5 Common Sports Injuries And How A Chiropractor Can Help
Some people are born with a natural passion for sports, and some people develop it over time and practice. Some people do it for fun, and some people choose to take it on as a professional career. Though there are many different narratives when it comes to sports, there’s always one thing in common throughout these stories: Sports Injuries.
Sports injuries are very common, especially when you’re a regular when it comes to playing sports. If it’s your career path, sports injuries can not only be painful but can also leave you terrified, wondering about the future of your career. Especially when you have an acute injury, you’ll have added stress about whether or not you can perform well after.
We’re sure you may have a lot of questions surrounding sports injuries, if you’re an avid sportsperson or if you know loved ones who are closely involved with sports. Don’t worry too much, however, because here at Amersham Chiropractic Center, we aim to answer all your questions! This is why we’ve put together this little article to help you understand some of the most common sports injuries, how you can deal with them, prevent them, and also how a chiropractor can help if you’ve been victim to any of these injuries.
Understanding Common Sports Injuries
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive right in and understand the 5 most common sports injuries.
- Strains and Sprains:
Strains occur when a muscle or tendon is torn. Tendons are what connects your muscles to your bones, and when they’re pulled too far (or torn), it results in a strain. The most common areas where strains occur are in the back or the hamstrings. When you have a strain, you may feel painful swelling or spasms and may also experience temporary immobility in the muscle.
Sprains happen when your ligaments are stretched too far or are even torn. Ligaments are what connect your bones together, which is why most strains and sprains occur in the joints. The most common areas to get sprains are your ankles and wrists, where you may feel a painful amount of swelling and bruising while also experiencing the temporary inability to move that particular joint.
- Knee Injuries:
Knee injuries are a frequent problem for athletes everywhere and are one of the most common types of sports injuries. If you’re a runner, you may experience an affliction known as “Runner’s Knee”, which is characterized by a tenderness near your kneecap. With Runner’s Knee, you may also feel pain on the sides of your knees and tendinitis.Knees can also go through acute injury when the bone is bruised or there is damage to the cartilage and ligaments. The knee has four major ligaments for support, and all of these sensitive areas can very easily be damaged while playing sports. These injuries usually occur because of a lack of warming up, pushing yourself by running too hard or too much, and also blows or twists at the knee. - Swollen Muscles:
When particular muscles in your body swell, they fill a tough membrane called the “fascia”. This does not expand, so your nerves and blood vessels in turn get put under a lot of stress, and the muscle itself may even suffer damage.This condition is often very painful and is called “compartment syndrome”. It usually happens in response to a one-time injury to the muscle (especially if you’re into sports like boxing, the repeated blows to the area can onset this condition), or due to long-term overuse of the muscle. - Dislocations:
Dislocations are very common when it comes to high-impact sports. This happens when bones that form a joint become separated.If you have a dislocated joint, you’ll feel intense amounts of pain and your nerves also run the risk of being damaged due to the dislocation. Which is why, the joint needs to be put back into place and you’ll most likely have to wear a sling till the swelling decreases, which can take up to several weeks.Shoulder dislocations are the most common types of dislocations, and require rehabilitation therapy in order to restore strength and ensure normal motion again. - Fractures:
Fractures occur when a bone in your body breaks. The bone may break from a one-time injury or it can be a result of repeated stress. A fracture that occurs from a one-time injury is considered an acute injury and requires urgent and immediate emergency treatment. A fracture that occurs from repeated stress over time happens due to repetitive impact and the pain in this kind of fracture worsens when you put weight on it.
Pain in Groin From Groin Strains
Another common area that can get affected due to sports injuries is your groin. You’re already familiar with strains and sprains, so here’s a little information on strains specific to the groin area.
Groin Strains are characterized by a very distinct pain in the groin area. This pain in the groin can be quite unbearable and it’s important that you see a Chiropractor when you experience a groin strain.
The symptoms of Groin Strain include:
- Pain in groin area
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Decreased Upper Leg Strength
- Snapping Sound At Moment of Injury/Impact
- Difficulty Walking / Running Without Pain in Groin And Upper Leg
Groin strains are one of the most common strains among professional athletes as well as recreational athletes. They are caused by:
- Sports That Require Lots of Movement (Especially Kicking Movements)
- Other Exercises Like Resistance Training
- Falls
- Lifting Heavy Objects Improperly
There are a plethora of treatments available to lessen and deal with pain in the groin area that comes with groin strains. Treatments include rest, ice, elevation, compression, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (for certain people, not all). Apart from this, your chiropractic physician will use physical therapy, massage therapy, electrotherapy, and make sure you get ice or heat and stretching as well.
What to Do If You Have A Sports Injury
A lot of athletes are extremely motivated and goal-oriented, so they’d choose to “push through the pain” of a sports injury. This is actually incorrect for you, and can adversely affect you in the long run. If you have a sports injury, it is important that you seek chiropractic medical attention immediately, especially if you have an acute injury. A chiropractor will be able to give you a wide range of treatment tailored to your specific needs.
Please seek chiropractic medical treatments if you check yes on any of these following conditions:
- Severe pain, swelling, or numbness
- Inability to put weight on affected area
- Increased pain, swelling, and instability in a previously injured area
In order to effectively treat minor sports injuries at home, you can follow the RICE method:
(R)est
(I)ce
(C)ompression
(E)levation
How to Prevent Sports Injuries
Sports injuries can be prevented by following very simple and basic instructions. You can significantly reduce your risk of being injured by:
- Not pushing your body beyond its limit
- Warming up properly before exercise, sports, or running
- Getting a coach to learn the proper and right techniques
- Using correct equipment, even something as simple as wearing the right running shoes can make a huge difference
- Protecting yourself with equipment based on your sport, i.e, shin guards for football, gum shields for rugby
- Wearing an abdominal guard to avoid pain in groin (specific to men)
What Is An Acute Injury?
An acute injury is an injury that is severe with a sudden onset. It is a sudden injury that’s normally associated with traumatic events like falling off a bike or smashing into another player during a sports game. Strained backs, sprained wrists, hips and knees, and fractured legs are all examples of acute injuries.
If you think you may have an acute injury, do not hesitate to seek help and call a medical professional. When left unattended, even a simple sprained ankle can go horrible south if not cared for.
How Can A Chiropractor Help With Sports Injuries?
Chiropractors are highly experienced when it comes to alleviating pain and relieving problems related to your bones, muscles, and joints. When you have a sports injury, a chiropractor can help you in a number of ways.
Sports massages can be used to alleviate pain and swelling caused by injury. Chiropractors can also help optimize your performance by making sure you have an optimal nervous system in your body and by warming up your muscles. Hydromassages are another type of chiropractic treatment that can really help you when you have a sports injury. In certain circumstances Chiropractors use hyrdromassages in order to promote your athletic health.
Apart from this, chiropractors can quite literally “pop” your bone back into place with efficiency and skill when you have a nasty dislocation. Regular chiropractic treatment can reduce your risk of injury and also improve your performance as a sportsman significantly.
Conclusion
We have some of the best minds (and hands!) here at Amersham Chiropractic Center. So book an appointment with us for your sports injuries, and other injuries as well, and we can help you get back to it in no time!
