Sports can be a fun way to connect with other people or a unique way to earn a living. If you engage in sports, its physical demands can often take their toll. According to the American Chiropractic Society, common sports injuries can damage the body and mind. It is a good thing your chiropractor can help. If you want to find out how chiropractic care can help common sports injuries, here is what you should know.
Knee Injury
Many athletes suffer from knee injuries. Pain from tendinitis and runner’s knee can be unbearable. Your knee can suffer some damage to the ligaments and cartilage. Its bone support can also bruise during the injury. Knee injuries often result from running too much or too hard. They can be a consequence of failing to warm up before the play.
The chiropractic treatment for this injury consists of several techniques:
- Targeting joints in the lower back
- Stretching muscles surrounding the knee
- Checking the feet for causes of improper gait
- Improving kneecap tracking by strengthening the inner knee muscles
- Breaking up scar tissue with deep tissue massage
Hamstring And Low Back Strain
A strain happens when a tendon or muscle tears. Tendons are the connectors between muscles and bones. Some moves during play can cause them to stretch out too much. This is when a strain happens. The hamstrings and the lower back are the common areas for strains. Spasms, pain, or swelling usually indicate a strain. These come with short-term muscle immobility.
Your chiropractor can help your hamstring pain with RICE or rest, ice, compression, elevation if it happened within the last two days. Chiropractic manipulations loosen the joints. Stretching increases flexibility. Ultrasound and electrotherapy can control the swelling while muscle massages can break up scar tissue. Exercises can bring the muscle back to full strength. They can also prevent more injury.
For low back strain, your chiropractor can reduce pain and improve your range of motion through chiropractic adjustments. Stretching of the lower back can also loosen the tight muscles there. Core training and muscle strengthening can improve back support and prevent future injury.
Tennis Elbow
Tissue healing can begin with a laser or ultrasound treatment. Increasing your range of motion happens with regular stretching exercises. Manipulation of the elbow joint can loosen it. Your chiropractor can also perform massages. These can break up the scar tissue in your elbow area. Forearm exercises will strengthen the muscles that support your elbow.
The elbow has little blood supply. That is why this kind of injury takes longer to treat and heal. Your recovery will be slow. A brace will help you limit the stresses in your elbow. Your chiropractor will advise you to wait for full recovery first. Using your elbow too early will only result in reinjury or the worsening of the injury.
Your chiropractor can help you with any of the mentioned common sports injuries. Chiropractic treatments do not involve surgery or medications. At Oropeza Chiropractic Wellness Center, we help our patients achieve holistic health through natural means. Please visit our clinic in Key West, Florida, for an in-person consultation. You can also call us at (305) 294-1036 if you want to set an appointment or inquire about our chiropractic care packages for sports injuries.