Return to play is a decision, not a date on a calendar. If you’re searching for a sports physical therapist near me because a knee, shoulder or hamstring has you sitting out, the first job is figuring out what’s injured and what it can handle today. The second is building back to full speed in steps you can measure. Lake Erie Physical Therapy works with athletes at our Buffalo clinic, whether you play varsity football, pitch in a summer league, run before work, or just want to get through a pickleball season.
Who we work with
Runners
Running injuries tend to follow a change: more mileage, more speed, more hills, or a return after time off. NIAMS lists overtraining and increasing your intensity too quickly among the risk factors for sports injuries. We look at your training, your strength and how your symptoms respond to running, then adjust the plan so you can keep running when that’s safe. Strength work is usually part of it; ChoosePT notes, for example, that treatment for runner’s knee involves strengthening the upper leg and thigh muscles. Dr. Ryan Mitchell, PT, DPT, co-owner, is a former collegiate cross country runner at Daemen.
Field and court athletes
Football, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, volleyball and hockey demand sprinting, cutting, jumping and contact. Rehab moves from controlled strength work to landing mechanics, change of direction and sport-specific drills. Knee ligament injuries follow their own path; see ACL rehab. Evan Johnston, PTA, coaches wrestling at Frontier High School and football in Grand Island.
Throwing athletes
Pitchers, quarterbacks and other overhead athletes need a shoulder and elbow that tolerate speed and volume. We look at motion and strength from the legs and trunk through the arm, and we pace the return to throwing. ChoosePT’s guide to Little League shoulder describes the pattern: physical therapists assess and correct throwing mechanics when needed, then build a gradual return-to-throwing plan once pain has improved and strength has returned. After shoulder surgery, see rotator cuff and shoulder surgery rehab.
Weekend athletes
Golf, softball, rec-league hockey, a charity 5K: you don’t need a roster spot to deserve a plan. The goal is the same as for a varsity athlete, getting you back to what you enjoy with a body that can handle it.
Return-to-play testing
Time since injury is only part of the picture. Before we recommend a full return, we look for:
- Pain and swelling that stay settled after harder sessions
- Range of motion close to the uninjured side
- Strength in the injured limb compared with the other side
- Hopping, landing, cutting or throwing done with control
- A gradual build back to full practice before full competition
After surgery or a serious injury, your physician or surgeon makes the final call on clearance. Our job is to give you, and them, objective information.
BFR when heavy lifting isn’t an option yet
Early after an injury or surgery, you may not be able to load a muscle heavily enough to strengthen it. Blood flow restriction training uses a cuff on the upper arm or thigh so lighter weights can still challenge the muscle. Dr. Will Tso, PT, DPT, Cert. MDT, co-owner, is Level 1 certified in BFR. It isn’t for everyone, so we screen first.
See a physician first if
Physical therapy does not replace a medical diagnosis. NIAMS advises that severe injuries need a health care provider, and that most acute fractures and dislocated joints need immediate care. Warning signs include sudden, severe pain, a bone or joint that is visibly out of place, and not being able to put weight on a leg, knee, ankle or foot. Any head injury with concussion symptoms also needs a physician’s evaluation before you return to play.
Looking for a sports physical therapist near me in Buffalo?
We’re at 531 Virginia Street, Suite 1, between Allentown and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, about a 4-minute walk from the Allen/Medical Campus Metro Rail station, with street parking nearby. We open at 7 AM Tuesday through Friday and stay until 6:30 PM Monday through Thursday, which helps around school, practice and work. With most plans, you can start without a referral in New York; some plans still require one to pay, so confirm your coverage with us. After discharge, our Keep It Going program can also be used for pre-season conditioning.
Hurt and hoping to make next week’s game? Call (716) 332-4838 or request an evaluation online, and we’ll tell you honestly what’s realistic.
Sources
- Sports Injuries (NIAMS, National Institutes of Health)
- Top 4 Running Injuries Physical Therapists Help Manage (ChoosePT)
- Physical Therapy Guide to Little League Shoulder (ChoosePT)