The fall sports season is officially here in the DC area!
Athletes are returning from their summer break, easing back into practices, and—unfortunately—we’re already starting to see a familiar trend in our clinics: a rise in sports-related injuries.
At Cohen Health and Performance, with locations in McLean and Bethesda, we work with athletes every fall who develop issues as they ramp up their training and competition schedules. Whether it’s a cranky knee, a sore ankle, hip discomfort, or a soft tissue strain, these injuries can derail a season before it really gets going.
Why Are Athletes Getting Injured at the Start of the Season?
The start-of-season injury spike often happens for two main reasons:
- Sudden Increase in Training Volume
Some athletes simply aren’t fully prepared for the jump in intensity that comes with daily practices, scrimmages, and games. Even if they’ve stayed active over the summer, their bodies may not be ready for the sport-specific demands of their season. - Mismatch Between Off-Season Training and In-Season Demands
Many athletes train hard in the summer—lifting weights, running, and following conditioning plans from coaches—but those workouts don’t always replicate the unpredictable, reactive movements of live gameplay. Without that sport-specific preparation, even well-trained athletes can still get hurt.
The Importance of Sport-Specific Preparation
The best off-season training programs start general and gradually become more specific to the sport as the season approaches. This ensures the athlete’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments are ready for the exact movements they’ll face on the field or court.
For example, football is highly reactive—players must change direction quickly in response to opponents. Our video above shows one hurdle based drill that we use in our McLean and Bethesda physical therapy clinics. The athlete reacts to an unpredictable cue, changing direction while clearing hurdles—just like they might have to do in a game. This type of training prepares the body for rapid deceleration, re-acceleration, and sudden direction changes.
Why Deceleration Training Matters
Many injuries, especially hamstring strains, happen during deceleration—when the body must slow down rapidly. The hamstring works hardest when it’s putting on the brakes during sprinting, and if it’s not prepared for that high force, injury risk skyrockets.
That’s why we integrate drills designed to strengthen the hamstring’s ability to decelerate quickly, reduce injury risk, and keep athletes competing at their best.
Free Injury Consultations for High School Athletes
Right now, our McLean physical therapy location is offering free injury consultations for high school athletes returning to play.
If your son or daughter is:
- Complaining about pain in a joint or muscle
- Recovering from a recent sports injury
- Feeling “off” since the season began
…our team can help identify the problem, address it quickly, and get them back to playing without missing significant time.
These consultations are performed by our expert sports physical therapy team in McLean, including myself, Dr. Matt, and Dr. Sam. We’ll assess the injury, pinpoint the cause, and provide sport-specific drills to get the athlete back to full strength as quickly as possible.
Don’t Wait—Act Early
The earlier we address sports injuries, the faster athletes can return to pain-free performance. If you’re in the McLean or Bethesda area and want to make sure an injury doesn’t sideline your athlete this season, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
