College tennis player returns to court after a torn meniscus

Rachel Beck is a member of the Millsaps College tennis team. She had only been playing  collegiately for one year when she tore her meniscus.

“There was no sudden movement or impact that I was aware of,” Rachel recalled. “My injury was simply from wear and tear. My knee was hurting for about two months before I got it checked out.”

Kevin Dessauer, DPT who treated Rachel said, “This is actually a pretty common injury amongst college tennis players.  The amount of mileage a college tennis player accumulates over a season through practice, conditioning, and matches is tremendous.”

When asked how it felt being injured, Rachel said, “It was both physically and mentally challenging.  Some days were more painful than others, and it was then I had to push myself harder. Staying positive was difficult because I had to be patient with my body.”

“The collegiate athletes we treat are often times some of the hardest, yet most rewarding patients,” said Kevin. “They have an unwavering commitment to training and extraordinary talent in their sport. Making them slow down, listen to their body and be patient is usually the most difficult part. They’re used to training hard and giving 100%.”

Rachel’s physical therapy included total body conditioning to restore mobility, strength, balance, power, and endurance as well as a tennis-specific program to allow for a safe return to tennis.

“I was scared and nervous to return to tennis. I feared re-injury from going too hard, too fast,” said Rachel.  “I also didn’t trust myself with a lot of the tennis-related movements. There was a big difference between feeling confident and stronger in physical therapy versus actually getting back on the tennis court.”

“Rachel was able to build confidence through our return to sport testing.  It was a blast watching Rachel develop strength both physically and mentally through this process.  I’m confident that she now moving better than ever.”

Rachel concluded, “My experience at Baudry Therapy Center was amazing! My first half of PT was done in Jackson, MS while I was at Millsaps.  PT at Baudry was incomparable. Everyone was excited to work with me and positively encouraged me through my rough days.  The return to sport program built me back up physically and gave me the confidence to get back on the court.”

Rachel finished the 2016-2017 season with an impressive 8-4 singles record and plans to build on her success this year as she enters her final year at Millsaps.

Learn more about BRIO’s Return to Sport program

The #1 predictor of injury for athletes is a previous injury. So when an athlete is injured, BRIO’s Return to Sport team gets to work with evidence-based care that gives our clients the confidence they need to resume athletic activities. For more information on BRIO’s Return to Sport program, CLICK HERE.

 

 

 

Performance Training – How to Identify Overtraining Injuries

Too much of a good thing might not be great. Many of you have taken the challenge to get in better shape, compete in a sport or competition, or reach for personal fitness goals. We applaud you for your effort and think it is great! We encourage our clients daily to reach for their goals. Unfortunately, some find injury and setbacks due to overtraining.

Overtraining occurs when we push too much, too fast , and for too long. Each workout puts stress on the body. That stress stimulates the body to to respond by rebuilding the tissue stronger. The body is very good at responding to the stresses we put on it. The problem comes when the breakdown process of the exercise or activity, outpaces the bodies ability to heal and recover. When this occurs, injury, performance lulls and even illness can follow. Often, our minds are ahead of our body’s abilities.

Are you training and having any of the following symptoms?

1) Mood changes.

2) Persistent aching in the joints and muscles.

3) Increased frequency of illness.

4) A drop in performance level.

5) Drop in enthusiasm or passion for the activity.

6) Loss of sleep.

If so, you may be suffering the effects of overtraining. The key to avoiding the performance training injuries is to recognize the warning signs. Although we may be working out with good intentions, it is easy to fall into the trap of overtraining. We adopt the “if a little bit is good, more must be better” philosophy. A little success breeds the drive for more. So we push a harder expecting greater improvement only to find the opposite. Unfortunately, improvement takes time. Our bodies have limits, depending on our current level of conditioning, age, and ability. No matter what the activity, knowing the right amounts to push or train is important. Recognize the signs of overtraining, and train smarter and more effectively.

If you would like more information on performance training and how to train efficiently and effectively, please contact our office, or respond through the comments section.

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Rich Baudry

Photo credit: VinceHuang