“The physical therapist is one of the most underutilized avenues of rehab among conventional fitness athletes and CrossFitters. Physical therapists are movement specialists with a deep understanding of human anatomy. PTs are also the main point of contact for physical medicine and unlike many primary care physicians, PTs usually won’t tell athletes to give up the sports they love. Instead, PTs will provide athletes with the tools they need to understand how their bodies can perform better in those conditions”, says Genevieve Gyulavary, PT, DPT in an article written for Covalent Careers. This could not be further from the truth, well-written statement and I couldn’t agree more. Let’s go back to the basics.
CrossFit will push you to the absolute max with heavyweights, as many reps as possible, as fast as possible. It is promoted as both a physical exercise philosophy and a competitive fitness sport, incorporating elements from high-intensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, gymnastics, grievous sport, calisthenics, strongman, and other exercises. While all exercise can create injury, we see more injuries with CrossFit because of the high-speed, high-impact approach.
The number one reason we see more patients injured during their CrossFit sessions is muscle and joint exhaustion caused by incorrect techniques, paired with patients not knowing their own limitations. You will need to learn the fundamentals and the right technique before you begin to increase intensity or volume.
Anytime an athlete pursues a recreational activity with intensity & volume, injuries are possible. The most common injuries we see at our practice caused while practicing CrossFit are shoulder, back, and knees. We explain more below.
– Torn labrums, shoulder impingement, and rotator cuff injury. Repeated use of the shoulder can make the tendons in your shoulder swell, leading them to “catch” on your upper shoulder bone. Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that attach your upper arm bone to your shoulder. They help you lift and rotate your arm. The rotator cuff sits under the top of the shoulder, which is called the acromion. If you have shoulder impingement, your rotator cuff catches or rubs against the acromion. When you lift your arm, the space (bursa) between the rotator cuff and acromion narrows, which increases pressure. The increased pressure irritates the rotator cuff, leading to impingement.
– Lower back sprains are the most common problem and they often occur from improper lifting techniques or from trying to lift too much weight. Sciatica caused by the short and tight piriformis, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), slipped vertebrae or herniated disc, stiff iliopsoas.
– Squats, jumps and various other CrossFit movements give knees a pounding. The most common knee injuries that can occur during this type of exercise are MCL injury and meniscal tears. The MCL is a band of tissue on the inside of your knee connecting your thighbone to the bone of your lower leg, injuring it will require Physical Therapy or surgery. A meniscus tear is a common knee injury that happens when one or more of the fibrocartilage strips in the knee (called menisci) is stretched or torn.
When these injuries occur, the best course of action is to work with a physician group that understands how to deal with the pain and rehabilitation of sports injuries. It’s your best chance to avoid additional injury and to get you back to your previous activity level. Only a healthy athlete can be a successful athlete. When pain or injury do occur, seek the right treatment with a Sports Physical Therapy clinic after you see your doctor. CardioFlex Therapy in Davie, Florida is well prepared to treat these and many other Sports Injuries to get the athlete back in shape and back in the game.
Physical Therapy in Miami
CardioFlex’s Physical therapists (PTs) are highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve mobility – in many cases without expensive surgery. CardioFlex Therapy provides physical therapy in Miami and helps contribute to major reductions in pain and significant gains in physical independence through effective and personalized treatments. Our Physical Therapists work with patients to develop calculated and tailored programs that progress patients from rest to mobile, and in most instances, pain-free activity.
For more info visit: www.cardioflextherapy.com
About the Author Terry Abrams is the President & Director of Physical Therapy for CardioFlex Therapy, a start-up company founded in 2005 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Delivering both Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy, CardioFlex Therapy’s Outpatient Clinic is centrally located in Davie, FL serving the towns of Cooper City, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Southwest Ranches, Hollywood, Miramar, Sunrise, & Fort Lauderdale. For Home Physical Therapy, CardioFlex sends its therapists to homes located in Broward, Dade, & Palm Beach counties.