Most Common Skateboarding Injuries & How We Treat Them
Skateboarding is not for the faint of heart. There are so many things that can go wrong in the worst possible ways, but thankfully physical therapy (PT) can be used to help recover from these injuries even after a trip to the emergency room by targeting the muscles, joints, and ligaments that have been affected. Additionally, PT can also be used to prevent certain injuries from happening in the first place. The professionals at Impact Medical Brandon are here to show you common skateboarding injuries and how we can treat you with physical therapy.
Common Skateboarding Injuries
While many car injuries are commonly located in the upper body, a lot of skateboard injuries have to do with the lower body including legs and feet.
Plantar Fasciitis Injuries
This is a term you don’t hear often, but your plantar fasciitis is the flat band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes. Continuous and repeated stress on the bottom of your foot can lead to heel pain.
Neuroma
If you’ve ever felt pinched in the foot, it could be a neuroma. These pinched nerves could become inflamed until you feel a numb or tingling sensation in your toes, or simply pain. A neuroma is usually caused by overusing your feet or practicing poor technique when skating which can cause you to overpronate.
Tendonitis
As the name suggests, Tendonitis is localized in the tendons. Overexertion of the ankles and knees can lead to this injury which shows symptoms of pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Bone Fractures
The skateboard injuries you hear about the most are fractures because they can sometimes be visibly seen from the outside if the bone is protruding. It’s usually followed by sensitive, sharp pains which eventually lead to bruising and swelling. For this injury, it’s especially crucial to stay off of it until fully healed.
Benefits of PT for Skateboarding
All of the injuries listed above can benefit from physical therapy either as a treatment plan or as a helping hand while hospitalized. Aside from healing injuries, PT has proven to offer even more benefits for skateboarders for safer sessions.
Healing Skateboarding Injuries with PT
Many skateboarding injuries are followed by pain, swelling, muscle loss, and less range of motion, all of which can be eradicated or improved with regular physical therapy sessions. Your physical therapist will teach you exercises and regular motions to practice in order to get your body used to moving how it did before the injury.
Discovering Hidden Symptoms
Some problems in the body are difficult to recognize when living out your daily life, but a physical therapist will be able to detect any underlying issues during your initial examination. By thoroughly testing and examining your body, you can literally get an inside look at the status of your internal health and address any issues that could potentially lead to chronic pains or disorders.
Improved Skating Performance
Even if you don’t have any injuries that need healing, physical therapy can help your body be more fit and flexible to have greater endurance and pull off more demanding tricks. Since the discovery of PT’s effect on skating performance, many skaters regularly visit their physical therapist to keep their body fit, and doing so also helps prevent injuries from happening in the first place.
Tips for Preventing Injuries
Preventing injuries is much easier and less painful than treating them after they happen, if you can help it. A few preventative measures you can take include:
- Wearing safety gear like a helmet, elbow and knee pads, and wrist guards
- Check your skateboard for any cracks or loose wheels
- Invest in skateboarding shoes that grip the board
- Stretch your calves before and after each skateboarding session
- Examine the terrain for hazardous debris or wet spots
- Avoid using homemade obstacles
- Crouch down if you feel like you’re losing balance
Treat Your Skateboarding Injuries at Impact Medical Brandon!
It happens to even the best skateboarders out there. If you’ve just recently gotten into a skateboarding accident, come see the professionals at Impact Medical Brandon! Our skilled physical therapists will be able to coax your body back into shape so you can get back to shredding. We welcome you to visit us anytime to improve your body for better performance. Schedule an appointment with us today by calling (813) 522-8885!