Sports Injuries: An Introduction
Exercise and staying active are great for your body and health, but sometimes improper technique, accidents, lack of stretching/warming up, or improper equipment can cause injuries. There are generally two types of injuries sustained from sports or muscle training. The first is an acute injury; this injury is sharp and painful caused by a traumatic event on a specific part of the body such as a joint, muscle, or bone. Fractures or dislocations are good examples of an acute injury. The second type of injury is overuse; overuse is caused by repetitive stress to tissue that can occur over days or weeks. Although they are less severe than acute injuries, if left untreated they can develop into more chronic injuries. Tearing, lifting, or inflammation of tissue and muscles are examples of overuse injuries often seen in tennis elbow, tendonitis, shin splits etc.
What Am I Doing Wrong?
Injuries from sport or weight training can happen for a variety of reasons. Injuries can result from the amount of weight being lifted, which may be greater than vulnerable tissue can handle. It can result from the rate in which is it being lifted (erratic vs. controlled), or from repeated overload without a rest period for muscles to recover. Bad form is a common way in which injury can be sustained. Correct form and complete control of the movement are more important than that extra rep or added weight! Furthermore, forcing an extra rep beyond muscle failure can cause injury or strain. Training too often is another common cause of injury as it does not allow proper recuperation of muscles in order to make the exercise productive. Another common area where injury can occur is within stretching and warm-up routines. Warming up is very important in order to prepare the body for exercise without tiring the muscles out. Stretching is good for the body after warm-up and after the workout/sport. It is essential to note that although stretching is a crucial aspect in training, it can also cause more harm if you over-stretch. Injury can manifest itself in many different ways so it is important to follow preventative measures to ensure productivity while avoiding injury.
Madison Sports Injury and Rehabilitation Clinic
Here at the North York Madison Clinic, sports related injuries are a major focus of our practice. We have a variety of therapies and highly skilled professionals to help you prevent and recover from sports injuries. Our goal is to help patients reach and maintain their optimum health! On staff we have a chiropractor, three registered massage therapists, a physiotherapist, a naturopathic doctor, and a kinesiologist. Chiropractic care can provide relief from many of today’s most common health problems, including headaches, neck and back pain, and tension, as well as chronic conditions such as stiff joints, tendonitis, and arthritis. Massage Therapy releases chronic tension and pain in muscles, improves circulation, increases flexibility in the joints, and leads to faster healing of strained muscles and ligaments. Physiotherapists aim to restore, maintain and maximize strengthen, function, movement and overall well-being through physical therapy and personalized therapeutic exercises. Kinesiologists focus mainly on active rehabilitation; management of disorder and disabling conditions to assist in regaining physical function. They work to enhance movement, performance and function in sports, recreation, work, exercise etc. Naturopathic doctors use natural therapies to treat root causes of your symptoms through treatments such as acupuncture, to treat acute and chronic pain. For more information on our practices and therapies check out some of our other blog posts. We are dedicated to provide you with a combination of treatments designed to promote optimal health and rehabilitation.