Top Gym Injuries We Treat in Orange County and how Doctors of Physical Therapy Fix Them
Sep 09, 2024
By Dr. Christian Legaspi, CEO || Founder Precizion Physical Therapy, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, Clinical Specialist Spine Fellow
Common Gym Injuries Among Fitness Enthusiasts
If you've ever pushed yourself too hard in the gym, you know the frustration of an injury that sidelines your progress. As someone who's been through nine injuries myself, I know how it feels when that sharp shoulder pain or persistent lower back ache keeps you from reaching your goals.
I'm Dr. Christian Legaspi, CEO of Precizion Physical Therapy in Costa Mesa, CA. Our clinic specializes in treating gym-related injuries. From rotator cuff tears to lower back strains, we’ve seen it all—and we know how to fix it.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the most common gym injuries we treat at Precizion Physical Therapy and show you exactly how we help gym-goers across Orange County get back to their fitness routines pain-free.
Lower Back Strains and Disc Issues
Lower back pain is by far the most common injury among gym enthusiasts. Heavy lifts like deadlifts and squats can easily lead to muscle strains or even disc issues if form isn’t perfect. Symptoms can range from dull aches to sharp pain radiating into the legs.
Shoulder Impingements and Rotator Cuff Tears
Your shoulders take a beating in the gym, especially during overhead movements like presses and pull-ups. If you feel pain when lifting your arms or experience weakness, it could be a rotator cuff injury or impingement.
Patellar Tendonitis and Front Knee Pain
Knee pain, particularly around the kneecap, is common in gym-goers who squat, run, or do lunges regularly. This can stem from patellar tendonitis or poor biomechanics, leading to pain, stiffness, and difficulty with stairs or lower body exercises.
Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow
Repetitive strain on the wrists and elbows from exercises like presses and rows can cause tennis elbow (pain on the outer elbow) or golfer’s elbow (pain on the inner elbow). This can weaken your grip strength and make it hard to hold weights.
Ankle Sprains and Achilles Tendonitis
Ankle injuries often occur with jumping exercises or running. Achilles tendonitis presents as stiffness and pain in the heel, while ankle sprains range from mild to severe, causing pain and swelling that can affect your ability to walk or train.
How Precizion Physical Therapy Fixes Gym Injuries
At Precizion PT, we use personalized assessments and advanced treatment techniques to help you recover quickly and get back to your workouts.
Personalized Assessments:
Every injury is unique. We begin with a thorough assessment of your movement patterns, flexibility, and strength to identify the root cause of the problem—whether it’s poor form or a muscle imbalance.
Manual Therapy and Joint Mobilization:
For injuries like lower back strains and shoulder impingements, we use hands-on techniques such as soft tissue massage, joint mobilization, and spinal manipulation to reduce pain and improve mobility.
Corrective Exercises:
Once the pain subsides, we focus on corrective exercises to strengthen weak muscles and restore function. For example, if you have knee pain, we’ll design a program to strengthen your glutes, hamstrings, and quads to reduce stress on your knees.
Injury Prevention and Education:
We help you correct your lifting form, improve biomechanics, and develop a progression plan to avoid future injuries. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge to move safely and effectively.
Real Client Success Stories
We’ve helped countless gym-goers overcome their injuries and achieve long-term results. Here are a few success stories:
- Lower Back Pain from Deadlifting: I once suffered from debilitating back pain after a heavy deadlift. Through manual therapy and core strengthening, I now deadlift 2.5x my body weight—pain-free.
- Shoulder Impingement from Overhead Pressing: A local trainer & weightlifter came to us with shoulder pain. After just one session of manual therapy and corrective exercises, they were back to pressing overhead without pain.
- Knee Pain from Squatting: A professional bodybuilder presented with chronic knee pain. After assessing muscle imbalances with our DYNAMO dynamometer, we created a customized program. In two weeks, they returned to training with significantly less pain.
Preventing Gym Injuries
While we’re here to help you recover, prevention is always the best strategy. Here’s how to stay injury-free in the gym:
- Warm Up Properly: Incorporate mobility drills and light cardio to prepare your muscles for lifting.
- Progress Slowly: Avoid rushing into heavy weights. Gradual progression is key to avoiding strain.
- Prioritize Form: Always focus on form over weight to avoid injury.
- Incorporate Mobility Work: Stretching, foam rolling, and mobility exercises should be part of your routine to keep muscles and joints healthy.
When to Seek Physical Therapy
If you’re dealing with persistent pain, limited movement, or reduced strength, it might be time to seek help. Early intervention can prevent further damage and help you get back to your routine faster.
Ready to Get Back to Your Best?
Injuries don't have to keep you from achieving your fitness goals. At Precizion Physical Therapy, we specialize in helping gym enthusiasts recover quickly and return to the workouts they love.
If you're dealing with any of these common gym injuries, schedule a consultation with us today at PrecizionPT.com. Let's work together to get you back to crushing your workouts, pain-free.
