At Dynamic Health, we provide the same level of sports performance services for the recreational and the elite athlete alike. We recognize the complex nature of sports-related injuries and combine all of our pain treatment protocols to create a systematic plan to correct the cause of your injury.
There are hundreds of different sports injuries, but there are certain parts of the body that are more prone to damage than others. In our continuing effort to educate pain sufferers, our next two blog posts will focus on the 10 most common sports injuries, as well as ways to prevent and treat these ailments.
10) Achilles Tendinitis
When the tendon at the back of the ankle — the Achilles tendon — is overused, inflammation and pain can occur, which is known as acute Achilles tendinitis. Achilles tendinitis is most common among runners and athletes who participate in sports that involve running or jumping.
Prevention and treatment: Stretching and strengthening exercises for the calf muscles can help prevent injury to the Achilles tendon. Rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE), an anti-inflammatory medication and strengthening your calf muscles are your best treatment options.
9) Concussion
A concussion is an injury to the brain that is often the result of a blow to the head. Symptoms include disorientation, vision disturbance, headache, dizziness, amnesia, loss of balance, difficulty concentrating and nausea. A concussion does not necessarily involve a loss of consciousness. Concussions are most common in contact sports, such as football, boxing, hockey and rugby. While most people return to normal a few weeks or months after a concussion, multiple concussions can cause permanent damage.
Prevention and treatment: If you think you’ve suffered a concussion, go to the doctor immediately. Treating a concussion simply involves resting, although you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) if you have a headache. Depending on the severity of your concussion, you will have to refrain from playing contact sports for a few hours to a few months. Returning to play too quickly could result in second impact syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.
8) Groin Strain
A strained groin or adductor muscle — the fan-like muscles situated in the upper thigh that serve to pull the legs together — usually happens when you suddenly change directions while running, such as in soccer, hockey, basketball, racket sports, football and volleyball. Symptoms include sharp pain, swelling and bruising on the inside of the thigh.
Prevention and treatment: The best way to prevent a groin pull is to stretch properly before exercising. Gradually increasing the intensity of the activity rather than jumping into the activity too quickly may also help prevent injury, and strengthening the groin muscles can be helpful too. RICE, combined with anti-inflammatory medications, is the best treatment plan.
7) Shin Splints
Shin splints refer to pain on the inner side of the shinbone caused by inflammation of the muscles that surround it. Shin splints often affect people who aren’t used to exercising; they can be caused by increasing the intensity of your workout too fast, wearing worn-out shoes or by jumping or running on hard ground.
Prevention and treatment: Wearing good shoes, cross training, stretching and not increasing workout intensity too quickly are the best preventive measures.
6) Low-Back Pain
Although low-back pain is less common among athletes than among sedentary and overweight people, it can affect runners, cyclists, golfers and tennis and baseball players. While there are many types of lower-back pain — bulging discs, back spasms and sciatica — the most common reason for sports-related back pain is improper stretching. In the case of runners, having even the slightest difference in leg length can cause back pain.
Prevention and treatment: Warming up before exercising will greatly reduce your risk of injury. Bulging discs and sciatica require fast medical treatment, you can treat a simple muscle pull or back spasm yourself with RICE, anti-inflammatory medication and stretching. Runners with a difference in leg length can get orthotic lifts from a podiatrist to correct the problem.
Check back next week for part two where we’ll discuss the top five sports-related injuries!
Charlotte Sports Performance
The best way to avoid sports injuries that keep you out of the game is to stretch adequately before and after your workout. It’s important to pace yourself according to your level of skill and experience in the sport.
If you are suffering from a sports-related injury, Dynamic Health provides sports performance treatments and programs. We offer new client appointments within one to three days, and we are one of the only pain management clinics to provide imaging-guided injections without a long wait.
Call Dynamic Health at 704-525-6288 to schedule a consultation! Be sure to like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for all the latest in health, wellness and pain management news!