is interfering with your athletic ability, talk to an expert who can give you customized care for your exact needs.