Sports Medicine

Leading an active life has numerous benefits, but it can be challenging to achieve and maintain optimal performance. Tiffany Zarcone, PT, DPT, and her team at Clifton Physical Therapy in Clifton, New Jersey, are experts in sports medicine, helping you reach your fitness goals and avoid injuries. They also offer advanced rehabilitation for sports injuries. Call Clifton Physical Therapy to learn more about gaining an advantage with sports medicine, or schedule a consultation online today.

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine focuses on improving athletic performance and preventing, diagnosing, and treating sports injuries and related musculoskeletal conditions.

No one enjoys sitting on the bench when they could be taking part. Receiving expert physical therapy for sports injuries gets you back in action with minimal delay and optimal fitness. Furthermore, by working with the Clifton Physical Therapy team on small tweaks, you can achieve massive improvements in your performance.

The team’s sports medicine experts develop a personalized plan designed to suit each athlete’s strengths and weaknesses. They assess each person individually and create a specialized program to take an athlete from good to great.

Many of Clifton Physical Therapy’s athletes have earned athletic scholarships at prestigious schools and competed successfully.

How does sports medicine improve my performance?

Improving athletic performance requires input on everything that makes you better at your chosen sport. That includes:

Nutrition

High-quality nutrition is vital because it supplies energy, enables your body to create stronger muscles, sharpens your mind, and much more.

Technique

Often, athletes struggle to improve because of flaws in their technique. For example, an imperfect golf swing limits the energy you deliver to the ball and affects the shot’s direction. Poor technique also increases your risk of injury.

Fitness

Achieving optimal fitness for your chosen sport requires an exercise program focusing on your required attributes. For instance, a long-distance runner needs endurance, while a sprinter needs speed. Your fitness program needs to enhance these specialized skills and not overwork your body, which could lead to repetitive strain injuries like tendinitis and bursitis. 

Psychology

Mindset and focus make a significant difference in your achievements. They help you train better, prevent you from getting distracted, and allow you to believe in yourself.

What injuries does sports medicine treat?

Sports medicine experts provide rehabilitation for all kinds of sports injuries, including:

• Rotator cuff tears
• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
• Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
• Meniscus and labrum cartilage injuries
• Achilles tendinitis
• Sprains and strains
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome

Depending on the specific injury, your sports medicine rehabilitation program may include stretching and strengthening exercises, therapeutic massage, supportive devices like a brace or splint, and techniques such as cupping and acupuncture.

You could also benefit from suspension therapy, which reduces strain on your body so that you can begin physical therapy earlier.

Call Clifton Physical Therapy to schedule a sports medicine consultation, or book one online today.