Active Athletes Can Find Themselves in Need of Active Injury Care
August 1, 2022
With summer sports winding down and fall sports starting up, we’re taking a close look at active injury care for any acute or chronic injuries rearing their ugly head.
If that hits close to home, it’s time to consult with an orthopaedic specialist. During your consultation, the doctor will want to determine the cause of your injury, and from there, he or she will work with you to create a personalized care plan to get you on the road to recovery. That plan will likely involve active and/or passive injury care with a physical therapist.
First, it’s important to understand what active injury care is and how it differs from passive injury care. While passive and active care and treatment incorporate different approaches, they are nonetheless often used together for patients recovering from injuries, fractures; living with chronic back and neck pain, arthritis; and other conditions and injuries caused while playing sports, working, or from aging.
Active Injury Care for Recovery
An active injury care plan involves a recovery plan that keeps you active and returns you to good health as quickly as possible. Techniques within this plan could involve fitness programs, stretching, joint mobility movements, strengthening and balance exercises, as well as machine use of treadmills or stationary bikes.
Passive Injury Care Eases Symptoms
Alternatively, passive injury care often includes ultrasound therapy, acupuncture, pain medication, and heat and ice. Passive treatments won’t include the movement of muscles or joints. If you still have a lot of pain or discomfort with your injury, your treatment plan will likely start with a passive approach. As your pain subsides, active injury treatment will increasingly be incorporated to your plan.
As sports medicine experts in Cincinnati, we know our athletes want to get back to their sport as quickly as possible. When appropriate, a treatment plan that includes active injury care helps accomplish that. Selecting low-impact exercises and recovery programs allow tissues to heal, strengthens muscles, and supports flexibility and range of motion. Our experienced specialists work with each patient to identify that critical line of returning them to doing what they love while not overextending or further exacerbating an injury.
Find an Orthopaedic Specialist
Ultimately, our patients experience effective recovery experiences thanks to this dynamic approach to addressing both acute and chronic injuries. If you have either type of injury, consult with one of our expert specialists to find out what combination of treatments can get you back out living your life — and playing your sport — to the fullest. Schedule an online appointment today.