Physical and Occupational therapy that helps athletes get back in the game.

By: Jake Davis

  • You work with a lot of local athletes, what types of injuries do you see most frequently?
      1. We treat a variety of athletic injuries including but not limited to ankle sprains, knee pain, torn ACLs, back pain, shoulder injuries, elbow pain/UCL tears, and 
      2. wrist/hand fractures. We provide therapy services for conservative management of injuries and post-surgical rehabilitation. 
  • How many athletes do you treat in a given month?
      1. With 3 clinics in the city of Oxford, we provide PT/OT services to a large number of athletes in the area from Oxford City Schools, Lafayette County schools, and Regents School of Oxford.
    2. When are athletic injuries most common? For example, do you see more athletes getting injured in the first few weeks after the offseason?
      1. Athletic injuries can occur at any given time when being active in sports. Injuries can be seen during pre-season/at the beginning of a new season. Lengthy periods of rest followed by quickly jumping back into training/practice can lead to overuse that the body needs time to adjust to. We are now seeing more injuries year-round as athletes have begun to specialize in specific sports at a younger age. For example, elbow injuries have become more commonplace in young baseball players as they play year-round and the constant stress of throwing leads to pain and potential injury. 
  • What kind of injuries have the longest recovery time?
      1. Injuries that require surgical intervention. Various surgeries require specific protocols and timelines that differ pending the type of injury. Ex: ACL reconstruction, fractures requiring surgical fixation, etc. 
  • What steps can athletes take to prevent those types of injuries?
  • Consistent exercise paired with proper mobility/stretching and adequate nutrition as well as ample amounts of rest provide the right equation for injury prevention. Engage in a variety of sports/exercise to work different areas of the body. All that being said, some injuries are just unavoidable.
  • What steps can young people, and especially young athletes, take to reduce long-term stress on joints and ligaments?
    1. Stay active. Stretch/warm-up prior to exercising/athletics. Utilize proper biomechanics/technique during sport/exercise.