Sportszone

Sports injuries, these days are not just limited to professional athletes or kids who participate in school sports programs. Now, more than ever, men and women of all ages participate in regular sports and fitness activities. Many people of both sexes play golf, tennis, basketball, and/or participate in aerobic activities like running. Sadly, risk of injury is always possible with any sports activity.

Most of injuries can be put into two categories: 1) traumatic injury, such as a slip, fall, or collision and, 2) repetitive stress or overuse injury.

Traumatic Injuries

These injuries create the debilitating difficulties often associated with trauma. A high percentage of traumatic injuries are to the ligaments, the tissue that connects bone to bone, and to body muscles, although fractures and dislocations do happen at times, particularly with contact sports. An injury to a ligament is called a sprain, while an injury to a muscle or its tendon is a strain.  The most characteristic parts of the body for these kinds of injuries are the ankles, knees, and shoulders, although 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.

Traumatic injuries can range from a mild “muscle pull” or ankle twist to a serious problem needing surgery. The severity of the injury depends upon several factors, such as the degree of tearing of the tissues, the whereabouts of the injury, and the age of the person. The majority of sprains and strains are identified with some degree of swelling and sometimes with internal bleeding, particularly with injury to the ankles and knees. Strains and sprains require competent attention, especially during the initial stages of an injury, to insure correct healing and avoid future disability. Therapy from a competent health-care professional, such as your Santa Barbara chiropractor, is highly expedient.

Listed below is an acronym for the post-injury treatment of sprains and strains expressly if no professional aid is available: PRICE
P    Protect injury from more damage
R    Rest the injured area
I     Ice injury to diminish swelling, bleeding, muscle spasm, and pain
C    Compress injury with a specifically designed or elastic bandage to support injured tissues
E    Elevate the injury, expressly when the damage is to ankles and knees

Naturally it is valuable to get the injury professionally assessed by a chiropractor, or other competent health professional, to determine the extent of damage. Most of these injuries can heal, although they do require proper management during the various stages of healing. If not carefully monitored and treated, a sprain or strain injury can bring about persistent joint instability, painful or weak joints and muscles, and lack of mobility. Good treatment of your sports injury by a chiropractor with plenty of experience in sports injury management will insure that your injury heals properly. Call your Santa Barbara chiropractor if you have sustained a traumatic injury.

Repetitive Stress, or Overuse, Injuries

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

Fundamentally, overuse or repetitive stress injuries occur when someone is involved in a repetitious activity that creates a very small strain to tissues, particularly tendons and muscles, that by itself would not generate a problem, but done many times has an accumulative effect.  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most frequent kinds of overuse injuries. Eventually the muscle or other affected tissue develops changes that no longer let it to function properly, resulting in pain, stiffness and disability. Certain factors predispose a person to these kinds of injury. A portion are “intrinsic,” i.e., the factor is found within a person’s own body. Other factors are “extrinsic,” i.e., that the factors are external and can often be changed or controlled by the individual.

Some of the most prevalent intrinsic factors for injury

Age is the mostcommon intrinsic factor for injury. The older a person is, the easier it is for that person to get injured. Congenital abnormalities are another factor. There are those who are born with joint or muscle problems. And, finally, previous injuries are a factor as they generally prohibit the joints or muscles from functioning correctly.

Extrinsic factors for injury

There are many extrinsic injury factors.  For instance, sports equipment can faulty–a wrong grip size of tennis racket or worn-out running shoes are good examples, even a playing surface can be a factor, e.g., a too-hard surface for soccer or an uneven treadmill. Incorrect technique in any sport, such as an unsuitable golf grip is, as the saying goes, an injury waiting to happen All sports activities require a bit of pre-conditioning, which is why people who are deconditioned who continue to prolong the duration of an activity without building up slowly, as well as those who lack flexibility, are injured most often. Warming up is very important before sports activities and not warming up, that is, not stretching or preparing for an activity is a prevalent cause of injury.  And, lastly, 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 many factors that are extrinsic and, consequently, within a person’s control. Before embarking on a new sport, or as a way to ward off injury in a current sport, it’s wise to get an assessment of your general body condition. If you’ve been injured, it is extremely to seek out a experienced professional, like a chiropractor, to determine the nature of the injury and create a plan of therapy. If left untreated, an injury will not only prohibit a person from participating in a favorite activity, but can significantly affect someone’s life in general. Treatment such as joint manipulation, massage, bracing, and specific exercises is often required 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.

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