Chiropractic Care for Sports Injuries

We all know what happens: our favorite hockey player makes one wrong move during an important playoff game and is suddenly off for 4-6 weeks to recover from injury. However, it is not just professional athletes who get injured playing sports. Injuries happen at all levels of activity, from gardening to running, and like all sports injuries, they need to be properly assessed and rehabilitated.

Chiropractors are trained to assess the biomechanics of the movements involved in sport. When examining a sporting injury, the chiropractor will make a diagnosis through patient history and a physical examination. The physical examination will usually include postural, functional, and orthopedic tests to pinpoint the nature and extent of the injuries. Treatment may include therapies such as:

·  Spinal manipulation and peripheral joint mobilization – reduces pain and joint and soft tissue dysfunction, and increases mobility.

·  Soft tissue treatments such as myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and massage for specific muscle and connective tissue injuries.

·  Active rehabilitation such as core stabilization to improve strength, endurance, and neuromuscular control.

·  Electrotherapy to reduce inflammation and pain, speed up tissue repair, and reactivate injured muscles.

There are two types of injuries that most commonly occur during sporting activities.

Acute traumatic injuries result from a traumatic incident such as a tackle, and most commonly present as bruising, muscle strains, and ligament sprains. Chiropractors generally use spinal manipulation, joint mobilization, and soft tissue techniques to treat acute injuries. Exercises that promote strength and flexibility, especially in the core, will help reduce the risk of re-injury.

Overuse injuries result from constant repetitive movement, and commonly target the place where the tendon meets the muscle. Overtraining overloads this area and a ‘tendonitis’ can develop in what is now thought to be a degenerative process instead of inflammation. Chiropractors will use joint mobilization and/or manipulation to improve joint biomechanics and movement and reduce pain, and will also provide specific exercises to normalize tendon structure.