Summer is in full swing here in the Twin Cities, and the warmer weather oftentimes means people are more active. More people are out biking around Lake Como or hiking scenic trails along the Mississippi River during the summer, but this increased activity also leads to more physical injuries. You shouldn’t shy away from activity simply because of the prospect of injury, but you should be aware of where to turn in the event of one. In today’s blog, we take a look at some common summer injuries that physical therapists can help treat.
Summer Injuries And Physical Therapy
We always seem to deal with an uptick of a few different types of injuries during the summer, and that’s perfectly normal, because our team is more than equipped to help patients overcome them. Here are some of the injuries we see more during the summer.
- Overstress Injuries – It’s very common for people to try to do too much, too soon when the weather gets nice. Don’t try to go for a 5-mile run on a nice day if you’ve only been running a mile or two on your treadmill. Slowly increase your workload, otherwise you may end up at our clinic. We help treat injuries like muscle strains, shin splints and joint pain caused by too much repetitive stress.
- Elbow/Shoulder Injuries – Summer is a time for travel baseball, tennis or all the golf you can squeeze into the season, but because most people don’t play these sports year-round in Minnesota, going from minimal stress on the shoulders and elbows to a lot of stress in a short about of time can lead to overstress injuries in these areas. Tennis elbow and rotator cuff injuries are especially popular among recreational athletes during the summer. We can help strengthen these joints so that the activities you love doing won’t cause you pain.
- Ankle Sprains – Tens of thousands of Americans sprain their ankle every day, and it seems to be more popular in Minnesota during the summer time when people are more active. Untreated ankle sprains can lead to ligament loosening and an increased risk of another sprain or a more severe injury like a fracture. Our physical therapy team can help strengthen these ligaments and stabilize the ankle joint so that you have confidence in your ankles again.
- Disc Issues – Back problems are common year-round, but disc issues are more likely to be caused by an acute moment of stress, like when you’re lifting a heavy load or bending and twisting your spine. These injuries aren’t isolated to the summer, but seasonal projects or yard work can put more stress on our spinal discs than normal, causing them to shift or herniate. We can help restore the disc to its proper location without surgery, and we can teach you some lifting and posture techniques to help take stress off your spinal column.
- Knee Problems – Your knees are the joint that will bear the brunt of this increased activity, and while stress helps them become stronger, too much stress or an awkward step can leave you hobbled with knee pain. Knees are one of the most commonly replaced joints, so it’s important that you don’t let pain or discomfort linger and cause problems down the road. Treat knee discomfort head on and get back to moving this summer!
If you’re dealing with one of the injuries on this list, or you want help overcoming a different physical issue, we’re more than happy to help. Reach out to our team today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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