Sports injuries are common among athletes but can also easily occur among people who go to the gym, or even just as a result of living life each day (from slips and falls to weird movements).
If you find yourself injured, consider seeking out chiropractic care. It can be very helpful in preventing future injuries and treating existing ones.
Sprains and Strains
Prevention
The best way to prevent sprains and strains is to stretch and do warm-ups before sports and exercise. By warming up and loosening your muscles, they’ll be ready for more high-impact movement. It’s also important to wear good shoes (both in and out of the gym) that will give your ankles the support they need.
Treatment
While exercise and warm-ups before a workout are a great preventative measure, gyms are not the only place where a strain or sprain can occur. If you notice pain, swelling, or bruising in one of your joints, make sure to rest and try applying ice for 20 minutes at a time. If it’s not improving within a couple of days, seek out chiropractic care.
Knee Injuries
Prevention
While knee injuries can occur simply by twisting the wrong way or misstepping on a set of stairs, the warm-up advice for sprains and strains is also sound advice for preventing knee injuries during sports and exercise. Wearing good shoes applies here, too.
Treatment
Since knee injuries can cause ongoing problems, it’s important to treat them as soon as they appear. Take it easy and rest your knee. Use ice and heat to help with any pain and swelling, elevate your leg while resting, and consider using a compression brace.
Swollen Muscles
Prevention
It’s not always black and white when it comes to preventing swollen muscles. Overexertion, exercise, and sports injuries are among the reasons you may experience muscle swelling. Do your best to take care of your body during high-strain activities.
Treatment
Cold treatments, such as ice packs and ice baths, are great for swollen muscles. They can help decrease swelling, pain, and bruising. It’s always important to rest when an injury occurs, so take that into consideration and use compression bandages or stockings depending on the area of injury.
Achilles Tendon Injuries
Prevention
Wearing proper shoes is a must to prevent Achilles tendon injuries. Your shoe should fit well and provide adequate ankle and arch support, especially if you’ll be doing high-impact movements such as running or HIIT. Also, avoid exercising on uneven surfaces.
Treatment
Take extra care when it comes to an Achilles tendon injury. Avoid walking around as much as possible, use ice and compression stockings, and elevate your leg.
Fractures
Prevention
Particularly for high-impact sports, wear protective gear such as helmets, protective pads, and other gear to prevent a fracture. Warm up and cool down before/after your exercise, and avoid sports when already injured.
Treatment
For fractures, it’s important to see a doctor or medical professional who can x-ray the area and immobilize the bone with a cast (or take further measures, if needed).
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Chiropractic care focuses on loosening joints, restoring movement, and getting to the root of the issues that are causing you pain. For muscle and joint-related treatments, chiropractic care can help immensely, and It can also give you the upper hand in preventing injuries.
At My Physio Sports & Rehab Centre, our chiropractors are focused on rehabilitation for sports injuries and getting you back on the path to pain-free living. Call us at 905-850-6683 or book an appointment online today.