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Sports Injuries

Orlando’s year-round sunshine is home to many popular sports, such as running, swimming, tennis, golf, soccer, and much more. With every type of activity, however, it’s important to stretch beforehand and not overexert yourself. This can lead to some common sports injuries that take you out of the game. Staying hydrated during the heat will also help to prevent damage.

Let’s look at which sports injuries are prevalent, different treatment options, and how holistic chiropractic care is beneficial for sports rehabilitation.

Common Types of Sports Injuries

As an athlete, you may be accustomed to these common sports injuries. Here are the signs and symptoms, as well as what you can do to bypass falling victim to these afflictions.

Fractures

Fractures are quite prevalent in both impact and contact sports. Minor fractures often can be healed through immobilization and rest, while more severe injuries may require surgical intervention. Wear the proper padding and pay attention to when your body is in pain. Rather than playing through this discomfort, rest or do a less intensive activity.

Sprains

Sprains can occur when a ligament turns the wrong way, pulling or tearing. Common areas for sprains include ankles, wrists, and knees. These require immobilization and appropriate healing time, anywhere between days to weeks. It’s important to brace an area that has previously sprained since it can be susceptible to more damage in the future.

Knee Injuries

Though the knee can be sprained, it also runs the risk of other injuries such as tears in the ACL, dislocation, and fractures. If the injury is quite serious, surgery may be required to correct the damage. Warming up before any activity is highly recommended, as well as wearing the proper gear like knee braces or padding.

Strains

This is the most common sports injury, and it can affect a number of muscles and tendons. Strains can include pulled hamstrings and strained quads, and it’s generally caused by overuse, stretching, or force. Thankfully, these heal with rest and are not very serious. Proper stretching before playing sports helps to prevent this injury from occurring.

Back Injuries

Your spine is prone to some duress and stress during any type of sports activity, so staying limber and warmed up is key to avoiding back pain. Back injuries can be minor and healed with rest, or be more intensive and require physical therapy or surgery. Be cognizant of your body’s limits when being active and work on low-impact activities to strengthen your back muscles.

Concussion

Contact sports like football run a higher risk of concussions, and they range in severity. The symptoms include dizziness, loss of consciousness, headache, and sleepiness. If you suspect you have a concussion, seek medical care and follow a personalized recovery plan. Rest after a concussion can last for a few weeks, and wearing protective headgear helps prevent any further damage while active.

Tennis Elbow

Though it’s named tennis elbow, any number of sports can cause this injury, including golf. With any amount of repetitive movements, your body is at risk of harm. This particular injury occurs when the ligaments in your elbow are strained due to overuse. One way to avoid tennis elbow is by taking frequent breaks and doing other activities that stretch the other parts of your body.

Leg and Foot Injuries

Since many sports require running, leg and foot injuries are quite common. This can include plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tendon in your foot’s arch, and shin splints, an inflammation of your lower leg muscles. It’s important to have the proper support, gear, and stretch routine to prevent these injuries. If an injury occurs, rest to aid the healing process.

Sports Injury Treatment Options

In order to properly care for sports injuries or prevent further damage, there are quite a few treatment options. These can consist of:

1. Physical therapy
2. Spinal alignment and adjustments
3. Electric stimulation
4. Exercises to improve range of motion
5. Pain relief through hot or cold temperatures

As always, if you have a sports injury, you should seek rehabilitation from an experienced injury specialist and wear the proper bracing or gear to allow your body to heal.

Holistic Chiropractic Care for Sports Injuries

Traditional medicine focuses on treating the symptoms rather than the problem. Holistic chiropractic care takes a whole system approach to ease pain and promote recovery from sports injuries. It’s a way to receive personalized treatment that addresses the origins to prevent future damage and alleviate any existing issues.

Metro Chirowell in Metro West Orlando is a team of sports injury chiropractors who combine chiropractic adjustments, assisted resistance stretching, and other holistic practices that help the body heal itself. Make an appointment with us today so we can discuss pain relief and rehabilitation for your sports injuries!