Archive for the ‘sports injuries’ Category

PostHeaderIcon Sacramento Chiropractor: Get Conditioned to Avoid Golf Injuries

Sacramento Chiropractor

With any type of sport, injuries are not uncommon. The smart thing to do is to find out what injury is inclined to take place in a particular sport and then to do whatever it takes to avoid it. Unfortunately, sports injuries can’t always be avoided. Therefore, it’s beneficial to be physically fit to make incurring injury less predictable, or less traumatic.   The most critical thing that you can do is to be certain that you have a suitable fitness level prior to beginning to play a sport, such as golf. You just might keep your body safe from injury if you follow these general guidelines: Perpetuate a healthy lifestyle; make sure your joints are mobile and your muscles are limber; warm and stretch your body prior to activity; use proper form and good postures while actively playing; give yourself plenty of cool down and relaxation time.

Golf injuries don’t simply happen to amateurs. It has been conjectured that nearly a third of pro golfers playing concurrently are playing with injury. The good news is that all-round good health and fitness can decrease the number of injuries that you may experience and may actually deter them completely.

It is crucial for you to have effectual body strength in the muscle regions most utilized while playing golf. However, it’s important to make certain your spine is in healthy alignment and that it has good mobility prior to setting out to build muscle strength. A proficient golf swing hinges on your spine’s ability to adequately move in a rotational action. Back injuries are the most common type of injuries sustained by golfers. To insure that your spine is in healthy alignment and there is effectual movement in the vertebrae, see your chiropractor in Sacramento. Chiropractic treatment can go a long way in helping you to prevent back injury.

It’s time to strengthen once you’re “straightened.” Being prepared to play your game is crucial to safe, injury-free action on the green. Golf stretching and flexibility exercises will warm up your muscles and make injury them less likely. Whole body range of motion (ROM) exercises will augment flexibility, relatively fast, in all regions of the body. Additionally, elastic band conditioning offers distinct golf range of motion benefits and can build needed power in the shoulders, hips and deep muscles of the core. Sports professionals, like your chiropractor, are adding elastic band training to their golf conditioning programs because the bands offer dynamic resistance that regular weight lifting does not offer.

Quite a few golfers have painful “Golfer’s Elbow” along with back injuries. There is a minor difference between golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow though they are nearly identical injuries. Tennis elbow affects the outside of the upper arm whereas golfer’s elbow disturbs the inner arm. Golfer’s elbow, like tennis elbow, can result from a single violent action, such as (in golf) striking the mat at the driving range or striking a hard fairway surface. Although, it generally develops from repetitive stress from smaller shocks. Moreover, it can happen to those who suddenly start playing too much golf. For example, if individuals that usually play golf once or twice a month decide to enter into a tournament, they are conceivably at risk for developing the injury.

Golf makes distinctive demands on our body. The game is usually longer than most other sports and that can result in fatigue. Whenever the body is fatigued, poor posture and impeded coordination normally follow. This combination can create a number of injuries. Moreover, the shoulder muscles are prone to injury due to the continuous swinging of the golf clubs. Just as it is crucial for you to stretch and warm up prior to starting your golf game, be sure that you rest your body properly between games.

An unexpected injury on occasion related to golf is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. But, as it an affliction that occurs as the result of repetitive stress, a numerous amount of games of golf played over several months constantly may cause this injury. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be a serious injury creating disability and on occasion requiring surgery. However, if a health professional, such as your chiropractor, discovers it at an early stage, chiropractic care and, sometimes, the use of a brace will relieve the problem.

Injuries are assumed to be an inescapable part of life for a good majority golfers. However, a healthy, mobile spine, judicious preparation, proper exercise and muscle conditioning, reaching and maintaining a an appropriate fitness level, and sensible rest and recuperation after your game is over, can assisting in making injuries far less a part of your golfing experience.

Dr. Yong Kim is a Sacramento chiropractor with over thirteen years of experience helping thousands of patients get out of pain and get their lives back. His office is located at 1707 Professional Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825. He has special training in the area of sports injuries. Dr Kim is himself an avid health enthusiast. For more information go to his website at http://www.sacramentochiropractor.org

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PostHeaderIcon Chiropractic Care Can Ease the Pain of Sports Injuries

Sports injuries, these days are not just limited to professional athletes or boys who participate in school sports programs. Now, more than ever, men and women of all ages are committed to regular sports and fitness activities. A large percentage of people are involved in sports like golf and tennis, and/or other healthy activities like running, aerobic classes, and weight training. Regardless of the activity,though, there is constantly the risk of injury.

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

Traumatic Injuries

These injuries produce 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 frequent, although the trauma of fractures and dislocations often occurs in contact sports. Damage to a ligament is called a sprain, while trauma to a muscle or its tendon is a strain.  Sprains and strains often occur in the ankles, knees, and shoulders, and less generally in the low back and neck. Because the spinal cord and/or spinal nerves can be affected, injury to the neck and low back can be very serious.

Traumatic injuries can vary from a mild “muscle pull” or ankle twist to a serious problem necessitating surgery. The enormity of the injury depends upon several factors, such as the degree of tearing of the tissues, the location of the injury, and the age of the person. Some degree of swelling occurs with most sprains and strains. However, with certain injuries, especially those of the ankle and knee, there can be some internal bleeding as well. Strains and sprains need proper attention, especially during the initial stages of an injury, to assure correct healing and avoid future disability. Therapy from a competent health-care professional, such as your Santa Barbara chiropractor, is highly advisable.

If you’ve sustained an injury, the best course of action is to see a professional. Until aid is accessible, remember the acronym, PRICE:
P    Protect injury to avoid further damage
R    Rest the damaged body region
I     Ice injury to decrease swelling, bleeding, muscle spasm, and pain
C    Compress injury with a specialized support or elastic bandage to support injured tissues
E    Elevate the injury, particularly when dealing with ankles and knees

Naturally it is important to get the injury appropriately examined by a chiropractor, or other competent health professional, to ascertain the amount of damage. When appropriate management is provided during the various stages of healing, most individuals who have suffered sprain and strain injuries will recover. If not cared for attentively, some sprains and strains can result in long-lasting problems such as joint instability, painful or weak joints and muscles, and lack of mobility. A chiropractor that is experienced in the treatment of sports injuries can deliver the proper advice and management you’ll require to insure that your injury will recoverl in the best possible way. Call your 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 demands the same motions over and over are prevalent reasons for repetitive stress injuries. An action as natural and healthy as running, particularly on a treadmill, can also be a factor.

Repetitious activity can frequently create a very slight strain to tissues, expressly tendons and muscles. But, it is the accumulative effects of the repetition that produces the more serious problem.  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common types of overuse injuries. Over time the muscle or other affected tissue develops changes that no longer permit it to function correctly, resulting in pain, stiffness and disability. There are two kinds 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 sufferer.

Some of the most prevalent intrinsic factors for injury

Age is the mostwell-established intrinsic factor for injury. The older a person is, the easier it is for that man or woman to get injured. Congenital abnormalities are another factor. Some people are born with joint or muscle problems. And, ultimately, previous injuries are a factor as they generally prohibit the joints or muscles from functioning properly.

Extrinsic factors for injury

Extrinsic factors are abundant.  An improper 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 deficient sports equipment that can produce problems. Incorrect technique in any sport, such as an unsuitable golf grip is, as they say, an injury waiting to happen All sports activities demand a bit of pre-conditioning, which is why people who aren’t in shape who continue to prolong the duration of an activity without building up slowly, as well as those who lack flexibility, are injured more frequently. Warming up is essential prior to sports activities and not warming up, that is, not stretching or preparing for an activity is a widespread cause of injury.  And, lastly, and maybe surprising to some, stress is a factor. Muscles that are tense and inflexible as the result of stress are too tight and, therefore, unprepared for most sports activities.

There are many factors that are extrinsic and, therefore, within a person’s control. But, most people must have evaluation by a qualified health care professional to establish their overall body health, the nature of an injury, and the solution to the problem. If left untreated, sports injuries can considerably affect a person’s life and limit a favorite activity. 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 Santa Barbara Chiropractor has years of experience helping people just like you.

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