Gym enthusiasts and athletes know that staying physically active and fit is essential for a healthy lifestyle. However, gym workouts can also lead to various types of injuries that can impact your ability to perform and enjoy your favourite activities. From sprains and strains to overuse injuries, gym-related injuries can be painful and debilitating. Fortunately, chiropractic care can help you recover from these injuries and support your rehabilitation process.
What are Common Gym Injuries?
Common gym injuries include sprains and strains, tendonitis, rotator cuff injuries, and overuse injuries such as runner’s knee or tennis elbow. These injuries can result from overtraining, poor form, lack of warm-up, and improper technique. In addition, inadequate recovery time and returning to activities too soon after an injury can lead to re-injury and chronic pain.
Contact sports are known for causing more painful sporting injuries due to their explosive nature. The most common injury from contact sports is a muscle contusion, also known as a “cork” or bruise. Forceful contact to a joint can also result in ligament sprains of varying severity and even tearing. Without proper assessment, these acute sporting injuries can lead to joint instability and chronic pain.
Non-contact injuries are also common in sports and exercise, particularly when the body is subjected to improper technique or fatigue. These injuries can be acute or chronic in nature and include muscle, tendon, and ligament sprains and strains, often caused by twisting, bending, jumping, or sudden start and stop movements. Tendinitis, also known as tendinopathy, is a common overuse or repetitive injury that falls under the category of non-contact injuries.
The following are some of the most frequent types of sports injuries:
- Sprains and strains
- Knee injuries
- Swollen muscles
- Achilles tendon injuries
- Shin pain
- Fractures
- Dislocations
Sports injuries can be classified into two categories: acute and chronic. Acute injuries happen suddenly while playing or exercising. Some examples of acute injuries are sprained ankles, strained backs, and broken hands. Symptoms of an acute injury include:
- Sudden, intense pain
- Swelling
- Inability to put weight on a leg, knee, ankle, or foot
- Extreme tenderness in an arm, elbow, wrist, hand, or finger
- Limited joint mobility
- Severe leg or arm weakness
- A bone or joint that is visibly out of place.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help Common Gym Injuries
Chiropractic care is a holistic and non-invasive approach to healing that addresses the root cause of your injury. By using manual therapy techniques, chiropractors can improve joint mobility, reduce pain and inflammation, and promote healing. Chiropractic care can also help prevent future injuries by addressing any underlying muscle imbalances and restoring proper posture and alignment.
Chiropractors can also provide you with a personalised rehabilitation program that incorporates stretching and strengthening exercises to help you recover from your injury. This program can improve your flexibility, strength, and overall function, helping you to get back to your pre-injury level of performance.
Chiropractic adjustments play an important role in restoring the natural balance that existed prior to an injury. The treatment of sports injuries involves the use of effective physical therapies, such as ice for swelling and inflammation, and heat and electronic muscle stimulation for muscle strains and sprains. These techniques can help athletes return to training and achieve their highest level of performance more quickly.
In addition, chiropractors can also use various modalities, such as heat and cold therapy, massage, and electrical stimulation, to help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. These therapies can help you manage your pain, improve your mobility, and support your rehabilitation process.
How Waterloo Chiropractic Can Help
Athletes of all ages and performance levels are at risk of obtaining a sports injury. These injuries can not only limit playing time and affect performance, but also have a significant impact on daily life. To ensure a full recovery, it is crucial to seek treatment from a qualified medical professional.
At Waterloo Chiropractic, our goal is to guide you through the recovery and rehabilitation process, so you can return to the activities you love. Taking preventative measures does not mean altering your daily activities or limiting physical activity, but rather providing peace of mind knowing you have access to experienced and knowledgeable care.
Experienced chiropractors Dan, Ben, and Sue are equipped to handle a wide range of spinal conditions, from acute injuries to ongoing management of chronic pain. Their clinic offers swift solutions for minor pains and comprehensive care for more serious issues that may require collaboration with other healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists, massage therapists, sports doctors, and orthopaedic surgeons. Whether you are dealing with a one-time injury or a chronic condition, the team at their clinic is dedicated to providing the highest quality care to help you feel your best.
If you have a question, feel free to email or call the clinic, we can organise a call back from one of our experienced chiropractors. When it comes to your spine or joints, there is no such thing as a silly question. We are here to help!
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