Summer is the season of sunshine, recreation, and outdoor sports. From pick-up basketball games and beach volleyball to long bike rides and weekend tennis matches, people across all ages take full advantage of the warmer weather to stay active. But with increased activity comes an increased risk of injury.
At Midlothian Medical and Sports Center, we see a noticeable rise in sports injuries every summer. Whether you're a competitive athlete or a weekend warrior, it's important to recognize the most common summer sports injuries—and more importantly, how physical therapy can play a crucial role in your recovery and prevention strategy.
In this blog, we'll break down the top 5 sports injuries to look out for this summer, offer tips for avoiding them, and explain how physical therapy can help you bounce back stronger.
Why It Happens: Quick turns, uneven surfaces, or jumping activities (like basketball or trail running) can twist the ankle awkwardly, overstretching or tearing ligaments.
Symptoms:
How Physical Therapy Helps:
Pro Tip: Always wear proper footwear, especially when hiking or playing sports on unpredictable surfaces.
Why It Happens: Summer sports like soccer, flag football, or even water skiing often involve sudden stops, pivots, or impacts that can injure the knee—especially the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).
Symptoms:
How Physical Therapy Helps:
Pro Tip: Build strength in your hamstrings and quads before starting high-impact summer sports.
Why It Happens: Swimming, tennis, baseball, and other overhead sports can place repetitive stress on the shoulder. This leads to inflammation or tearing of the rotator cuff muscles and tendons.
Symptoms:
How Physical Therapy Helps:
Pro Tip: Always warm up and stretch your shoulders before engaging in overhead sports.
Why It Happens: Not just for tennis players—anyone using repetitive wrist or arm movements (golfers, gardeners, and DIYers included) can develop this overuse injury.
Symptoms:
How Physical Therapy Helps:
Pro Tip: Use proper technique and take frequent breaks during repetitive tasks.
Why It Happens: Sprinting, jumping, or sudden acceleration (common in track, soccer, or pickup football) can overstretch or tear the hamstring muscles.
Symptoms:
How Physical Therapy Helps:
Pro Tip: Avoid jumping straight into intense workouts—gradually increase your training load.
Physical therapy is not just about rehabilitation—it’s about getting you back to doing what you love, safely and confidently. Unlike rest alone, physical therapy focuses on restoring function, preventing re-injury, and addressing underlying issues that led to the injury in the first place.
At Midlothian Medical and Sports Center, our experienced physical therapists tailor treatment plans to your unique goals, whether that’s returning to a competitive league or simply jogging pain-free at the park.
Our therapy services help with:
Q: How soon should I start physical therapy after an injury?
A: As soon as possible. Early intervention helps reduce pain, restore movement, and prevent complications.
Q: Can physical therapy replace surgery?
A: In some cases, yes. PT can improve function and reduce pain enough to avoid surgery altogether, especially with strains, sprains, and tendonitis.
Q: What if I’m not an athlete—can I still benefit?
A: Absolutely. Physical therapy is for anyone experiencing pain or limited mobility from activity, injury, or overuse.
Q: How many sessions will I need?
A: It depends on your injury and goals, but our therapists will create a personalized plan and keep you informed every step of the way.
Injuries can be frustrating—but they don’t have to ruin your summer. With the right care and a team of dedicated physical therapists, you can heal faster, move better, and get back to enjoying every sunny moment.
At Midlothian Medical and Sports Center, we combine advanced techniques, personalized attention, and a deep understanding of sports biomechanics to help our patients recover better and stronger than before.
Call us today to schedule your consultation or book online to start your recovery journey.
