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Most Common Skateboarding Injuries & How We Treat Them

Skateboarding is not for the faint of heart. There are so many things that can go wrong in the worst possible ways, but thankfully physical therapy (PT) can be used to help recover from these injuries even after a trip to the emergency room by targeting the muscles, joints, and ligaments that have been affected. Additionally, PT can also be used to prevent certain injuries from happening in the first place. The professionals at Impact Medical Brandon are here to show you common skateboarding injuries and how we can treat you with physical therapy.

Common Skateboarding Injuries

While many car injuries are commonly located in the upper body, a lot of skateboard injuries have to do with the lower body including legs and feet.

Plantar Fasciitis Injuries

This is a term you don’t hear often, but your plantar fasciitis is the flat band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes. Continuous and repeated stress on the bottom of your foot can lead to heel pain.

Neuroma

If you’ve ever felt pinched in the foot, it could be a neuroma. These pinched nerves could become inflamed until you feel a numb or tingling sensation in your toes, or simply pain. A neuroma is usually caused by overusing your feet or practicing poor technique when skating which can cause you to overpronate.

Tendonitis

As the name suggests, Tendonitis is localized in the tendons. Overexertion of the ankles and knees can lead to this injury which shows symptoms of pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Bone Fractures

The skateboard injuries you hear about the most are fractures because they can sometimes be visibly seen from the outside if the bone is protruding. It’s usually followed by sensitive, sharp pains which eventually lead to bruising and swelling. For this injury, it’s especially crucial to stay off of it until fully healed.

Benefits of PT for Skateboarding

All of the injuries listed above can benefit from physical therapy either as a treatment plan or as a helping hand while hospitalized. Aside from healing injuries, PT has proven to offer even more benefits for skateboarders for safer sessions.

Healing Skateboarding Injuries with PT

Many skateboarding injuries are followed by pain, swelling, muscle loss, and less range of motion, all of which can be eradicated or improved with regular physical therapy sessions. Your physical therapist will teach you exercises and regular motions to practice in order to get your body used to moving how it did before the injury.

Discovering Hidden Symptoms

Some problems in the body are difficult to recognize when living out your daily life, but a physical therapist will be able to detect any underlying issues during your initial examination. By thoroughly testing and examining your body, you can literally get an inside look at the status of your internal health and address any issues that could potentially lead to chronic pains or disorders.

Improved Skating Performance

Even if you don’t have any injuries that need healing, physical therapy can help your body be more fit and flexible to have greater endurance and pull off more demanding tricks. Since the discovery of PT’s effect on skating performance, many skaters regularly visit their physical therapist to keep their body fit, and doing so also helps prevent injuries from happening in the first place.

Tips for Preventing Injuries

Preventing injuries is much easier and less painful than treating them after they happen, if you can help it. A few preventative measures you can take include:

• Wearing safety gear like a helmet, elbow and knee pads, and wrist guards
• Check your skateboard for any cracks or loose wheels
• Invest in skateboarding shoes that grip the board
• Stretch your calves before and after each skateboarding session
• Examine the terrain for hazardous debris or wet spots
• Avoid using homemade obstacles
• Crouch down if you feel like you’re losing balance

Treat Your Skateboarding Injuries at Impact Medical Brandon!

It happens to even the best skateboarders out there. If you’ve just recently gotten into a skateboarding accident, come see the professionals at Impact Medical Brandon! Our skilled physical therapists will be able to coax your body back into shape so you can get back to shredding. We welcome you to visit us anytime to improve your body for better performance. Schedule an appointment with us today by calling (813) 522-8885!

Here’s How Pain and Suffering Is Calculated in Florida

Accidents can be traumatic. If you sustained an injury and intend to submit a personal injury claim, you may receive financial assistance for pain and suffering. Each state handles pain and suffering calculations differently. Read on to see Impact Medical Group Clearwater explain how pain and suffering are calculated in Florida.

There are several factors that juries take into account when calculating pain and suffering. A few of the most common examples are age, emotional distress, and new limitations caused by the injury and the severity of your injuries. Because pain and suffering is a non-economic damage, meaning that the financial cost and award are subjective, there is no exact formula to predict how it will be determined. However, if the injury has caused excessive medical bills or economic distress, it does play a role in determining compensation. These factors can lead to a decreased quality of life and emotional pain that is likely a consequence of your injury. 

Currently in Florida, there are no limitations on the amount of non-economic damages you can claim and pursue. However, two major exceptions include medical malpractice (up to $500,000) and claims against municipal and state governments (up to $200,000). There is also a statute of limitations to claim pain and suffering compensation in Florida. Up to three years for most claims, between two to four years for medical malpractice, and up to four years for personal injury claims. Documenting how your injuries affect your daily life may be useful in a personal injury case. Including documents like medical records and treatment plans are especially helpful for proving non-economic damage.

Experiencing a life-changing injury can make a return to normalcy seem impossible. Let Impact Medical Group of Clearwater help you get back to your best self. Our team at Impact Medical Group Clearwater is a progressive, multi-disciplinary medical practice dedicated to improving the overall health, happiness, and well-being of our community. Call us at (727) 292-0200 to make an appointment today!

Did You Slip & Fall? Here’s What You Need to Do

You’re walking down a grocery store aisle in Sun City Center when you suddenly slip on something wet, and your feet are taken out from under you. What just happened?!

Ideally, you should never sustain a slip and fall injury. But not all businesses or property owners take the necessary steps to keep you safe. That’s why it is so important to know what to do following a slip and fall accident!

Our team at Impact Medical Sun City Center explains what to do next after you sustain a slip and fall.

What to Do After a Slip & Fall Accident

It is crucial to take these steps following a slip and fall accident:

Seek Medical Care

Even if you don’t feel any pain or have noticeable injuries following a slip and fall, it is still imperative to seek medical attention. Many slip and fall injuries don’t result in immediate symptoms, such as concussions. You might sustain a concussion in a slip and fall and not realize it at first.

Don’t let a minor injury develop into something more serious because you didn’t receive proper treatment at the time of the accident.

It is also worth noting that you need to seek medical treatment immediately after your injury if you want to pursue compensation from the property owner.

Report the Accident

Reporting the slip and fall is also one of the first steps that you should take following the accident. You should report the accident to the property manager, owner, or landlord as soon as the accident occurs.

Ask them to draft a written report that specifies the details of the incident and have them sign and date it. This evidence may help you build a stronger case if you intend to litigate.

Document the Accident

Depending on where your slip and fall occurred, there is a good chance that there were witnesses. Collect the contact information from anyone who might have seen the accident, as this can help strengthen a personal injury case.

You may also want to photograph the exact spot where the incident occurred, especially if you slipped on a liquid, tripped on hoses, or fell down unmaintained stairs, etc. In some instances, a property owner will address the issue that caused the accident after it happens, making it difficult for a victim to prove the property owner’s negligence.

You should also draft your own written statement with all the details of the accident including the time it occurred and what injuries you sustained.

When you get back to your house, find a safe place to store the clothing and shoes that you were wearing at the time of the accident. These may be used as evidence in slip and fall cases.

Don’t Say Anything

The property or business owner may try to contact you after the accident. While it can be hard to control your emotions after a slip and fall, remain calm and do not make any statements.

Don’t post about the accident on any of your social profiles either. Don’t give in to the impulse to vent your frustration. The only people you should be sharing details of the slip and fall with are your doctors, lawyer, and close family members.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

Once you have addressed your medical needs and gathered all the necessary information about the slip and fall, you may want to consult with a personal injury attorney to file a lawsuit.

If you plan to contact an attorney, do so promptly as there is a statute of limitations for slip and falls, and you don’t want it to be too late to file a lawsuit for the compensation that you deserve if you were injured.

Lean on Impact Medical Sun City Center

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, call on our team of personal injury professionals at Impact Medical Sun City Center! Our doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists are ready to help you recover and get back to normal life following an accident. If you plan to file a lawsuit, having documented medical care will help you to win your case!

Don’t wait. If you have been in a slip and fall accident, call Impact Medical Sun City center as soon as possible for treatment; (813) 938-5195!

Here’s How Physical Therapy Prior to Any Surgery Can Help

Any surgical procedure can take a physical toll on the body, enough to cause trauma and leave it feeling incredibly exhausted. Thankfully, you can reduce the negative effects with physical therapy (PT) sessions beforehand. The kind professionals at Impact Medical Port Richey will explain how PT before surgery can help you.

What is Prehabilitation?

Physical therapy before surgery is also referred to as prehabilitation. For pre-surgery PT, a physical therapist will start by giving you a full examination of the current state of your body. After giving you a detailed review, they’ll discuss a personalized plan with goals designed to give you the best possible results.

Your physical therapist will also act as a guide or teacher by showing you how to handle certain hurdles that you may come across after your procedure. This includes learning how to enter or exit a chair or bed, how to get across a flight of stairs, and how to use common facilities. They will also demonstrate various stretches and light exercises that can help you before and after your surgery.

The Benefits of PT Before Surgery

It can take as soon as one to two weeks for certain injuries to begin wearing down your muscle strength which is why it’s recommended to start prehabilitation as far out as six weeks before the operation. However, you’ll still see some results as much as two weeks prior to the surgery date. Depending on how long your pre-surgery PT is and how determined you are, you can coax along a number of wonderful benefits such as:

Reduced Muscle Loss

One of the main reasons for pre-surgery PT is to maintain muscle strength. You tend to lose so much strength during the procedure and it can be hard to recover if you’re starting from the bottom. By building on your muscle beforehand, the loss won’t seem as great which will help in your overall recovery.

Shortened Hospital Time

By having a higher muscle strength than you would have without PT before your procedure, it’ll be that much easier to make your goal which means you won’t have to stay in the hospital nearly as long.

Prevention of Surgical Complications

By keeping your body in better than average shape, there’s a less likely chance of complications arising during or after the procedure such as immense soreness or swelling which could lead to pain.

Increased Stamina

Stamina is essential when it comes to the recovery process. It can be difficult to even get out of bed in order to begin your exercise regimen if your body is too fatigued to move in the first place.

Restored Range of Motion

When your body suffers a direct impact, severe trauma, or has been still for extended periods of time, you can suffer from a limited range of motion compared to what you’re used to. Physical therapy uses repeated movements to guide your body into loosening up back to its normal condition.

The Best Physical Therapist in Port Richey

Do you have a surgical procedure coming up? Let the professionals at Impact Medical Port Richey make your healing journey considerably easier on you and your body. Call us today at (727) 848-3377 to schedule an appointment and receive the best treatment in Florida!