Sports Injury Treatment in Columbus, NE
Sports are perfect for getting exercise and bonding with friends. Unfortunately, many sports can be dangerous and cause serious injury, even with the proper preventative measures. Sports injury treatment in Columbus is readily available from the team at Driver Chiropractic. With years of experience and a caring and dedicated team, we can help you with various injuries, from fractures to sprains and everything in between.
Common Sports Injuries
Although there are several different sports, injuries remain consistent throughout. Common injuries can sideline you for a few weeks and even impact your everyday life. Many sports injuries are easily treated with chiropractic care. Some common injuries include:
- Strains - When muscles stretch beyond their intended range, they can become strained or torn. Of all sports injuries, strains are the most common. Several sports can cause hamstring, groin, or quad muscle strains.
- Sprains - A sprain is similar to a strain but is specific to a ligament that stretches too far or pulls in the wrong direction. A ligament can pull or tear with enough force, creating a severe injury. Usually, joints suffer sprains, such as an elbow, ankle, or knee sprain.
- Fractures - With enough force, even the most rigid bones can break. Fractures are serious injuries that take weeks to heal. Common sports fractures include broken fingers, toes, feet, and arms.
- Knee Injuries - Knees are complicated joints with several tendons, ligaments, and muscles that can become injured. Specifically, ACL and MCL tears are prevalent injuries.
- Back Injuries - Jarring impacts from jumping or sudden starts and stops can compress the spine and cause disc damage. Awkward turns and twists can strain the back muscles and potentially damage the soft tissues.
- Repetitive Use Injuries - Many sports, like golf and tennis, require a repetitive motion performed frequently. Swinging a racket or golf club can overuse the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, causing strain. Tennis elbow is a common injury.
- Concussion - High-speed sports like football and hockey are prone to concussions. Whiplash, when the head is jerked violently, can often accompany a concussion. With the right amount of force, the soft tissues in the neck and upper back might also become injured with a concussion.
Injury Prone Sports
No sport will be completely safe, but certain sports are more injury-prone than others. Some of the most injury-prone sports include:
- Basketball - Most sports injuries occur in basketball. Injuries usually include sprains and strains, but eye injuries are also common in basketball.
- Football - The high speed and hard hits can cause several injuries. This contact sport has a prevalence of concussions but also sprains, strains, muscle tears, and fractures.
- Soccer - With minimal equipment and high speeds, soccer sees several yearly injuries. Strains and sprains are common, but there are also several concussions in soccer.
- Ice Hockey - Tendon and ligament strains are pretty standard in hockey, and sadly, the high speeds and impacts often lead to ligament tears. Concussions are also common in hockey due to the full-contact nature of the sport.
- Cheerleading - Although not as hard-hitting as other sports, cheerleading can be particularly injury-prone. High-flying flips, tumbling, and human pyramids can spell disaster for soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Baseball - America’s pastime is also an injury-prone sport. Playing baseball and softball can put you at risk for concussion, strained muscles, or even fractures.
How to Prevent Sports Injuries
Injuries will happen no matter how safe and careful you are. However, you can prevent severe injuries with proper precautions.
Some great tips to prevent a sports injury are:
- Wear Protection - No matter the sport, be sure you are wearing the appropriate required gear and protection. Don’t forget pads, protective eye and mouth gear, and helmets.
- Muscles - Your muscles help propel you, so continue conditioning your muscles. Stronger muscles are less likely to become overused and strained.
- Flexibility - Focus on improving your flexibility. Soft tissues free to stretch are less likely to strain and tear.
- Technique - Take the time to learn the proper techniques for your sport, so you don’t injure your body through wrong or awkward motions.
- Pain - If you feel any pain, don’t continue to play. Running or jumping on painful joints and muscles can damage the joint more. See a medical professional if the pain persists.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help With Sports Injuries
Chiropractic care can help address sports injuries in a non-invasive, safe, and comprehensive way. Often, after suffering an injury, the body is out of alignment. Regular adjustments with your chiropractor can help restore alignment, allowing your body to function correctly and heal faster.
With regular stretching and corrective exercises at a chiropractic office, you’ll be able to increase your muscle flexibility. When muscles are free to stretch and extend their range of motion, the chances of a sprain and strain drastically decrease.
An untreated sports injury can lead to stiffness and reduced range of motion. Healing your existing injuries with the help of a chiropractor can also help prevent future injuries from occurring. For sports injury treatment in Columbus, reach out to the team at Driver Chiropractic.
Choose Driver Chiropractic
Focusing on healing the entire body while providing immediate pain relief, the team at Driver Chiropractic can help with your sports injury. Earning his degree from Logan College of Chiropractic, Dr. Dylan Driver has years of experience and is a member of several chiropractic care associations. From lingering spring allergies to ongoing painful tennis elbow, Dr. Driver can provide comprehensive and innovative solutions for pain relief.
To get started with your sports injury treatment in Columbus, reach out to our office today. Call us at (402)-270-1062 to set up your initial appointment and return to the activities you love again.