Warm weather is finally here! Lacing up our running shoes and exploring the great outdoors has been long overdue. Whether you’re spending long hours sitting at a desk, laboring in the outdoor elements, or behind a wheel of a vehicle at 5 o’clock, when the weekend hits many of us enjoy a game of catch with the kids, a bike ride through the park, a couple of rounds on the green, or heading to the park's basketball court for a pick-up game.
Whatever fun you like to partake in, it could result in one or more of the seven most common sports injuries if you are not careful. To minimize your recovery, you may benefit from chiropractic care to aid in your natural healing process. Our chiropractors can help you get back on your feet and back to enjoying your sport. They can also provide you with information and exercises to help avoid the injuries again in the future.
7 Most Common Sports Injuries
- Ankle sprain- This injury usually occurs when the foot turns inward, stretching or tearing the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. To help the flexibility and strength in your ankle and to prevent re-injury it is good to exercise. Have an X-ray taken on your bones to be sure the bones didn’t separate in the lower ankle
- Groin pull- Numerous physical activities can cause strain to your inner thigh muscles or groin. Compression, ice, and rest is a good remedy for your injury, but returning to full activity too quickly can aggravate the injury or turn it into a long-term problem.
- Hamstring strain- The hamstring (the three muscles in the back of the thigh) can be overstretched by movements in which the leg is kicked sharply (such as hurdling or falling forward while water skiing). Hamstring injuries are slow to heal usually up to 6 to 12 months, due to the constant aggravation of walking. One aspect of healing the hamstring is avoiding the movement that caused the injury. Avoiding running or quick acceleration is also key to avoid aggravating the injury.
- Shin splints- Pains down the front of the lower leg is most often brought on by running (especially when starting a strenuous training program). Best treatment is rest, ice, and over the counter pain medication.
- Knee Injury- ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear- The ACL connects the bottom of the thighbone (femur) to the top of the shinbone (tibia). Sudden “cuts” or stops or suddenly getting hit from the side can strain or tear it. If the tear is sever enough it could require surgery.
- Patellofemoral syndrome (knee injury)- This injury results from the repetitive movement of your kneecap (patella) against your thigh bone (femur), damaging the tissue under the knee cap (one knee or both can be affected) This injury can take up to 6 weeks to heal, but be sure to continue with low impact exercise during this time.
- Tennis elbow (epicondylitis)- Continuous use of the elbow (such as in golfing or tennis) can irritate or make tiny tears in the elbows tendons. This is mostly standard in 30 to 60-year-olds. Allowing the tendons to rest will help the pain dissipate. You will need to avoid the activity that caused the aggravation for a period of time to allow the tendons to rest.
Young athletes, adults who enjoy recreational sports, and high-performance athletes are all at inherent risks of obtaining a sports injury. Not only can these injuries limit playing time or affect your performance, but your personal life can also be significantly impacted too. Seeking the treatment from a qualified medical professional is imperative to help you get back to doing the activities you enjoy.
These precautions are not meant to alter your daily activities or prevent you from doing physical activities, but merely give you comfort in knowing that Arrowhead clinics have nearly 40 years’ experience in treating all ages and types of athletes and injuries. Our sports doctors have the tools needed to guide you through the recovery and rehabilitation process. If you suffered an injury, Click on the link below for a Free Sports Injury Consultation with one of our Doctors.
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