Competitive athletes are passionate about their sport, or in many cases, multiple sports. Their attention and energy are driven toward physical movement, the exhilaration of achievement and being part of something larger with like-minded individuals.

There are pros and cons of athletic participation — including asking the body to work in the extremes for training and active playing. This impacts the way the body works and reacts in the present and sometimes, with longer-term consequences.

Does the body good, but at a risk

Athletes of all ages benefit from sport physicality. They can see enhanced long-term health including lower cardiovascular risks and increased longevity compared to the general population.

But with every upside exists a possible downside.

According to the National Institutes of Health, athletes often face significant, lasting and, at times, chronic physical impacts, particularly in joints and bones due to high-intensity training and injury during play. The risks include increased possibility of developing osteoarthritis.

No strangers to rehabilitation, athletes will likely come into contact with exercise specialists, athletic trainers and physical therapy clinicians throughout their playing careers. When it comes to rehabilitation, seeing the right experts at the right time can produce results in maintaining a lifetime of activity.

Role of sports medicine

As a field specializing in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of injuries related to physical activity, sports medicine rehabilitation is designed to optimize performance and ensure a safe return to sport.

Trained to use evidence-based methods to assess injury, analyze biomechanics, build strength and endurance and use manual therapy, sports medicine experts are a vital asset to athletes looking to recover from injury or achieve enhanced performance.

Treat now to get back in the game

When sports injury happens to vital areas of the body like the knees, hips, shoulders, ankles and feet, early assessment and treatment is ideal to get players back to the game.

Common sports injuries addressed by sports medicine rehabilitation specialists include: 

• Knee - ACL  tears, meniscus tears, MCL  sprains, patellar tendonitis (jumper's knee), patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner's knee)
• Hip - Adductor (groin) and hip flexor strains, labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), hip pointer (bruise on the top of the hip bone), bursitis/tendinopathy, stress fractures
• Shoulder - Rotator cuff tears/tendonitis, shoulder dislocation/instability, labral tears (SLAP lesions), acromioclavicular joint injuries, fractures, shoulder impingement
• Foot and ankle - Ankle sprains, Achilles tendonitis/ruptures, stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, turf toe, Jones fracture, mid-foot injuries

Orthopedic treatment depends on severity of injury and may include rest and activity modification, graded loading, manual therapy, bracing or taping, targeted strength and mobility work and when necessary surgery.

Rehabilitation is done in phases to reduce pain and restore strength and function.

• Early phase: Reduce pain and swelling, protect healing tissues and safely maintain conditioning.
• Middle phase: Gradually load the injured area, improve mobility and neuromuscular control and address asymmetries.
• Late phase: Reintroduce sport-specific drills, agility, plyometrics and conditioning to meet performance demands.

Injury leaves an impact

Injury is just as it sounds. It’s damage to the body and causes a sudden disruption to the body and the way it operates.

There are several ways to categorize injuries, but common types are:

• Acute - Sudden, like a sprain
• Chronic - Gradual overuse, like tendonitis

Even after healing, injuries can have long-term consequences as our bodies naturally age.

Sports injury and future joint pain

Sports injury and a higher rate of loading and frequency of impact causing damage to cartilage can lead to joint health issues as you age.

A common myth is that joint health only needs to be addressed in the later stages of life. Arthritis can develop earlier in life, especially if you were a competitive athlete who experienced a joint injury. Early intervention is key to keeping it at bay while keeping joints mobile.

According to recent studies, injuries, particularly ligament tears, meniscus damage, joint dislocations and fractures, increase the risk of developing what is called post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), a premature form of arthritis that alters joint mechanics.

PTOA often appears 10 to 20 years after initial injury. Studies show that affected joints are roughly seven times more likely to develop arthritis, with about 40% of more severe injuries leading to chronic joint issues.

Even with proper, early, successful treatment by sports medicine therapists, the injured joint is often permanently altered, accelerating cartilage deterioration as a long-term impact. This includes chronic joint pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion, joint swelling and the potential need for a total joint replacement in more extreme cases.

Sports medicine rehabilitation done early in joint injuries can help delay development of arthritis, but later in life, when symptoms begin appearing, joint health rehabilitation specialists are vital in managing progression of the disease.

Joint health therapy experts are an exceptional option for early intervention and conservative management of arthritis. They evaluate movement patterns, joint mechanics and muscle imbalances to design targeted care plans. Techniques may include manual therapy to improve mobility and reduce joint pain, neuromuscular training to enhance motor control and progressive loading to strengthen muscles and rebuild tissue resilience. In addition, joint health therapists create long-term management plans, setting patients up for success.

When joint replacement is required, joint health experts help rehabilitate the new joint and get you back to doing what you love based on your goals. Post-surgical rehabilitation, done under the watchful eye of a joint health specialist using evidence-based treatment and standards of care, can get you back to movement. Whether you are still actively participating in competitive sports or not, they can work with you to get you to where you need to be to move through life.

Return to later life activity and sports

Once you graduate from joint health therapy following a joint replacement, or once your early arthritis is in management, it’s not uncommon to rejoin athletic activities like 5Ks, marathons, recreational leagues, hiking and more.

And, once again, as a leisure athlete, you might find yourself in need of a sports medicine specialist while preparing for a race or recovering from an injury.

Goals guide which specialist you need and when you need them

Seeking the care of the right rehabilitation experts at the right time in your movement journey can mean a full, active lifetime as you move from competitive athlete to leisure athlete in life. Every step toward early access to care during times of need, with either a sports medicine therapy program or a joint health program or both, extends your enjoyment of movement.

For one physical therapist, the transition from competitive athlete to living with joint dysfunction later in life has become reality. Read Bert Fisher’s personal story here.

Clinical contribution to this blog provided by Erica Eannucci, national director of degenerative joint disease, and Abigail Gillard, national director of sports medicine rehabilitation.

A lifetime of movement meets
a new challenge

Physical Therapist Bert Fisher has played many roles in his life, including competitive collegiate athlete, and has experienced his share of sports injuries. Now, he faces a new challenge — as a patient — as he prepares for a Jiffy knee replacement and undergoes the same physical therapy he provides to patients.

Read his story here