Chiropractic Care for Sports Injuries
By Sara Butler
You can injure any part of your body playing sports. Any bone, tendon, ligament, joint or piece of connective tissue is a potential target for an injury when you’re active. Here’s a rundown of the most typical sports injuries you can sustain, and how your chiropractor can help.
Strains and Sprains
Strains and sprains are the most common type of sports injury. Most people think of these injuries as “pulling a muscle” but a sprain is actually when one or more ligaments are twisted, stretched or torn. An actual pulled muscle is called a strain and occurs when the fiber of the tissue is torn or stretched.
The signs you’ve sustained a strain or a sprain are:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Pain
You may have difficulty moving the part of the body that has been injured, and it may feel very hot to the touch due to your body’s inflammatory response.
Back Pain
There are many sports that increase your chances of experiencing back pain. Most of the time this pain is caused by a strain or a sprain and its symptoms include:
- Stiffness in the back
- Tension in the back
- Soreness in the back
Remember that a back injury can impact any place along your spine, from your head all the way down to your buttocks and even your legs. You can help to prevent back injuries from properly warming up before you exercise.
Bone Injuries
Anytime you participate in a repetitive activity, such as sports, you run the risk of damaging bone. Repeated impact can cause:
- Stress fractures
- Broken ankle
- Broken arm
- Broken toe
- Broken finger
- Broken leg
- Shin splints
If you suffer from a broken bone you may experience:
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Loss of use of impacted limb
The pain associated with a broken bone is so severe you may feel dizzy or faint. It can even make some people feel sick. If you ever injure yourself, and one of your body parts looks deformed in the aftermath, seek medical help immediately.
How Your Chiropractor Can Help
When you see a chiropractor regularly you are reducing your chances of sustaining an injury while you play sports. This is because your body will be in proper alignment, helping to improve your balance, reaction time and circulation. Another great thing about chiropractic is that your chiropractor can help you to recover from injury faster with special exercises, adjustments, and ice or heat therapy.
If you have questions or concerns about injuries you can sustain while participating in your favorite sport, discuss them with your chiropractor during your next visit to The Joint!