Chiropractic Care Can Relieve the Pain of Sports Injuries
May 19th, 2009 | by admin |Sports injuries, these days are not just limited to professional athletes or young people who participate in school sports programs. Today, more and more people of both sexes and all ages are regularly involved in sports and fitness activities. There are women involved traditionally men’s sports such as soccer, basketball, and kick-boxing. A large percentage of people participate in sports like golf and tennis, and/or other healthy activities like running, aerobic classes, and weight training. Despite the activity, however, there is perpetually the risk of injury.
Nearly all of injuries generally fit into two categories: 1) traumatic injury, such as a slip, fall, or collision and, 2) repetitive stress or overuse injury.
Traumatic Injuries
As the name implies, this kind of injury produces the sort of incapacitation and debilitation most often associated with trauma. Most traumatic injuries are to the ligaments, the tissue that connects bone to bone, and to body muscles, but fractures and dislocations do take place at times, particularly with contact sports. Damage to a ligament is called a sprain, while damage to a muscle or its tendon is a strain. The most common areas for these sorts of injuries are the ankles, knees, and shoulders, nevertheless other areas can be affected including the low back and neck. Because the spinal cord and/or spinal nerves can be involved, injury to the neck and low back can be extremely serious.
A traumatic injury may be relatively benign, such as a “muscle pull” or ankle twist. But, some can be quite serious and require surgery. It is contingent upon the severity of tearing of the tissues, the location, and the age of the person. The majority of sprains and strains are related to some degree of swelling and sometimes with internal bleeding, especially with injury to the ankles and knees. With all strains and sprains proper management is crucial, especially during the initial stages of the injury to assure correct healing and protect against future disability. Therapy from a competent health-care professional, such as your Santa Barbara chiropractor, is highly expedient.
Listed below is an acronym for the post-injury attention to sprains and strains expressly if no professional aid is available: PRICE
P Protect injury to prevent additional damage
R Rest the injury
I Ice injury to diminish swelling, bleeding, muscle spasm, and pain
C Compress injury with a specialized support or elastic bandage to support injured tissues
E Elevate the injury, especially when the damage is to ankles and knees
Naturally it is necessary to get the injury properly evaluated by a chiropractor, or other competent health professional, to determine the extent of damage. When proper management is given during the various stages of healing, nearly all those who have suffered sprain and strain injuries will recover. If not managed correctly, some sprains and strains can result in long-lasting problems such as joint instability, painful or weak joints and muscles, and lack of mobility. Expert care of your sports injury by a chiropractor with years of experience in sports injury treatment will insure that your injury recovers properly. If you have sustained a traumatic injury, call your Santa Barbara chiropractor.
Repetitive Stress, or Overuse, Injuries
Sports such as golf, tennis, and bowling, as well as any other activity that necessitates the same movements over and over are widespread reasons for repetitive stress injuries. Even running, particularly on a treadmill, can produce such afflictions.
Fundamentally, overuse or repetitive stress injuries happen when someone is occupied in a repetitious activity that causes a tiny strain to tissues, expressly tendons and muscles, that alone would not cause a problem, but done many times has an accumulative effect. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most frequent kinds of overuse injuries. The pain, stiffness, and disability associated with carpal tunnel problems happens over a period of time as the muscles and other affected tissue establish changes that no longer allow normal function. There are two types of factors that predispose a person to these types of problems: 1) Intrinsic, i.e., found within a person’s own body, and 2) Extrinsic, i.e., external factors that can generally be changed or controlled by the sufferer.
Some of the most prevalent intrinsic factors for injury
Age is the mostgeneral intrinsic factor for injury. The older a person is, the easier it is for that individual to get injured. Congenital abnormalities are another factor. Some people are born with joint or muscle problems. And, ultimately, previous injuries are a factor as they generally prohibit the joints or muscles from functioning correctly.
Extrinsic factors for injury
There are many extrinsic injury factors. For instance, sports equipment can faulty–an improper grip size of tennis racket or worn-out running shoes are good examples, even a playing surface can be a factor, e.g., a too-hard surface for soccer or an uneven treadmill. Inept technique in any sport, such as an awkward golf grip is, as the saying goes, an injury waiting to happen All sports activities require some pre-conditioning, which is why people who are out of shape who continue to extend the duration of an activity without developing slowly, as well as those who lack flexibility, are injured most often. Lack of warm-up, like stretching and appropriate preparation, is a common factor in injuries. And, lastly, and maybe surprising to some, stress is a factor. Being tired or stressed can create tense, inflexible muscles that are too tight for most activities.
There are quite a few factors that are extrinsic and, hence, within a person’s control. But, most people require an examination by a qualified health care professional to determine their overall body health, the nature of an injury, and the answer to the problem. If left untreated, sports injuries can significantly affect a person’s life and limit a favorite activity. Treatment such as joint manipulation, massage, bracing, and specific exercises is frequently necessary to stabilize the condition. A chiropractor is and excellent source of help. Call a chiropractor if you’re either thinking of beginning a new activity, you’re feeling pain related to a current sports activity, or you’ve sustained a sports injury. Your Santa Barbara Chiropractor has years of experience helping people just like you.
