In basketball you jump, stop and change direction all the time. Your ankles, knees and back feel it. The physical therapist is the professional who helps you take care of that: before an injury, during treatment and on your way back to the court.
What a sports physical therapist does
- Prevention. Assesses how you move, finds weak spots and gives you balance, mobility and body control exercises.
- Treatment. Handles sprains, muscle pain and overuse injuries, always with exercises and a clear progression.
- Return to play. Plans your comeback in stages: first pain-free movement, then running, jumping, cutting and only then full-contact practice.
- Growth. In adolescence the body changes fast. Growth-related knee or heel pain is common in players who jump a lot, and it needs follow-up.
When to see one
- Pain that doesn’t go away after a few days of rest.
- Pain that changes the way you run, jump or shoot.
- Swelling, a painful pop or the feeling that a joint “gives way”.
- Repeated sprains in the same ankle.
- After an injury, to come back safely.
After a hard blow, a visible deformity, severe pain or when you can’t put weight on your foot, get medical care first. Doctors and physical therapists usually work together.
Physical therapy isn’t only for injured players. An assessment at the start of the season helps prevent problems.
How to choose a good professional
- Degree and license. They must hold a degree in Physical Therapy and an active registration with the CREFITO (Brazil’s Regional Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy) in your region. You can check it on the council’s website.
- Specialization. Look for a specialization or proven experience in sports physical therapy.
- Experience with young athletes. Treating teenagers is different from treating adults. Ask if they already work with athletes your age.
- Assessment before treatment. A good professional examines you, explains what they found and shows you the plan.
- Teamwork. They talk with your parents, your doctor and, if you allow it, your coach and strength coach.
Red flags
- Promises of a quick or guaranteed cure.
- Treatment with machines only, no exercises at all.
- Clearing you to play through pain “because it’s a big game”.
- Selling products or supplements along with the treatment.
A tip for parents
Go to the first appointment. Bring any exams and reports you already have. Write down the instructions and agree on how the athlete will do the exercises at home. Most of the progress happens between sessions.
Taking care of your body early is what keeps you playing for many years.