I want you to imagine it’s your day off. You wake up at the crack of dawn because you decided the day before that today was the day you were going to attempt a new personal record (PR) at the bench press. 

Or maybe it’s squat, or even deadlifts – whatever exercise you prefer. 

You hydrate, eat a snack, stretch, and mentally prepare yourself before heading to your local, Park Slope, Brooklyn gym. And after a few warm up sets, you load up the bar with more weight than ever before. 

But in the midst of fighting for another rep, you feel something pop. 

It’s a harsh reality, but weightlifting injuries are more common than you’d think. In fact, according to one 2018 study, 2.6 injuries are associated with weightlifting for every 1000 hours of related physical activity. 

Another study found the injury incidence in weightlifting to be 2.4-3.3 injuries per 1,000 hours of training. 

And they not only impact someone physically, but mentally, emotionally, and socially as they begin the recovery process. But we’re here to tell you not to give up – because your best days are in front of you!

Weightlifting Injuries: Why Are They So Common? 

Weightlifting injuries come in a variety of forms, but some of the most common are strains (back, rotator cuff, biceps, patellar tendonitis) and tears (meniscus tear, patellar tendon tear, Achilles tendon rupture). 

They’re often classified as acute, traumatic, or chronic, depending on the cause. 

Of course, that begs the question – why are weightlifting injuries so common? 

Most weightlifting injuries can be attributed to one of three things: doing too much over a long period of time, doing too much at once or in one setting, or using improper form and technique while weightlifting.

For example, failing to engage the core and stabilize the body during heavy lifts can lead to injury. 

Other reasons include not stretching, warming up, or cooling down, poor nutrition, not staying hydrated, not giving the body enough time to recover inbetween workouts, and not getting enough sleep each night.

Physical Therapy: Lifting You Up After Suffering an Injury

One moment you’re at the top of your game, pushing through personal bests and new records. And the next moment, you’re sidelined by sharp pain or discomfort that can bring everything to a screeching halt. 

As physical therapists, we have three primary goals when treating weightlifting injuries: 

Relieve pain and discomfort, improve form and technique, and re-establish confidence. 

We not only want to get you back in the gym, but we want to make sure you’re in the best shape of your life when you do – that way, you can continue to chase those personal records without the fear of injury.

Let’s take a deeper look at how physical therapy can lift you up during the recovery process. 

3. Relieve Pain & Discomfort

Pain from a weightlifting injury is often localized to the affected muscle, joint, or tendon, and is generally accompanied by inflammation, stiffness, and limited range of motion. depending on its severity and type. 

The pain can range from sharp and acute to a persistent, dull ache. 

This discomfort can interfere with daily activities and make it challenging to continue your fitness routine without proper treatment and recovery. But don’t worry – that’s where physical therapy comes into play. 

At PhysioRX, we use a combination of manual therapy, stretching, and personal training to get you back into tip-top shape – because keeping you active in a controlled environment is crucial to injury recovery. 

2. Restore Mobility, Flexibility, & Function

One of the primary goals of physical therapy is to restore the full range of motion, flexibility, and functional capacity of the injured area, with the ultimate goal of getting you back to your normal, everyday routine. 

But here at PhysioRX, it’s about more than just returning to the old you. 

It’s about reinventing yourself, coming back stronger than ever, and empowering you to not only heal but to exceed your previous limits. With our help, we can transform the way you approach and view fitness.

People tend to view injuries as a setback, but our glass-half-full approach to the recovery process will have you looking at them as a new chapter in your life – another opportunity for you to grow and evolve.

1. Form, Technique, & Injury Prevention

Recovering from an injury is one thing, but preventing further injury is a completely different story. 

Luckily, a physical therapist can help identify improper lifting techniques and faulty movement patterns that might’ve contributed to the injury – giving you an opportunity to correct those mistakes for the future. 

After all, proper posture and alignment are key to effective weightlifting.

And since a lot of these injuries stem from muscular imbalances, physical therapy aims to strengthen weaker muscles and stretch tight ones to achieve balance and ensure proper form while lifting weights.

By addressing the root causes of improper form and building stronger, more resilient movement patterns, physical therapy helps you return to weightlifting with improved technique and a lower risk of future injury.

PhysioRX: Comprehensive Treatment for Weightlifting Injuries

Have you recently suffered a painful weightlifting injury? Is your injury keeping you away from your health and fitness goals? Are you trying to avoid the need for surgery? Are you ready to feel your best again?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place!

Welcome to PhysioRX – where Park Slope, Brooklyn residents don’t have to stay injured for long. 

Our expert team is dedicated to providing personalized treatment plans that not only address your current pain but also help you regain strength, mobility, and confidence so you can prevent injury in the future.

Whether you’re aiming to return to your fitness routine or avoid the need for surgery, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Book your free consultation today!