It's not unusual for people who work out or participate in sports on a regular basis to experience an injury. It's also not unusual for the physically active-but-injured to be hesitant to take a break from or alter their activity while they seek care from a physical therapist (PT). They may fear losing muscle mass, gaining weight, or simply surrendering that regular sense of well-being. But under the right care, it doesn't have to be that way.
Now available from APTA's Move Forward Radio: a conversation with Ryan Balmes, PT, DPT, who addresses many common questions and concerns about what happens when the body is recovering from injury and the role of the PT in that process. “If you’re injured, it’s not the end of the day,” he says, “but there’s a process” to avoid further injury.
Balmes describes for listeners how he helps injured athletes safely stay in shape while still treating their injuries, how age affects injury recovery and prevention, and how patients and clients can work collaboratively with a PT to meet their unique needs and treatment goals. Balmes is a board-certified clinical specialist in both sports physical therapy and orthopaedic physical therapy.
Move Forward Radio is archived at MoveForwardPT.com, APTA's official consumer information website, and can be streamed online or downloaded as a podcast via iTunes.
Other recent Move Forward Radio episodes include:
Beyond Opioids: Transforming Pain Management to Improve Health
On February 5, 2018, APTA convened a panel of 7 experts to discuss how pain management in America can move beyond opioids and improve the health of society. The panel was broadcast live on Facebook and included the debut of APTA’s latest public service announc
ement for the #ChoosePT opioid awareness campaign.
Optimal Breathing and the Role of Physical Therapy
Rohini K. Chandrashekar, PT, describes the mechanics of respiration, the causes and effects of breathing dysfunction, how breathing can affect movement and pain perception, and how PTs can help people breathe easier.
Girl Power: Keeping Female Adolescent Athletes Healthy and Prepared for Sports
Kate Hamilton, PT, DPT, discusses the safe, supportive, and fun environment she has created for adolescent girls only. The spectrum of services they provide range from individual and group strength and conditioning to performance enhancement, injury prevention, and physical therapy.
Surfing and the Role of Physical Therapy
Mark Kozuki, PT, DPT, explains the physical demands and challenges of surfing, how it’s different for recreational versus professional surfers, and what things surfers of any ability level should keep in mind to minimize injury risk and maximize performance.