Home›What We Treat›Sports Injuries
Sports injuries and surgery
Sports injury treatment in Shirley, MA
The short answer
Most sports injuries come from doing too much too soon, a sudden twist or impact, or muscles that are not strong enough for what the sport asks of them. Sprains, strains, throwing arm pain and overuse injuries are the most common. With the right plan, most athletes get back to their sport, and many come back stronger and less likely to get hurt again.
On this page
What usually causes sports injuries
We work with youth, high school, college and adult athletes. Whatever the sport, most injuries fall into a few groups.
- Sprains
- A ligament gets stretched or torn from a twist or a bad step. Ankles and knees are the most common.
- Muscle strains
- A pulled hamstring, groin or calf, often from sprinting, kicking or a quick burst of speed.
- Overuse injuries
- Too many games, practices or miles without enough recovery. Shin splints, tendon pain and sore growth plates in younger athletes often start this way.
- Throwing arm pain
- Shoulder and elbow pain in baseball, softball and other overhead sports, usually from high pitch counts or gaps in strength and mechanics.
- Gaps in strength and control
- Weak hips, core or shoulders make it harder for the body to handle the speed and force of the sport.
When to get it checked
Get it looked at if the pain lasts more than a week or two, keeps coming back, changes how you run, throw or jump, or is getting worse instead of better. See a doctor or go to the emergency room right away if a bone or joint looks out of place, you cannot put weight on the limb, there is numbness, a cold or pale hand or foot, or severe swelling. After any hit to the head with headache, confusion, vomiting or dizziness, stop playing and get seen by a doctor that day.
What you can do at home right now
These are safe starting points for most people. They are not a replacement for a proper evaluation.
- Stop playing through sharp pain
- A dull ache that fades as you warm up is different from sharp pain that gets worse. Sit out if it hurts to run, cut or throw.
- Stay active around the injury
- Rest the hurt area, but keep moving the rest of your body so you do not lose all your fitness.
- Look at the schedule
- Many overuse injuries line up with a jump in games, practices or a second team. Build in rest days, and back off before it gets worse.
How we treat sports injuries at Whole Health Solutions
Your physical therapist is with you for the whole appointment, start to finish. We find out why the injury happened, not just where it hurts, and build a plan around your sport, your season and your goals.
01
Relieve
Hands on care, dry needling or shockwave when they fit, and smart changes to training so the pain settles without losing all your fitness.
02
Rebuild
Strength, mobility and control for the whole chain, not just the sore spot, so your body can handle the demands of your sport.
03
Perform
Sport specific drills and a step by step return to practice and games. When you are ready, our athletic performance coaches help you come back faster, stronger and less likely to get hurt again.
04
Thrive
Stay with the team that knows you. Check ins, training and a quick tune up whenever something new comes up, so this stays in the past.
Thrive is not a finish line. When life brings something new, the loop starts again with the same team.
How dry needling and shockwave therapy can help
For sports injuries, your physical therapist may use dry needling and shockwave therapy to speed things up. They will tell you on your first visit if it is a good fit.
Dry needling
A very thin needle placed into a tight, guarded muscle helps it let go, so pain calms down and you can move and strengthen again. Always paired with hands on care and strength work.
Learn about dry needlingShockwave therapy
Sound waves delivered to a stubborn tendon or tissue help restart healing when it has stalled for months. Always paired with the strength work that keeps it from coming back.
Learn about shockwave therapyCommon exercises for sports injuries
These are a few of the exercises our team often uses for sports injuries. Tap one to watch.
Please read first. These are not right for everyone. If a move brings on sharp pain, numbness or tingling, stop and talk to one of our physical therapists before you keep going.
Learn from our team
Short, free videos from our clinicians on questions we hear about sports injuries all the time.
From our podcast
Listen to the Different Life podcast
Full conversations from our team on the topics on this page. Free to watch or listen.
Read more from our team
Blog posts and newsletter tips from our clinicians that go with sports injuries.
- BlogFrom Rehab to Game-Ready: How Physical Therapy Helps Athletes Return to SportsMay 15, 2025
- BlogThe Importance of Off-Season Training: Building Strength and Preventing InjuriesMay 15, 2025
- BlogThe Importance of Preventative Care for Athletes: Staying Strong and Injury-FreeApr 25, 2025
- BlogHow Whole Health Solutions Supports Spring Athletes with Sports Physical TherapyApr 25, 2025
★★★★★
"I was first introduced to Gary and Peter when my son injured his ankle playing hockey. Two years later, after he tore his ACL playing football, working with them again was an easy decision."
Talk to a physical therapist
A free call to tell us what is going on and see if we are the right fit.
Common questions about sports injuries
Should I see a physical therapist for a sports injury?
Yes. A physical therapist can figure out what is hurt, help it heal, and build a plan to get you back to your sport safely. If you need imaging or a doctor, we will tell you.
How do I know if a sports injury is serious?
Signs of a more serious injury include not being able to put weight on it, a joint that looks out of place, a pop with fast swelling, numbness, or pain that keeps getting worse. Those need to be seen by a doctor right away.
Can sports injuries be prevented?
Many can. Strength training, good landing and throwing mechanics, enough rest, and not ramping up too fast all lower the risk. Our athletic performance coaches build that into training.
Do I need a referral for a sports injury?
No. You can book directly with us. Most of our clients do use their insurance for reimbursement of our physical therapy services. We go over everything in the discovery meeting.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Everyone is different, so the best next step is an evaluation with one of our physical therapists.
Visit us
Serving 22+ nearby towns and beyond
2 Shaker Road, Suite C200, Shirley, MA 01464. Monday to Thursday, 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday, 5:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Saturday, 6:00 am to 1:00 pm.