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Most sports injuries are due to trauma or overuse. Sports injuries refer to the kinds of injuries which most commonly occur during sports or exercise; however, they are not limited to athletes. 

Chiropractic for Sports Injuries

Musculoskeletal injuries can arise from repetitive behavior, for example tennis elbow. You don’t have to be a tennis player for this to occur; most tennis elbow tendonitis comes from repetitive motion, perhaps from your job. Back pain is another common musculoskeletal injury, but any joint, muscle, tendon or ligament can be affected.

A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament. A ligament helps keep things stable and hold structures together. A ligament attaches bone to bone.

A strain is a twist, pull or tear of a muscle or tendon. A tendon serves to move the bone or structure.  A tendon attaches muscle to bone.

Prevent A Sports Injury – Know Your Limits

When involved in physical activity, it is important to know your personal limits.

Some musculoskeletal injuries happen with no activity. For example, sitting too long can cause low back pain, and lifting something improperly or which is too heavy can cause back or other joint pain. Injuries usually occur when pushing beyond your limits or not stopping when the body is tired.

An example is a downhill skier taking “just one more run” at the end of a long day, and suffering an injury as a result. In addition, I often see injuries in patients who do not stay hydrated. The human body is over 60% water and when not well hydrated the muscles will tighten. Humans cannot survive without water.

Sports Injuries - Chiropractic for Sports Injuries

Factors that are important to help prevent musculoskeletal injuries are:

  • Staying hydrated
  • Gentle stretching
  • Knowing your limits
  • Moving your body
  • Staying focused and being in the moment; no mental distractions

If for some reason you do have an injury, RICE is the acronym to think about.

  • Rest
  • Ice-personally I recommend 15 minutes at a time, several times a day until 70% improvement, whether it is 2 days or 2 weeks.
  • Compression
  • Elevation

I would also add hydration, healthful eating, reducing sugar, chiropractic adjustment and including supplements to help accelerate the healing process.

Preventive Care: Reduce Your Chance of a Sports Injury

According to the World Health Organization:

  • Approximately 1.71 billion people have musculoskeletal conditions worldwide.
  • Musculoskeletal conditions are the leading contributor to disability worldwide, with low back pain being the single leading cause of disability in 160 countries.
  • Musculoskeletal conditions significantly limit mobility and dexterity, leading to early retirement from work, lower levels of well-being and reduced ability to participate in society.
  • Because of population growth and aging, the number of people living with musculoskeletal conditions and associated functional limitations is rapidly increasing.
  • WHO is responding to the burden attributed to musculoskeletal conditions across a number of programmatic areas.

Research results have prompted the U.S. Government to recommend chiropractic manipulation for back pain. Chiropractic care is more cost-effective and has a better rate of success for improved quality of life than other treatments.

Preventative care is always the best approach to any health issue. Utilize regular chiropractic treatments, daily stretching, hydration and mindfulness.

Supplements Can Help

Whether you’re an athlete, a weekend warrior, or just want to maximize your workouts, there are a number of supplements that can improve your performance. If injured, there are also supplements available to accelerate your recovery.