Physical therapy for injured athletes proves to be beneficial

Athletes have a higher likelihood of bouncing back from injuries if they embark on a physical therapy program that will aid the recovery, according to a publication distributed by South University.

Injuries during athletics are essentially inevitable and cause losses during games and can affect a team's performance. But during the recovery, athletes who work with professionals who hold physical therapy jobs come back sooner, stronger and more prepared.

Among the causes of injuries that ultimately require training with physical therapists are lack of warming up, minimal training and sporadic conditioning.

"Injuries can be caused by a combination of those things without necessarily being the only reasons," clinical coordinator Apostolos Theophilou with the Physical Therapist Assisting program at South University said. "Fatigue and overuse are also significant contributors to an injury, and not excluding also the psychosocial aspects and dehydration that cause athletes to be prone to injuries."

South University has 11 locations and bestows an Associate of Science Degree for physical therapist assisting. Graduates work with supervising physical therapists to offer strategies and services to enhance mobility, alleviate pain and prevent lasting permanent disabilities.