How to Prevent Summer Injuries | Peak Physical Therapy | Hanover MA

With the first day of summer and Father’s Day falling on the same date in 2021, there's no doubt that enjoyable outdoor activities will take place. With warmer summer days comes increased activity, which often results in increased pain and injuries. As we return to our favorite seasonal pastimes that we have not done in several months, we may notice these activities are more painful than they were the year before. However, your local Hanover physical therapy office, Peak Physical Therapy, is here to provide a few tips for injury prevention and pain management to keep you active all summer long.

How to Prevent Summer Injury

1. Ease back into activities that you have not done recently. Whether it’s handling the summertime rush at work, performing seasonal at-home chores such as mowing the lawn or cleaning out the garage, or outdoor recreational activities like golf or riding your bike, ease back into it slowly. Whenever you take a break from doing physical activity, it is normal for your body to take a while to adjust to the movements and strains these activities require. Start out doing each activity little by little, and one thing at a time. Eventually, you will be able to tolerate performing tasks for longer periods of time without as much pain and soreness.
2. Stretch before and after activities. In addition to easing into summertime hobbies, stretching your body before and after is always beneficial. Doing this can eliminate the risk of muscle tears and joint injuries. Any of the experienced therapists at your local Hanover physical therapy office, Peak Physical Therapy are more than happy to advise you on the right stretching exercises to perform before and after participating in any activity.
3. RICE–and we aren’t talking about the kind you eat. After doing an activity that results in increased muscle soreness or pain, “RICE-ing” is always a good tool to use to decrease swelling and discomfort. R.I.C.E. stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation–the four best actions you could perform on an injury. If soreness does not subside after 1 week or you have significant pain or bruising to the injured area, schedule an appointment at your local Hanover physical therapy office, Peak Physical Therapy for further assessment to ensure a more serious injury has not occurred.
4. Preventative measures with physical therapy. Through a personalized program that consists of exercise and stretching, this could be your most active summer yet. By nourishing your body through both at-home and in-office treatments, you and your physical therapist at Peak Physical Therapy Hanover MA can have you feeling better than ever to tackle any summertime venture that comes your way.

Peak Physical Therapy Hanover MA

Our South Shore Physical Therapy practice specializes in Hanover physical therapy including many specialty programs including lymphedema management, vestibular, pelvic health, post-concussion, aquatics, and more. Locations include physical therapy Hanover MA, Quincy, MA, Braintree, MA, Pembroke, MA, and Norwell, MA, Scituate, MA. Our specialized programs combined with state-of-the-art facilities allow us to meet the unique needs of our local patients and achieve the fastest results. If you are unsure whether this type of treatment can help you, we offer a no-obligation FREE injury screening. Click here for more information.

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