Posts Tagged ‘sports injuries’

In the past sports injuries were mostly limited to professional athletes, kids participating in school sports programs, and the occasional male “weekend warrior. Today, many people of both sexes and all ages are regularly active in sports and fitness activities. There are women active traditionally men’s sports such as soccer, basketball, and kick-boxing. A large percentage of people very active in sports like golf and tennis, and/or other healthy activities like running, aerobic classes, and weight training. Regardless of the activity,though, there is always the risk of injury.

Most injuries can be broken down into two fundamental types: injury from trauma such as a slip, fall or collision, and injury as the effect of overuse or repetitive stress.

Traumatic Injuries

These injuries create the debilitating damage often associated with trauma. As a rule injuries to the ligaments (the tissue that connects bone to bone) and to muscles are the most commonplace, however the trauma of fractures and dislocations often occurs in contact sports. Trauma to a ligament is called a sprain, while trauma to a muscle or its tendon is a strain.  The most characteristic places for these types of injuries are the ankles, knees, and shoulders, but other areas can be affected including the low back and neck. Because the spinal cord and/or spinal nerves can be affected, injury to the neck and low back can be very 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. The seriousness of the injury depends upon several factors, such as the severity of tearing of the tissues, the whereabouts of the injury, and the age of the person. Almost all sprains and strains are related to some degree of swelling and on occasion with internal bleeding, in particular with injury to the ankles and knees. Strains and sprains demand competent attention, particularly during the initial stages of an injury, to guarantee complete healing and avoid future disability. Treatment 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 particularly if no professional aid is available: PRICE
P    Protect injury to prevent additional damage
R    Rest the injured area
I     Ice injury to decrease swelling, bleeding, muscle spasm, and pain
C    Compress injury with a specifically designed or elastic bandage to support injured tissues
E    Elevate the injury, particularly when dealing with ankles and knees

As already mentioned, knowledgeable diagnosis and care are essential to a complete recovery. A chiropractor can ascertain the extent of your injury and institute proper recovery treatment. When proper care is supplied during the various stages of healing, the majority those who have sustained sprain and strain injuries will recover. If not managed attentively, some sprains and strains can result in long-lasting problems such as joint instability, painful or weak joints and muscles, and lack of mobility. A chiropractor that is experienced in the treatment of sports injuries can deliver highly knowledgeable advice and management you’ll require to insure that your injury will heall in the best possible way. If you have sustained a traumatic injury, call your Santa Barbara chiropractor.

Overuse or Repetitive Strain Injuries

These injuries are becoming more prevalent, particularly among those pursuing sports such as golf, tennis, bowling, and any other activity that requires the same motion over and over (repetitively). Even running, particularly on a treadmill, can cause such problems.

Fundamentally, overuse or repetitive stress injuries occur when an individual is involved in a repetitious activity that produces a very slight strain to tissues, expressly tendons and muscles, that alone would not cause a problem, but repeated many times has an accumulative effect.  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common types of overuse injuries. The pain, stiffness, and disability concomitant with carpal tunnel problems occurs over a period of time as the muscles and other affected tissue establish changes that no longer permit correct function. Definite factors predispose a person to these kinds of injury. A few are “intrinsic,” that is to say, the factor is found within a person’s own body. Other factors are “extrinsic,” which is to say that the factors are external and can often be changed or controlled by the person.

Some of the most widespread intrinsic factors for injury

Age is the mostwell-established intrinsic factor for injury. The older a person is, the easier it is for that man or woman to get injured. Congenital abnormalities are another factor. There are those who are born with joint or muscle problems. And, ultimately, previous injuries are a factor as they frequently prevent the joints or muscles from functioning normally.

Extrinsic factors for injury

Extrinsic factors are abundant.  An improper grip size of a tennis racket, worn-out running shoes, an uneven treadmill surface, or a too-hard surface for soccer are all instances of insufficient sports equipment that can cause problems. Incorrect technique in any sport, such as an incorrect golf grip is, as they say, an injury waiting to happen All sports activities necessitate some pre-conditioning, which is why people who are out of shape who continue to extend the duration of an activity without building up slowly, as well as those who lack flexibility, are injured more frequently. Warming up is very important prior to sports activities and lack of warm-up, that is, not stretching or preparing for an activity is a common cause of injury.  And, finally, and maybe surprising to some, stress is a factor. Muscles that are tense and inflexible as the result of stress are too tight and, therefore, unprepared for most sports activities.

There are a number of factors that are extrinsic and, therefore, within a person’s control. However, most people must have assessment by a qualified health care professional to establish their overall body health, the nature of an injury, and the answer to the problem. If left untreated, an injury will not only prevent an individual from participating in a favorite activity, but can greatly affect someone’s life in general. Treatment such as joint manipulation, massage, bracing, and specific exercises is generally needed 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.

A shin splint is a painful overuse injury that is common to runners, or other athletes who may be doing a lot of running as part of a conditioning program for another sport. Sharp pain on the outside edge of the shin is the most common symptom. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can be a minor annoyance that can be played on through treatment, or it may cause such a sharp degree of pain that it requires a complete shutdown of any running related activity.

The best treatment is ice, rest and elevation. Keep it iced to reduce inflammation and keep it elevated to help reduce swelling and fluid build up. As with any other injury, the body is best left to heal itself, and rest is often the best medicine. You may also utilize ibuprofen to help manage the pain.

Perhaps the best treatment for shin splints is prevention. There are a number of exercises that you can do which will strengthen the calf and muscles surrounding your shin. Calf raises, lunges, and a wide range of weight exercises on a power sled will help to build a solid muscle mass around your shin and calf. This increase in strength and stability will enhance your body’s ability to take some abuse and greatly decreases the possibility that the shin splints will be a recurring injury.

If, after several weeks of rest, ice, and elevation you are still experiencing sharp pain when you try to run, it may be time to see a doctor. There is another overuse injury that has similar symptoms, but which may require additional treatment. Stress fractures are painful, and typically require a much longer recovery time. If you allow your shin splint to go unchecked, they can often be the pre-cursor to a stress fracture, so don’t let them linger without some kind of treatment.

Stretching can play a big part in recovery and offer some relief to the shin splints. There aren’t many stretches that work the shins, but a good quadriceps stretch might help. Support yourself against a wall with one hand and pull your foot up behind you. Feel the pulling along the front of your thigh? That is the quad being stretched. Now, if you grab your instep and pull your foot out straight so your toes are pointing at the ceiling you will feel that stretch along your shin. Do this carefully and slowly. Whenever stretching, use slow, fluid movements, never jerk or bounce. The muscles are all connected by tendons and when the quad relaxes, so does everything that is tied to it.

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Many of us probably don’t think much about our fingers. We use them for everything and probably take for granted the sensitivity and dexterity involved. The thought of a jammed finger might not seem like such a big deal. Our fingers have so many nerve endings concentrated into such a small area that an injury to the fingers can be quite painful.

A finger jam occurs when it receives a hard blow to the end of the finger, basically crushing all of the different joints together. The result can be a painful injury that swells and limits the mobility of your finger. Just as with physical injury, if you think in any way that it may be fractured, the smartest thing to do is to get to physician as soon as you can so your finger can be set the right way. If however, the injury appears to be minor and you are content to treat it at home, here are some steps that you can take to alleviate some of the discomfort.

The most important thing you can do for any sports injury is to get some ice on it. Ice helps to reduce the swelling as well as numb the pain. When you apply ice, apply it in 20 minute sessions over the course of the day. The ice will constrict the blood vessels and keep the blood from collecting around the injured area. As the blood flow decreases, the swelling goes down and the pressure is relieved.

Further pain relief can be found in over the counter painkillers like ibuprofen. They help to manage the inflammation that is a result of the swelling and also help to reduce pain. If you feel that these over the counter pain killers are not strong enough to help you manage the pain, then you probably need to see a doctor for your injury.

The ability to immobilize the injured finger will allow it to heal a little faster and will also help to prevent you from injuring it further. You have the ability to purchase various types of finger splints for a relatively low cost at the majority of pharmacies. They are typically made of an aluminum shank that is padded on one side with foam rubber. Becayse the flexibilty of aluminum can be shaped to fit over the most comforting shape of your finger. Once you have created a splint that comfortably fits you, it is best to have somebody assist you to tape it on securely utilzing athletic tape. You should find that the immobility lessens the pain considerably as well.

If after a few days the swelling does not go down and the pain persists, then you should probably see a doctor. Any injury that involves a fracture or ligament damage should not be left untreated. If your body is left to heal itself, but doesn’t get things aligned properly, then you may have limited mobility or functionality of that finger for the rest of your life. If you feel like something isn’t right, it probably isn’t. Go to a doctor so they can take x-rays and find out for sure.

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While this article is not meant to replace good solid advice from your doctor for dealing with a major injury, there are a few steps you can take to alleviate pain and help the healing process involved with your sprained ankle.

This type of injury typically happens when the ankle is rolled in one direction or the other and the ligaments and tendons which give it support and hold it upright are stretched too far. The result is a painful injury that can lead to swelling and immobility. As with any injury, you should immediately ice the ankle. The ice constricts the blood vessels in the affected area, thus restricting blood flow. This restriction in blood flow help to control the swelling. The ice also helps to numb the pain. You should continue to ice the injury for 20 minutes several times a day.

Should the injury show no improvement and is causing enough pain that it prevents you from walking then you may have to visit the doctor for x-rays. Over the counter pain killers are good only if the injury is causing minor discomfort, more pain is a sign that not all is well. Ibuprofen is the best product to take as it will alleviate some of the swelling and inflammation that may be causing the stiffness and it will help to dull the discomfort.

As your ligaments and tendons work to repair and strengthen themselves, you may want to take it easy for a while. Since they have been stretched past their normal capacity, they will be weaker and the probability that you could injure yourself again is higher during the time when your body is rebuilding its strength. One of the ways to assist your body to have a quicker recovery is to give the injured ankle some added support. You can by supportive ankle braces over the counter at many pharmacies or sporting goods stores. These will have a tight fit over a persons foot as well as the ankle and provide a degree of support to supplement your normal strength of your ankle, which could be lowered due to injury. While it is ok to use these supports during the recovery phase, you may want to consult a doctor about prolonged use, as your body can grow to depend on the brace for support and never truly regain its own strength.

You may treat the injury at home, however if you do not see improvement after a few days then you might have a much deeper problem. You might have torn a ligament or a tendon, or you might have a small fracture. All of these can do permanent damage if they are not properly diagnosed and treated. While it is fine to try to treat your injury and recover on your own, you do have to heed the warning signs should ice or ibuprofen not work.

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Tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendons that surround a particular area. A repeated activity that causes the tendon unusual amounts of stress, or one that causes the tendon to rub over the joint, causing friction and soreness creates this inflammation. The inflammation can be quite painful and can also cause a good deal of stiffness, which can limit mobility.

While this injury is commonly found in the knees and elbows, it can also be found in the shoulders and fingers, depending on the activity. If you are experiencing pain, it is best to visit a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and instructions for how to proceed with treatment. In the meantime, there are some simple things that you can do to help yourself.

The most important thing that you need to do is limit the activity which is causing the inflammation in the first place. You should rest up and take it easy. Even if you try to proceed and play through the pain, you will only aggravate the condition further. About the only means of having it heal up is to cease any use of it. Along the way to recovery, you will want to make sure that you ice the area on a regular basis. Through extensive research it has been demonstrated to decrease the time to heal as well as lower inflammation. Ibuprofen can be used to combat discomfort and inflammation as well.

Once you are back in the game, you will need to be careful at first to make sure that you don’t re-aggravate the condition. It is possible that you may having a mechanical problem that is the problem which is the result of movements that are un-natural. These repeated movements that are not bio-mechanically efficient increase the likelihood and severity of tendonitis. If you suspect that this is the cause of your difficulty, then it would be in your best interest to consult with a professional in the3 field of sports medicine and get them to assist you in going over your movements. Regardless of whether it is your swing when you do tennis, your motion when you pitch, or your stride when you run, making just some small adjustments might make a lot of difference in the way you feel as well as how well you are capable of performing following the period of recovery.

As stated above, there are some at home steps that you can take to reduce the symptoms of tendonitis, but if it is a recurring problem, then you should see a doctor. What you may think as tendoitis might be something else entirely that is of a higher serverity such as a ligament or possibly damage to your cartilage. These are injuries that need to be treated professionally and which may require surgery to repair.

Plenty of rest and ice should help with speeding you along to recovery from tendonitis. Within a week or so you should see a marked improvement. However, be sure to wait a few days before jumping back into your usual routine. You want to make sure that you are fully healed or else you will cause the condition to return.

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We’ve all heard someone say at one point or another that they have pulled a muscle, but do any of us really understand what a pulled muscle is? A pulled muscle is a very common sports injury that occurs when the muscle fiber has been over stretched and begins to tear. Sometimes bleeding will occur from the tears and a bruise will form over the sore area.

Ice works very well with a pulled muscle. The ice will reduce any swelling in the area and help alleviate the pain. Ibuprofen may also be taken to further reduce swelling and pain.

The only thing that can cure a pulled muscle is time. If you were to travel to a clinic made for sports clinic. The best thing you can do is to take it easy while the muscle tissue heals itself and make sure that you don’t over exert it.

At the point that you are able to continue with your activity, at all time you need to be certain that you set aside the time to do some stretching well as well as warming up in the proper way. Too much exertion on muscles that are cold is frequently the reason of the pull in the first place. When you ask a muscle group to work hard without allowing it the time to establish the proper blood flow, you are asking for trouble.

You may find that wrapping the affected area with an elastic bandage helps keep it warm and loose, thus preventing the possibility of further damage. These wraps are available at many local pharmacies and sporting goods retailers.

If, after a period of time, you see no improvement then you may want to seek treatment at a sports medicine facility. If you have underestimated the extent of your injury, then you may have something more substantial than a pulled muscle and you may have actually torn it. The result is that the muscle tears free from the bone and can curl back up on it self. This is extremely painful and it is unlikely that it could happen without you knowing it, but prolonged pain is probably something that you should get checked out. A severely torn muscle can require surgery to repair and the longer you wait the worse it will get.

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