Sports physical therapy

Sports rehabilitation benefits a wide range of athletes and active individuals. You may be a good candidate if you: 

• Have sustained a sports or activity-related injury
• Are recovering from orthopedic surgery such as ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair or joint replacement
• Experience chronic overuse pain such as tendinitis or stress-related injuries
• Are returning to play after a prolonged recovery
• Want to improve performance or reduce injury risk through strength and movement training 

Whether you compete at the collegiate level, play recreational sports or simply want to stay active without pain, our specialists customize a safe and effective sports injury recovery plan for your needs.

Your program is built around your sport, your goals and the demands of your recovery. Options may include: 

• Manual therapy and flexibility training to improve joint and muscle mobility
• Progressive strength training that mimics sport-specific movements
• Neuromuscular re-education to refine balance, coordination and body control
• Endurance and conditioning exercises to rebuild stamina safely
• Functional drills that simulate your sport's motions and speed demands
• Post-surgical rehabilitation for patients recovering from procedures such as ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair or other orthopedic surgery
• Education and prevention strategies to reduce the risk of future injury 

Every plan begins with a one-on-one evaluation by a sports medicine specialist or physical therapist to assess your condition, sport-specific demands and personal goals. 

Our team follows a phased approach to help you return to your sport safely and confidently: 

• Phase 1: Recovery and pain control. Protect the healing area, manage pain and restore basic mobility
• Phase 2: Strength and stability. Rebuild muscle control, balance and coordination
• Phase 3: Sport reintroduction. Functional drills replicate your sport's physical and cognitive demands
• Phase 4: Full performance restoration. Fine-tune agility, endurance and power, with testing and sport simulations to confirm you're ready 

Physicians and therapists guide you through each phase, monitoring your progress and adjusting your plan as needed. Depending on your needs, your care may involve orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers and performance specialists working together. For student-athletes, we coordinate with schools and coaches to support a smooth and safe return to play. 

Rehabilitation is a safe, structured process, but returning to sport too quickly or skipping steps in your program can increase the risk of re-injury. That's why our team carefully monitors your progress through each phase before advancing you to more demanding activity. 

Every athlete responds to treatment differently, and factors such as the type of injury, previous surgery and overall health can affect your recovery timeline. Your care team will walk you through what to expect at each stage and answer any questions you have along the way, so you feel confident and informed throughout your rehabilitation.