Physical therapy in Reseda, CA
Sports Injury Rehabilitation
Whether you strained something at the gym, rolled an ankle on the field, or you're working back from surgery, the goal is the same: return to what you love without re-injuring yourself. Urvashi Barbhaya, RPT, OCS, builds rehabilitation around your sport and your timeline.
Injuries we help with
Sports and active lifestyles produce a familiar range of injuries. Common reasons people come in include:
- Ankle sprains and ligament injuries
- Muscle strains and pulls (hamstring, calf, groin, quad)
- Tendon problems and overuse injuries such as tendinitis
- Runner's knee, shin splints, and other repetitive-load injuries
- Shoulder and rotator cuff injuries
- Post-surgical rehabilitation and safe return to training
How rehabilitation works
Recovery is a progression, not a single treatment. After assessing the injured area — and the movement patterns that may have contributed to it — your care moves through clear stages, each one earning the next.
Calm and protect
The first priority is settling pain and swelling and restoring pain-free movement, using hands-on techniques and gentle early exercise so you don't lose ground while healing.
Rebuild strength and control
Progressive strengthening restores capacity in the injured tissue and the muscles that support it. Loading is increased gradually and deliberately, which is what makes the tissue resilient rather than just pain-free.
Return to sport
The final stage rehearses the demands of your actual sport — cutting, jumping, throwing, sprinting — so you go back tested and confident, with clear criteria that tell us you're ready.
What to expect at your first visit
Your first appointment is a thorough assessment: how the injury happened, how the area moves now, and what your goals are. Urvashi explains what she finds in plain language, begins treatment that same visit, and sends you home with a focused plan. With more than ten years of experience and Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) certification, your program is matched to your sport rather than pulled from a template.
Ready to get back in the game?
Contact the Reseda clinicCommon questions about sports injury rehab
How soon after a sports injury should I start physical therapy?
Sooner is usually better. Starting once the acute phase is managed helps protect range of motion and strength, but it is never too late to begin, even for an injury that has lingered for months.
Do I need a referral to be seen for a sports injury?
In California you can begin physical therapy without a physician's referral. Some insurance plans still require one for coverage, so check with your provider before your first visit.
Will physical therapy help me get back to my sport?
A return-to-sport plan is built into your care. Rehabilitation progresses from calming the injury to rebuilding strength to sport-specific movement, so you return prepared rather than hoping the injury holds.
Do you treat weekend athletes and youth athletes?
Yes. Care is tailored to your sport and level, whether you are a competitive athlete, a weekend runner, or a young athlete returning after an injury.