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Take a poll of what people think some of the most intense contact sports are and chances are lacrosse is going to be high on the list. Lacrosse (LAX for short) is technically a combination of three sports in one: basketball, soccer, and hockey. Popular at both the high school and collegiate levels, lacrosse involves a ton carrying a lacrosse stick as players dart across a field that measures 110 yards long and 60 yards wide. Oh, and the goals are 80 years apart. For reference, that’s even bigger than a football field.

With the equipment, the ability to make contact with other players, and the sheer physicality of the sport, it’s no wonder injuries are common in lacrosse. Some of the most common injuries in lacrosse include:

• ACL tears
• MCL tears
• LCL tears
• PCL tears
• Meniscus tears
• IT band syndrome
• Knee dislocations
• Ankle sprains
• Hip labral tears
• Hamstring strains
• Quad tears
• Concussions 

Don’t underestimate the power of a lacrosse player. Anyone who takes on this sport is in it to win it. That said, even the most dedicated lacrosse players get injured and have to be sidelined. To make sure that you don’t stay on the sidelines too long, Next Level Physio is here to help. We work with youth and college athletes all the time, which means we know the exact right sports physical therapy techniques that will help you get back on the field. Our goal? Have you return to LAX safer and stronger than ever. Reach out to us today and we’ll work with you.

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Dribble, pass, shoot, slam dunk! Okay, maybe it’s not quite as easy as that but enjoying basketball certainly isn’t hard to do. No, not everyone can excel at basketball, but pretty much anyone can pick up a ball and give it a try. Basketball is for all ages, with some kids starting as young as 3. Youth and college basketball players tend to be some of the most physically active athletes around. The sheer amount of running, jumping, and conditioning it takes to be good at basketball is exhausting to even think about!

With so much activity, however, there’s bound to be a degree of injury. Some of the most common injuries in basketball include: 

• ACL tears
• MCL tears
• LCL tears
• PCL tears
• IT band syndrome
• Knee dislocations
• Ankle sprains
• Hip labral tears
• Hamstring strains
• Quad tears
• Foot injuries
• Hand/wrist injuries
• Torn meniscus
• Concussions

Playing basketball requires activating the fast-twitch muscle fibers to make quick directional changes. You need to be able to pivot, act, and react quickly on the court to defeat the opposing team. Furthermore, there’s a lot of power and force involved in basketball. Not only do players constantly run back and forth across the court (for reference, the average NBA player runs 3 miles per game), but they’re also doing a ton of squatting, jumping, throwing, ducking, blocking…the list goes on. This amount of activity makes them prime for developing basketball injuries. 

If you’re a bball player looking to rehab a basketball injury, Next Level Physio has you covered. Come to us in Bergen County, NJ for physical therapy and we’ll get you healthy, healed, and back on the court. 

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American football is a unique pastime that pretty much all youth and college athletes can appreciate. Even if you’re not player or a hardcore fan yourself, it’s hard to overlook the sheet intensity, power, and passion that goes along with playing football. Most kids don’t get involved in football before the age of 14; some stick with it all throughout their high school careers, continue on to play college football, and some even make it to the NFL. Regardless of the age at which you play, it’s incredibly important to be aware of common injuries in football so you can play the game safely and prevent yourself from getting hurt.

Some of the most common injuries in football include:

• ACL injuries
• MCL injuries
• LCL injuries
• PCL injuries
• Meniscus tears
• IT band syndrome
• Knee dislocations
• Ankle sprains
• Hip labral tears
• Hamstring strains
• Quad tears
• Concussions

There’s been a lot of controversy over the years about the safety of football, and for good reason. It’s a high-impact sport that requires loads of discipline, strength, strategy, and conditioning. At Next Level Physio, we want youth and college football players to be able to enjoy the game without injuring themselves or others. In the event they do get injured playing football, we also want them to know that they have a reliable sports physical therapist they can turn to to help get them back on the field.

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Are you in “love” with tennis? As a game that’s been around since the 1870s, tennis is played all over the world. High school and college gives youth plenty of opportunities for young tennis players to get involved in the game, but there are also intramural leagues and recreational groups available for noncompetitive tennis players. The best way to ensure that it remains fun is to avoid getting injured.

Some of the most common injuries in tennis include:

• Rotator cuff injuries
• Wrist strains
• Meniscus tears
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Achilles tendinitis
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Hamstring strains and injuries
• IT band pain

The sudden directional changes, burst of intensity, and power required of tennis players is what could get them injured. Maintaining proper form and technique is critical, but even the most experienced tennis players sometimes get injured. 

The good news is that a tennis injury doesn’t mean you have to be done with the game forever. The key is to find yourself a good sports physical therapist like Next Level Physio. The right recovery program will help you not only rehab your tennis injury, but it will do so in a way that has you coming back to the court even stronger than before.  

Whether you’re a casual tennis player or are playing tennis competitively for your high school or college, staying injury-free is the best way to stay in “love” with the game. 
Need help rehabbing a tennis injury in Bergen County, NJ? Give us a call at Next Level Physio today.

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Running cross country means you’re ready to go the distance – at least the distance of the race, that is. The standard distance for cross country races for men/boys is 7.5 miles and women/girls is 3 miles. Keep in mind, however, that those are just the races. The average cross country team runs between 70 to 90 miles per week depending on their event, their team members, and their goals. If you couldn’t already tell, cross country is intense. 

Cross country runners put their bodies through a lot, which means injuries are common. Some of the most common injuries in cross country runners include:  

• Stress fractures
• Patellofemoral syndrome
• Runner’s knee
• Patellar tendinitis (jumper’s knee)
• Achilles tears
• IT band syndrome
• Shin splints
• Ankle fractures
• Plantar fasciitis
• Hamstring strains

Overtraining, form, strength, and so many other factors contribute to cross country injuries. Getting injured in any sport can be frustrating, but especially when you have a team counting on you. The best thing to do in these situations is to find a sports physical therapist to help you heal. 
Next Level Physio understands the rigors of cross country training. In fact, we have our own running technique training program that is specifically geared towards helping people improve their form and become better athletes. If you’re dealing with an injury from cross country, you need a physical therapist who gets you. Give us a call at Next Level Physio today!

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Track and field athletes are some of the most physically fit people out there. Track and field is a common youth and college sport that usually begins as a high school hobby and may turn into a  passion in the long run (forgive the pun). Running, jumping, and throwing are all involved in track and field. Some people excel in sprints whereas others are more geared towards long-distance running. Whatever your forte, it’s important to keep yourself injury-free. 

Some of the most common injuries in track and field include: 

• Stress fractures
• Patellofemoral syndrome
• Runner’s knee
• Patellar tendinitis (jumper’s knee)
• Achilles tears
• IT band syndrome
• Shin splints
• Ankle fractures
• Plantar fasciitis
• Hamstring strains

Track is a physically demanding sport. Some of these injuries occur due to overtraining, lack of proper form, and lack of strength – but sometimes they occur just because. It can be frustrating to get injured in track, whether in practice or at a meet, especially when the rest of your team is counting on you. The most important thing, however, is to know how to properly heal from a track injury. That’s where having a trustworthy sports physical therapist comes into play.
Next Level Physio understands track and field injuries and the sport in general. In fact, we have our own running technique training program that is specifically geared towards helping people improve their form and become better athletes. If you’re dealing with an injury from track, you need a physical therapist who gets you. Give us a call at Next Level Physio and see how we can get you back on the track.

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Nadia Comaneci, Aly Landsman, Simone Biles are some of the most famous gymnasts in the world. These Olympians’ years of training, dedication, and commitment to the sport is nothing short of amazing, and it showed. To be a gold medalist (or let’s face it, to just get on the balance beam at all), you need to have a certain level of bravery and skill that’s well above average.

Whether at the youth or collegiate level, gymnastics is an intense sport. It requires a ton of strength, flexibility, and trust. Doing a cartwheel is hard enough, but doing it while balancing on a 4-inch wide balance beam and then doing a roundoff back handspring and sticking the dismount? That’s tough. It’s unfortunately not surprising that gymnasts are subject to getting some serious injuries.

Several common injuries in gymnastics include:

• ACL injuries
• Herniated discs
• Meniscus tears
• Concussions
• Rotator cuff tears
• Ankle sprains and strains
• Neck injuries
• Knee injuries
• Low back pain
• Achilles tendon strains 
• Wrist sprains 

Gymnastics is a fun, exciting, and physically demanding sport. It can definitely be done safely, which is why lots of kids, teens, and collegiate-level gymnasts stick with it for so long. Still, gymnastics injuries are real things to be aware of and healing from them has to be done under the care of an experienced sports physical therapist. 
Finding a physical therapist you can trust to help with a gymnastics injury is crucial if you’ve experienced one of the injuries above, or if you’re looking for techniques on how to avoid getting injured in the sport. Next Level Physio in Bergen County, NJ is here to help. Give us a call today!

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