Sports injuries: rehabilitation and the physical therapist’s role, per NIAMS
NIAMS says that after a sports injury heals, “A physical therapist or physiatrist will make a plan aimed at rebuilding strength and range of motion of the injured part of the body, and easing any residual pain.” This page quotes NIAMS only.
Quoted from official pages checked November 12, 2026. Confirm current information on those sites. This page is not medical advice and does not describe any patient’s care.
Sources read on November 12, 2026: NIAMS’s Sports Injuries overview and its diagnosis and treatment page (both last reviewed September 2024).
Not only athletes
NIAMS states: “Factory workers get tennis elbow, painters get shoulder injuries, and gardeners develop tendinitis, even though they may not participate in sports.” And: “Sports injuries are divided into two broad categories, acute and chronic injuries.”
On treatment, NIAMS says a provider for severe injuries “may recommend a course of physical therapy for rehabilitation and/or a cast, splint, or brace.” It adds: “A rehabilitation program that includes exercise and other types of therapy is usually recommended before resuming the sport or activity that caused the injury.”
Rehabilitation
NIAMS states: “After the injury has healed, you may need to complete a rehabilitation program before returning to the activity that caused the injury.” And: “Most rehabilitation plans include exercises that you do at home, in addition to those you do in the therapist’s office. The therapist may also treat the injured area with cold, heat, ultrasound, aquatic, or massage therapy. A rehabilitation program can help you return to your previous level of activity and reduce the chance of reinjury.”
Who treats sports injuries
NIAMS lists emergency physicians, primary care providers, orthopaedic surgeons, pain management specialists, physiatrists, physical therapists, and sports medicine specialists. For physical therapists, it lists three roles:
- “Develop a rehabilitation program.”
- “Strengthen muscles and joints.”
- “Prevent further injury.”
Outpatient settings are described on working in outpatient clinics.
What this page does not do
It does not repeat NIAMS’s home-care timings, risk-factor list, or medicine sentence. It is not medical advice and does not recommend any treatment, medicine, or product. Scope of practice for each profession is set by state law; check your state board.