Merced Chiropractor

Bodily injuries while practicing sports are an issue that the majority of coaches and athletes are familiar with. These injuries can not only be painful for the athlete, but in many cases can hurt the entire team. An injured team member can cause setbacks in game performance and can have enduring repercussions on the season as well. Just as one missing athlete affects a team, a hurt body part influences the entire body. Injuries such as shin splints, ankle injuries, and twisted knees can be caused by poor form, lack of flexible muscle tone, and too much use of the areas below the knees. Cited by medical professionals at the Cleveland Clinic, the majority of athletes develop shin splints sometime during their career. Here’s how to help them heal and try to avoid this debilitating issue, as well as averting other recurring sports injuries.

Shin Splints: How They Originate

There are many symptoms caused by shin splints such as frontal pain in the shin area. This pain can be dramatic and excruciating, especially when increasing pressure on the affected leg. There can also be swelling in the area that can produce tightness as well as make puffiness visible around the muscles. Regardless of what type of activities, from cross country to basketball any athlete can be afflicted by these conditions. Shin pain treatment should be started right away to begin the healing process immediately. Shin pain relief guidelines followed by sports therapists includes rest, elevation, and icing of the painful area for one to two days. Continued physical therapy and preventive exercises include lower leg weight bearing moves and stretching of the Achilles tendon and the front leg muscles that surround the shin bone.

Ankle and Knee Injuries Can Make the Season Come to a Halt

Another type of injury that is seen in impact sports is twisting of the ankle and knee. This is caused by either a blunt-force injury, which cannot be prevented, or from weak muscles of the lower leg, knee, and ankle. Weak muscles can be strengthened with weight bearing or movements recommended by a sports therapist that target the lower leg. Damaged muscles lead to weakened support structures in the entire lower leg so that simple movements or shifts in position can cause twisting injuries. Another preventive measure for stopping these types of injuries are to support the arch of the feet with firm arch support. This can be accomplished through sports foot orthotics that support the foot during impact. The doctors at the Cleveland Clinic also suggest taping the arch for added foot arch support during athletic activity.

Tearing Injuries Commonly Suffered

Spraining of the connective tissues are also common types of sports injuries. This is most commonly found in the connecting structures of the knees and back of the heels. An Achilles injury is usually due to poor flexibility in the heel tendon due to poor stretching form. This is a vital part in the stretching process that cannot be overlooked. Gentle stretches without much force are recommended for all sports participants. Kinesiologists recommend a 30 second stretch, releasing for a few seconds, and then repeating the stretch. ACL (Anterior cruciate ligaments) are found in the knee and help maintain the knee structure together. Injuries to this region can be prevented by strengthening the knee , calf muscle and thigh through leg extension exercises and curls. Orthotic insoles can help avoid both of these styles of injuries by supplying proper arch support, foot alignment, and cushioning.