Dr. Michael Antonis, a sports medicine specialist at OrthoVirginia, currently serves as the team physician for the Washington Commanders. With a previous tenure as the team physician for D.C. United and Loudoun United spanning five years, his expertise has significantly benefited our physical therapy team.
As physical therapists, we recognize the emotional and psychological impact that comes with being sidelined due to injury. An injury can feel like a part of an athlete’s identity has been taken away, and it’s crucial for us to address this throughout their rehabilitation. Physical therapy is not just about healing the body; it’s about nurturing the mind as well.
It is no secret that runners must complete a strength training program as part of their physical therapy and cross training routine, in addition to their running. Whether through social media, talking with your running friends or coach, or simply your own intuition, every runner has heard that they should be strength training. But is it as simple as picking up a 10-pound dumbbell and knocking out a few squats and deadlifts? Of course not.
“My Doctor Said I’m Cleared to Play!”
My patient was thrilled. After months of recovering from knee surgery, she finally received the green light to return to playing soccer. This moment was the culmination of many weeks of hard work, dedication, and patience. The journey to recovery had been long, and now, she was eager to step back onto the field.
Unfortunately, I had to bring her back to reality.
I recently had a conversation with the parent of a young athlete I was treating for an injury through physical therapy. This athlete’s schedule was as demanding as a college athlete’s, despite not even being able to drive yet.
He was dedicated to one sport but was playing on multiple teams and training with a personal coach. Eventually, his body couldn’t keep up, and he had to take a break due to an injury.
As I spoke with his parent, the young athlete was eager to jump back into his sport and make up for lost time. Unfortunately, this is a common scenario. Once an athlete feels better, they often return to the same routines that led to their injury in the first place.
As a passionate Boston Celtics fan, I’m thrilled to share that our team is up 2-0 in the NBA Finals! Just two more wins, and the Celtics will secure their 17th Championship. However, the excitement is tempered by the news that one of our star players, Kristaps Porzingis, recently suffered a rare foot/ankle injury towards the end of the latest game.
Porzingis had already been sidelined for over a month due to a calf injury, and he admitted he wasn’t entirely sure he was 100% healthy before the Finals began. This highlights a critical issue in professional sports: the risks associated with returning to play before fully recovering from an injury. Physical therapy plays a pivotal role in ensuring athletes like Porzingis can return to peak performance safely.
