Nearly all of injuries generally fit into two groups: 1) traumatic injury, such as a slip, fall, or collision and, 2) repetitive stress or overuse injury.

Traumatic Injuries

These injuries cause the debilitating difficulties often associated with trauma. As a rule injuries to the ligaments (the tissue that connects bone to bone) and to muscles are the most commonplace, however the trauma of fractures and dislocations regularly occurs in contact sports. An injury to a ligament is called a sprain, while damage to a muscle or its tendon is a strain.  The most frequent areas for these types of injuries are the ankles, knees, and shoulders, nevertheless other areas can be affected including the low back and neck. Because the spinal cord and/or spinal nerves can be involved, injury to the neck and low back can be very serious.

A traumatic injury may be relatively mild, such as a “muscle pull” or ankle twist. But, some can be extremely serious and require surgery. The seriousness of the injury depends upon several factors, such as the amount of tearing of the tissues, the whereabouts of the injury, and the age of the person. Some amount of swelling occurs with almost all sprains and strains. In addition, with certain injuries, particularly those of the ankle and knee, there can be some internal bleeding as well. With all strains and sprains appropriate management is very important, especially during the initial stages of the injury to insure correct healing and protect against future disability. Attention from a competent health-care professional, such as your Orlando chiropractor, is highly expedient.

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

Naturally it is necessary to get the injury professionally evaluated by a chiropractor, or other competent health professional, to ascertain the degree of damage. When knowledgeable management is given during the various stages of healing, most individuals who have suffered sprain and strain injuries will recover. If not carefully monitored and treated, a sprain or strain injury can result in long-lasting joint instability, painful or weak joints and muscles, and lack of mobility. A chiropractor that is trained in the care of sports injuries can deliver highly knowledgeable advice and management you’ll want to have to insure that your injury will mendl in the best possible way. Call your Orlando Chiropractor if you have sustained a traumatic injury.

Overuse or Repetitive Strain Injuries

Sports such as golf, tennis, and bowling, as well as any other activity that requires the same actions over and over are common reasons for repetitive stress injuries. Even running, especially on a treadmill, can generate such conditions.

Essentially, overuse or repetitive stress injuries come about when someone is occupied in a repetitious activity that creates a tiny strain to tissues, particularly tendons and muscles, that by itself would not create a problem, but performed many times has an accumulative effect.  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common types of overuse injuries. Eventually the muscle or other affected tissue develops changes that no longer allow it to function normally, resulting in pain, stiffness and disability. There are two categories of factors that predispose a person to these types of problems:  1) Intrinsic, i.e., found within a person’s own body, and 2) Extrinsic, i.e., external factors that can generally be changed or controlled by the individual.

Some of the most prevalent intrinsic factors for injury

Age is the mostgeneral intrinsic factor for injury. The older a person is, the easier it is for that individual to get injured. Congenital abnormalities are another factor. There are those who are born with joint or muscle problems. And, lastly, previous injuries are a factor as they often keep the joints or muscles from functioning properly.

Extrinsic factors for injury

Extrinsic factors are numerous.  A wrong grip size of a tennis racket, worn-out running shoes, an uneven treadmill surface, or a too-hard surface for soccer are all instances of insufficient sports equipment that can produce problems. Improper technique, like an improper golf grip or swing, can cause stress and strain injuries. All sports activities require an amount of pre-conditioning, which is why people who are out of shape who continue to extend the duration of an activity without developing slowly, as well as those who lack flexibility, are injured most often. Lack of warm-up, like stretching and appropriate preparation, is a common factor in injuries.  And, finally, but perhaps surprising to some, stress is a factor. Muscles that are tense and inflexible because of stress are too tight and, therefore, unprepared for most sports activities.

It is important to remember that the majority of factors are extrinsic and, hence, they are factors that can be individually regulated. Before embarking on a new sport, or as a way to ward off injury in a current sport, it’s smart to get an evaluation of your general body condition. If you’ve been injured, it is crucial to seek out a qualified professional, like a chiropractor, to determine the nature of the injury and create a plan of care. If left untreated, an injury will not only stop 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 frequently needed 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 Orlando Chiropractor has years of experience helping people just like you.

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