Orthopedic injuries are all too common and result from various causes, such as accidents, falls, sports, overuse, and certain medical conditions. The impact of injuries to muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and nerves can range from minor pain and swelling to functionality disability.

Sadly, a lot of people are more likely to sustain orthopedic injuries because of their age, overall health, activity level, and improper training practices. Thankfully, through orthopedic physical therapy, you can take steps to avoid orthopedic injuries. Orthopedic physical therapy incorporates proper conditioning, stretching, and injury prevention techniques in your routine to maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system and avoid injuries.

Let’s talk about how conditioning, stretching, and injury prevention techniques can help prevent orthopedic injuries and where you can go to get orthopedic physical therapy services in and around Jacksonville, FL.

Conditioning and Strengthening

Proper conditioning helps your body prepare for the physical demands of various exercises and activities and reduces the risk of injuries. An orthopedic physical therapist can develop a well-rounded strengthening and conditioning program for you that will be focused on improving your strength, flexibility, mobility, power, speed, agility, endurance, and balance.

• Conditioning. The conditioning program will be focused on increasing your cardiovascular fitness, endurance, and overall stamina through cardiovascular exercises like jogging, cycling, swimming, and brisk walking.
• Strength training. Strengthening increases muscle strength and endurance through exercises that target specific muscle groups and make them stronger. Squats, deadlifts, bicep curls, and bench presses are common strengthening training exercises.

The conditioning and strengthening program also aims to reduce the incidence and severity of orthopedic injuries in people of all ages (even older adults) and abilities.

In addition to conditioning and strengthening programs, an orthopedic physical therapist can also recommend dynamic agility drills that are focused on enhancing an individual’s ability to change direction quickly, develop agility, and improve coordination.

Injury Prevention Techniques

These are the strategies and practices that your physical therapist will recommend to reduce your risk of getting hurt during physical activity and everyday life. These include:

Warm-ups and Cool Downs

Your orthopedic physical therapy specialist will advise you to always start your exercise, workout, and other physical activity with warm up and cool down. Warm-up involves light cardiovascular exercise and dynamic stretches to increase the blood circulation to the muscles and prepare them for intense movements. Cool-down static stretches to gradually bring your heart rate and muscles back to their resting state.

Protective Gear

Orthopedic injuries are more common in people who regularly engage in high-risk exercise or physical activity. Using protective gear when engaging in high-risk activities, such as cycling and contact sports, can help prevent orthopedic injuries.

Proper Techniques

When performing a particular exercise or engaging in a sport, learn the correct techniques and form. Proper techniques minimize the stress and strain on your joints and muscles and thereby help reduce the risk of overuse or acute injuries.

Rest and Recovery

Overtraining can make you susceptible to injuries and weaken your immune system. Therefore, your orthopedic physical therapy specialist will advise you to always listen to your body and allow it sufficient time to rest and recover between your exercise routine, physical activities, or workouts.

Orthopedic Physical Therapy in Virginia Center for Spine & Sports Therapy

If you think you or your loved one are at higher risk for sustaining orthopedic injuries due to your age, physical activity, and health status and are looking for orthopedic physical therapy to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place, visit our highly trained and skilled physical therapist at H2 Health in Jacksonville, FL.

Our team of highly trained and skilled physical therapists will perform a comprehensive assessment to determine your risk for injuries and develop a tailored physical therapy plan to strengthen your musculoskeletal system and reduce your risk of sustaining orthopedic injuries.

If you would like to know more about us or want to schedule a consultation with our professional physiotherapist, contact our staff today at (804) 249-8277 or fill out our online appointment request form. You can rely on our trusted physical therapy specialists from H2 Health’s 17 locations across the greater Jacksonville area.