13 August 2018

Sports Related Injuries

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, nearly 30 million children ages 5-14 participate in organized sports, and more than 3.5 million receive medical treatment each year for sports related injuries. (1)

Types of Sports Related Injuries

Sprains/Strains

Sprains and strains are the most common types of sports related injuries sustained. (2)

Sprains occur when a ligament is damaged as a result of it being stretched or torn. Strains occur when a muscle is damaged as a result of it being stretched or torn.

Typically, the rate of occurrence and severity of injury sustained increases with an individual’s age.

Overuse

Overuse injuries, or repetitive motion injuries occur over time and are responsible for nearly one half of all sports related injuries to high school athletes. (3)

Some common overuse injuries are:

Rotator cuff syndrome, tennis elbow, shin splints, carpal tunnel syndrome and plantar fasciitis. Improper training techniques, insufficient rest and over-training contribute to overuse injuries.

Treatment

After a thorough evaluation and examination of each patient’s sports related injury, a diagnosis will be given and a treatment plan will be recommended.

X-rays and/or MRI will be prescribed if needed. A referral to a specialist such as an orthopedic surgeon will be recommended if needed.

Goals

The goal of treatment is to:

Decrease pain and inflammation, increase range of motion, correct muscular imbalance, stabilize unstable joints and increase function of the injured area.

Modalities

Typical treatment modalities consist of:

Chiropractic adjustments, ART (Active Release Techniques®), cryotherapy (ice), thermotherapy (heat), EMS (Electric Muscle Stimulation), ultrasound, therapeutic exercises, postural training and education on how to prevent future injuries from occurring.

Duration

Duration of treatment depends on the severity of injury.

Some injuries that are more severe in nature require 3-4 visits per week for a period of 3-4 weeks, while other injuries that are less severe in nature require 2-3 visits per week for a period of 2-3 weeks. Each treatment plan is specific to the individual and the severity of the injury sustained.

To reduce the probability of permanent impairment, it is important to be evaluated if you are complaining of pain or discomfort as a result of a sports related injury.

Please call our office to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Frank Sessa, chiropractic physician, if you have suffered a sports related injury.

References: