By: Ryne Foster, PT, DPT, OCS, FAFS
A weekend warrior is a term used to describe individuals who engage in intense physical activity or sports on the weekends but have few or no workouts during the week. This type of activity pattern can increase the risk of injury due to the sudden increase in physical demands placed on the body.
Physical therapy can help weekend warriors stay healthy during the season and also help between league seasons. Physical therapy focuses on the prevention, management, and rehabilitation of injuries. We can treat acute and sub-acute injuries with the use of various techniques such as corrective exercise, manual therapy, IASTYM/tool assisted soft-tissue massage, cupping, and dry needling to help assist in healing.
Here are some ways in which physical therapy can benefit weekend warriors:
Reduce the Chance of Injury:
Physical therapists can help weekend warriors prevent injuries by assessing their body mechanics and identifying areas of weakness or imbalance that may lead to injury. They can also provide education on proper warm-up and cool-down techniques, as well as appropriate stretching and strengthening exercises.
Our greatest focus here is performing appropriate total body warm up and stretching prior to your weekend activities. Most of us are so busy with life and time, we never warm up and stretch prior to our weekend events. So, taking time to learn and do an appropriate warm up routine can help reduce the risk of injury. Physical Therapists will be able to teach you how to stretch, warm up, and prepare your body for your weekend activities.
Rehabilitation:
In the event of an injury, physical therapy can help weekend warriors recover and get back to their activity as soon as possible by helping the athlete regain their strength and mobility. Physical therapists can design individualized treatment plans that include exercises and modalities to speed up the healing process and prevent re-injury.
Pain Management:
Weekend warriors who experience chronic pain or discomfort can benefit from physical therapy. Physical therapists can provide manual therapy and other modalities to help reduce pain and improve function. Then, we can help you progress into the performance enhancement to get you back into your weekend activities once pain is reduced or resolved.
Performance Enhancement:
Physical therapists can help weekend warriors enhance their performance by designing individualized exercise programs that focus on improving strength, endurance, and flexibility. We are also connected to a vast network of other specialists who can help improve your performance. For example, if you need further education on nutrition, we can refer you to a specialist for further discussion.
Overall, physical therapy can be a valuable tool for weekend warriors to help them stay healthy and avoid injury. By working with a physical therapist, weekend warriors can develop a comprehensive plan to optimize their physical health and performance during their weekend sports.
Weekend Warriors! Schedule an appointment with a Spooner physical therapist today!