Summer often means spending more time outdoors and being more active than usual. Whether
you’re training for a race, joining a recreational sports league, tackling home improvement
projects, gardening, or simply taking longer walks, a sudden increase in activity can put extra
stress on your muscles and joints.

Some common injuries that occur during the summer include, but are not limited to:
● Ankle sprains: caused by hiking, running on uneven trails, or playing beach volleyball
● Shoulder injuries: swimming, kayaking, tennis, pickleball, and throwing sports can all
place repetitive stress on the shoulder.
● Knee pain: running, hiking, cycling, and recreational sports often lead to knee pain,
especially if activity levels increase too quickly.
● Low Back Pain: long road trips, gardening, yard work, lifting coolers, and home
improvement projects can all contribute to back pain.
● Tennis Elbow & Golfer’s Elbow: summer sports like pickleball, golf, and tennis can cause
irritation of the tendons around the elbow.

One of the biggest misconceptions about physical therapy is that it’s only for people recovering
from an injury. In reality, physical therapists are movement experts who can help identify
potential problems before they lead to pain or injury.
During an evaluation, a physical therapist assesses your strength, flexibility, balance, mobility,
posture, and movement patterns. They can identify muscle imbalances, joint stiffness, poor
mechanics, or areas of weakness that may increase your risk of common summer injuries such
as ankle sprains, knee pain, shoulder strains, tendonitis, or low back pain.

Based on these findings, your therapist will create a personalized program designed to improve
mobility, build strength, increase stability, and enhance overall movement efficiency. They can
also provide guidance on proper warm-up routines, recovery strategies, and activity
modifications to help you safely increase your activity level.
Preventive physical therapy is especially beneficial if you’re:
● Returning to exercise after a period of inactivity
● Training for a summer race or sporting event
● Starting a new fitness routine
● Recovering from a previous injury
● Looking to stay active without recurring aches and pains

Investing in your movement before an injury occurs can help you enjoy everything summer has
to offer—from hiking and pickleball to family vacations and weekend projects—with greater confidence and a lower risk of setbacks.