Sporting Injuries
Whether you are a weekend warrior or a professional athlete, chances are,
you have been injured while participating in a sporting competition. One of
the major reasons for injury is improper warm-up and cool down before and
after exercise. Realize that injury often occurs due to repetitive motions.
The most common injury is a pulled muscle, and it is due to not warming up properly. A muscle pull occurs when a sudden force stretches the muscle fibers beyond their capacity. No matter how careful you are, certain activities are likelier then others to land you on your back. In-line skating injuries, for instance, have doubled in the past year. If the pain is in your mid back or lower back, you’ve probably aggravated the muscles, ligaments and tendons in your back, which in turn cause the vertebrae in the back to become misaligned (subluxated).
Ice is usually the safest, most effective way to care for any sporting injury.
When ice is applied immediately after a sport's mishap, it can significantly
reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. The rule of thumb for sports
injuries is known as R.I.C.E, which means Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation
until pain and inflammation subside. An ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables
can be applied for up to 20 minutes then rest for an hour and repeat.
Once the swelling and pain subside, switch to moist heat to limber up stiff muscles and regain your full range of motion. Never use a hot pack for more then twenty minutes and do not utilize heat on an injury first because it will cause swelling.
The majority of sporting injuries involve the knee, elbow, ankle, back, or
neck. Because these injuries are often related to direct, traumatic injury
to the body’s skeletal structure, chiropractic care will provide effective
management for these injuries. Chiropractors may be best known for
their specific adjustments to the spine to help remedy back and neck injuries,
but they are also called into play for care of sports related injuries. The first step injured athletes and exercisers can take to help themselves
is to seek help at the first sign of pain or extended soreness of muscles
or joints. Those who try to “work through” their injuries will only find they
make their injuries worse as well as complicate care. Our patients, who have
scheduled appointments promptly, have been rewarded by getting their injury
taken care of before it becomes a major problem.