Overuse Injury

About 50% of the injuries to figure skaters are considered overuse injuries.  Overuse injuries are the result of your bone, tendons, and ligaments being subject to more stress than they are capable of handling.  The number one cause of overuse injuries is training error.  It is very important for figure skaters to exercise off the ice.  Just like you need a coach for your on ice training, you need a coach for your off ice training.  Your training should follow a specific schedule that increases and decreases throughout the year.  This is called periodization. 

Periodization of training allows the body to recover and adapt to the changing demands on your body throughout the season.  Another good idea is to have regular musculoskeletal screening by a physical therapist to identify imbalances in strength or flexibility so off – ice training adjustments can be made before any problems arise.  It is also recommended that year round athletes have a physical from their physician each year.

If pain has developed and has lasted more than two weeks, you should see your sports medicine physician and obtain a referral for physical therapy.  You can work with your physical therapist on treating the problem as well as identifying and correcting the cause.  A physical therapist who is familiar with figure skating can be an invaluable problem solving partner in dealing with pain and mechanical issues.

It is important to deal with pain issues sooner than later before long term problems develop and before mechanical issues become more difficult to correct.  It is necessary not to ignore a possible overuse injury because if left untreated, they can become more severe and make life no fun for the young skater.

When might physical therapy help?

Physical therapy has been shown to be effective for many different problems.  If you have started to notice pain that is starting to affect what you do, when you do it, and how long you do it for, then it may be time for you to talk to your doctor about seeing a physical therapist for this pain.  This is especially true for student athletes.  Pain in children can be a sign of an overuse problem.  Overuse problems can be progressive so it is important to identify and eliminate or control the cause.  Letting pain ”fester” for long periods of time after an injury or car accident is also not a good idea as this can lead to changes in the way your body’s mechanics work, ultimately affecting your function.  In each scenario your physical therapist will function as a problem solver working with you to develop a strategy for your return to your life.  In all cases you would first need to see your physician and request a referral to physical therapy.  Contact the American Physical Therapy Association at www.apta.org to find a physical therapist near you or if you are in the Chicago suburbs visit us at www.ryndakphysicaltherapy.com.