The Toronto Raptors are in the midst of a stunning postseason run as they defeated the Indiana Pacers in round one of the playoffs in seven games. Once again, they needed seven games in round 2 however they defeated the Miami Heat and find themselves just four games away from the NBA Finals. The Raptors now take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in what is expected to be a tough series. Note, that the Raptors have played 14 games in the playoffs while the Cavs have played just eight total games, sweeping both opponents with relative ease. Of course with these extra games, wear and tear is a factor that could negatively impact the team. Today we look at 5 ways in which the Toronto Raptors have greatly benefited from physiotherapy.

Jonas Valanciunas’ Ankle

After spraining his ankle in Round 2 of the Conference Semifinals against the Miami Heat, many believed that Jonas Valanciunas’ season had come to an abrupt end. After undergoing an MRI and X-Rays, it was determined that Valanciunas had a sprained ankle that is widely speculated to be a Grade 2 ankle sprain. Since suffering this injury, Valanciunas has received treatment 24/7 and has since ditched the walking boot. Despite walking with a noticeable limp, Valanciunas is receiving attention around the clock including massages and vigorous stretching routines. While he remains doubtful for the first two games of the series against the Cavaliers, due to the treatment he has been receiving, he may make an appearance as the series progresses. If it weren’t for treatment, Valanciunas may still be in a walking boot hoping that the swelling goes down.

DeMarre Carroll’s Wrist

Against the Miami Heat in Game 6, DeMarre Carroll braced himself for a fall and unfortunately landed awkwardly, causing many to assume that Carroll had broken his wrist. After the X-Rays revealed that nothing was broken, it was revealed that Carroll suffered a wrist contusion; in other words a deeply bruised wrist. Since suffering this injury, DeMarre Carroll has received treatment and is doing much better. Some of these exercises include resisted wrist extension and resisted wrist flexion based exercises. As a result of this treatment, Carroll was able to return for Game 7 where his lockdown defense was instrumental in the Raptors advancing past the second round.

Dynamic Stretch Routines

As we mentioned earlier, adding 14 games to an 82 game season is a tough ask considering the body will naturally wear down as the Raptors continue their historic playoff run. You may have noticed that during the pre-game warmups, many Raptor players take part in a dynamic stretching routine designed to keep the body warm yet loose. These dynamic stretching routines increase circulation, reduce inflammation, and have been an integral part of the Raptors’ success story.

Kyle Lowry’s Elbow

During the regular season, Kyle Lowry injured his elbow which he suspects he injured during a game in London, England in January against the Orlando Magic. For the average person, they would take a few weeks off physical activities and enjoy the rest however this is a professional athlete after all. Lowry opted to play through the pain and due to Physical Therapy, he has been able to keep the inflammation to a minimum. Lowry has had fluid drained from the elbow throughout the regular season and is constantly getting deep tissue massages to increase circulation while reducing inflammation.

DeMar DeRozan’s Thumb

During the Miami Heat series, the broadcast showed Toronto Raptors Director of Sports Science Alex Mckechnie wrapping DeMar’s thumb in a shoelace then unwrapping the thumb. DeMar DeRozan’s thumb is currently banged up and this traditional method of physical therapy is used to reduce inflammation. Mckechnie will wrap the thumb in a firm fashion with the shoelace then gradually reduce pressure until the thumb is unwrapped. As a result, swelling stays down and fluid does not enter the thumb region, giving DeMar full function despite having an injured thumb.

 
If you are recently recovering from a sports-related injury or would like to work on your endurance, we at HealthMax Physiotherapy are always willing to help. Please visit us or call (416) 431-4000. Remember, consultations are free and we offer the same level of services that are offered to these Toronto Raptors players!

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