Back Clinic Sports Injuries Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Team. Athletes from all sports can benefit from chiropractic treatment. Adjustments can help treat injuries from high-impact sports i.e. wrestling, football, and hockey. Athletes that get routine adjustments may notice improved athletic performance, improved range of motion along with flexibility, and increased blood flow. Because spinal adjustments will reduce the irritation of the nerve roots between the vertebrae, the healing time from minor injuries can be shortened, which improves performance. Both high-impact and low-impact athletes can benefit from routine spinal adjustments.
For high-impact athletes, it increases performance and flexibility and lowers the risk for injury for low-impact athletes i.e. tennis players, bowlers, and golfers. Chiropractic is a natural way to treat and prevent different injuries and conditions that impact athletes. According to Dr. Jimenez, excessive training or improper gear, among other factors, are common causes of injury. Dr. Jimenez summarizes the various causes and effects of sports injuries on the athlete as well as explaining the types of treatments and rehabilitation methods that can help improve an athlete’s condition. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900 or text to call Dr. Jimenez personally at (915) 540-8444.
Sports exercise headaches are exertion headaches that involve pain during or immediately after sports, exercise, or some physical activity. They come on quickly but can last a few minutes, hours, or days. Activities associated with exercise headaches include running, weightlifting, tennis, swimming, and rowing. Chiropractic, massage, decompression, and traction therapies can realign the body and relax the muscles allowing for optimal circulation and certain strategies to help prevent future episodes. Usually, there is no underlying disease or disorder, but it is recommended to talk to a healthcare provider to make sure.
Sports Exercise Headaches
When individuals exert their bodies intensely, they need added blood and oxygen, particularly with activities that involve tightening/tensing the abdominal muscles or increasing chest pressure. Doctors and scientists believe an exertional headache occurs when intense physical activity causes the veins and arteries to expand to circulate more blood. The expansion and increased blood circulation generate pressure in the skull that can cause pain.
Alternate Triggers
Exercising is not the only cause; other physical activities that can trigger an exertion headache include:
Sneezing
Coughing
Straining to use the bathroom
Sexual intercourse
Lifting or moving a heavy object
Symptoms
Symptoms of a sports exercise headache include:
Neck stiffness or pain
Pain on one or both sides of the head
Pulsating pain discomfort
Throbbing pain discomfort
Shoulder tightness, discomfort, and/or pain
Sometimes individuals report the headache can feel like a migraine that could include:
Vision problems like blind spots
Nausea
Vomiting
Light sensitivity
Most exercise headaches last five to 48 hours and can continue for three to six months.
Diagnosis
An underlying disease or disorder does not cause most exertional headaches. However, individuals experiencing severe or frequent headaches should consult their doctor or a healthcare provider. Tests will be ordered to rule out possible causes that include:
MRI will take computer-generated images of the brain.
A spinal tap/lumbar puncture takes a sample of fluid from the spine for testing.
If there is no underlying cause found, the medical provider can diagnose exertion headaches if there have been at least two headaches that:
Were caused by exercise or physical activity.
Started during or after the physical activity.
Lasted less than 48 hours.
Chiropractic Treatment
According to the American Chiropractic Association, spinal adjustments are an effective headache treatment option. This includes migraines, tension headaches, or sports exercise headaches. Using the targeted approaches, chiropractic restores the body’s natural alignment to improve function and alleviate stress on the nervous system. This allows the body to operate at optimal levels reducing muscle stress and muscle tension.
The game of baseball takes a toll on the body, especially when players advance from little league to high school, college, minor league, and the pros. The most common baseball injuries can range from mild to severe, from normal wear and tear on the joints and muscles to repetitive stress injuries, collisions with other players, getting hit with the ball, or bodily trauma. A chiropractor can provide ideal treatment for players of all ages and levels with decreased downtime and expedited healing and recovery.
Baseball Injuries
Although there have been a lot of advances in player safety and health, from helmets with face guards to shin and arm padding, the equipment lessens the impact and risks of injury. The game still involves running, sliding, twisting, and jumping, causing the body to maneuver awkwardly. Players often report sliding into first, feeling a pop or twisting to catch a fly ball, and feeling something snap. The most common injuries include:
Torn Labrum
Cartilage surrounding the shoulder joint socket, known as the labrum, often gets torn.
The soft tissue keeps the bones in place and provides stability.
Pitching and throwing motions stress the labrum.
With time, the cartilage begins to overstretch and tear, leading to swelling, shoulder pain, weakness, and overall instability.
Rotator Cuff Tears
The rotator cuff structure involves a complex set of tendons and muscles that stabilize the shoulder.
Pitchers are the most vulnerable, but all players are susceptible.
Cases are caused by not warming up and stretching correctly and repetitive/overuse movements.
Swelling and pain are the most common symptoms.
With a severe tear, a player will lose the ability to rotate the shoulder correctly.
Shoulder Instability or Dead Arm
This is when the shoulder muscles become overly fatigued, and the joint becomes unstable, losing the ability to throw precisely.
The condition is called dead arm by players and trainers.
This type of injury is caused by overuse and repeated stress.
Healing involves letting the shoulder rest for an extended period, but treatment, like chiropractic or physical therapy, could be recommended depending on the severity.
Pitchers Elbow
A pitcher’s elbow injury is caused by overuse and sustained/repeated damage to the tendons that rotate the wrist.
Pain and swelling occur along the inside of the elbow and forearm.
Wrist Tendonitis and Trauma
Wrist Tendonitis or tenosynovitis happens when the ligaments and tendons become tender, swollen, ruptured, or torn.
This causes inflammation, pain, and weakness.
Trauma injuries can result from collisions with another player, the ground, or a ball.
Knee Tears and Trauma
Knee injuries can be caused by normal wear and tear, overuse, or traumatic impact.
The fibrous bands are what stabilize and cushion the knee.
Overuse and any awkward movement can cause the tearing of the various ligaments.
The bands can develop micro-tears or complete ruptures, causing inflammation, pain, and instability.
Chiropractic Care and Rehabilitation
Chiropractic treatment and physical therapy have been found to help athletes maintain flexibility and range of motion, rehabilitate the body after an injury, and prevent new injuries or worsening of current injuries.
Chiropractic helps stretch and flex the muscles to stay limber and less prone to injury.
Chiropractic is a natural pain reliever for sore muscles and joint pain.
Physical therapy can strengthen an injured area during recovery and educate on proper form and techniques.
Taping and strapping can help support the elbows, wrists, ankles, and knees, reducing stress.
A combination of treatment approaches can help decrease recovery time so players can get back on the field.
Shoulder Adjustment Baseball Injuries
References
Bullock, Garrett S et al. “Shoulder Range of Motion and Baseball Arm Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of athletic training vol. 53,12 (2018): 1190-1199. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-439-17
Lyman, Stephen, and Glenn S Fleisig. “Baseball injuries.” Medicine and sport science vol. 49 (2005): 9-30. doi:10.1159/000085340
Matsel, Kyle A et al. “Current Concepts in Arm Care Exercise Programs and Injury Risk Reduction in Adolescent Baseball Players: A Clinical Review.” Sports health vol. 13,3 (2021): 245-250. doi:10.1177/1941738120976384
Shitara, Hitoshi, et al. “Shoulder Stretching Intervention Reduces the Incidence of Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in High School Baseball Players: a Time-to-Event Analysis.” Scientific reports vol. 7 45304. 27 Mar. 2017, doi:10.1038/srep45304
Wilk, Kevin E, and Christopher A Arrigo. “Rehabilitation of Elbow Injuries: Nonoperative and Operative.” Clinics in sports medicine vol. 39,3 (2020): 687-715. doi:10.1016/j.csm.2020.02.010
Whenever stepping out onto a playing field or gym, there is a risk of suffering sports back injuries. Back pulls, strain and sprain injuries are the most common. Low back pain is one of the most prevalent complaints at all levels of competition. 90% of these acute back injuries will heal on their own, usually in about three months. However, sometimes these injuries can be more severe and require professional medical care. Treatment options for different groups of athletes include nonsurgical motorized spinal decompression.
Sports Back Injuries
Injury mechanisms vary from sport to sport, but there are recommendations regarding spinal decompression treatment for these injuries and return to play. Chiropractic healthcare specialists understand the sport-specific injury patterns and treatment guidelines for athletes following a back injury. Spinal decompression treatments are beneficial and result in higher rates of return to play depending on the specific sport of the injured athlete. A chiropractor will create a personalized spinal decompression treatment plan for the sport-specific context to meet the athlete’s short and long-term needs.
An estimated 10–15% of athletes will experience low back pain.
All types of sports place increased stress on the lumbar spine through physically demanding and repetitive movements/motions.
The repetitive shifting, bending, twisting, jumping, flexion, extension, and spinal axial loadingmotions contribute to low back pain even though the athletes are in top shape with increased strength and flexibility.
Injury patterns demonstrate the increased stresses that athletes place on the lumbar spine.
Common Spine Sports Injuries
Cervical Neck Injuries
Stingers are a type of neck injury.
A stinger is also known as a burner is an injury that happens when the head or neck gets hit to one side, causing the shoulder to be pulled in the opposite direction.
These injuries manifest as numbness or tingling in the shoulder from stretching or compressing the cervical nerve roots.
Lumbar Lower Back Sprains and Strains
When trying to lift too much weight or using an improper lifting technique when working out with weights.
Fast running, quick stopping, and shifting can cause the low back and hip muscles to get overly pulled/stretched.
Staying low to the ground and springing/jumping up can cause abnormal stretching or tearing of the muscle fibers.
Fractures and Injuries to the Supporting Spinal Structures
In sports that involve repetitive extension movements, spinal stress fractures are relatively common.
Excessive and repeated strain to the spinal column area leads to low back pain and injury.
Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression
Nonsurgical spinal decompression is motorized traction that is used to relieve compression pressure, restore spinal disc height, and relieve back pain.
Spinal decompression works to gently stretch the spine changing the force and position of the spine.
The gel-like cushions between the vertebrae are pulled to open up the spacing taking pressure off nerves and other structures.
This allows bulging or herniated discs to return to their normal position and promotes optimal circulation of blood, water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids into the discs to heal, as well as, injured or diseased spinal nerve roots.
DRX 9000 Decompression
References
Ball, Jacob R et al. “Lumbar Spine Injuries in Sports: Review of the Literature and Current Treatment Recommendations.” Sports medicine – open vol. 5,1 26. 24 Jun. 2019, doi:10.1186/s40798-019-0199-7
Jonasson, Pall et al. “Prevalence of joint-related pain in the extremities and spine in five groups of top athletes.” Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy: official journal of the ESSKA vol. 19,9 (2011): 1540-6. doi:10.1007/s00167-011-1539-4
Lawrence, James P et al. “Back pain in athletes.” The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons vol. 14,13 (2006): 726-35. doi:10.5435/00124635-200612000-00004
Petering, Ryan C, and Charles Webb. “Treatment options for low back pain in athletes.” Sports health vol. 3,6 (2011): 550-5. doi:10.1177/1941738111416446
Sanchez, Anthony R 2nd et al. “Field-side and prehospital management of the spine-injured athlete.” Current sports medicine reports vol. 4,1 (2005): 50-5. doi:10.1097/01.csmr.0000306072.44520.22
Squat exercises are highly effective, as they strengthen the back and core muscles, helping the prevention of injury. They can be done anywhere with or without equipment like weights and resistance bands and can be part of an aerobic workout. Squatting requires following proper form and posture. Using the improper form, adding too much weight too soon, overdoing it without enough recovery time can cause soreness, back pain, and injury. Having muscle soreness after performing squats is expected; however, if symptoms like chronic soreness, tingling, numbness, or sharp aches that come and go, begin to appear, it is recommended to consult a medical trainer, chiropractor, doctor, or spine specialist to evaluate the symptoms, and if necessary develop a treatment plan, as well as a prevention plan to continue exercising safely.
Squat Exercises
Squatting is a highly beneficial form of exercise. Athletes, trainers, coaches, and individuals just staying healthy use the technique as a part of their training and workouts. This is because squatting increases core muscle strength, increasing body power. Squat exercises benefits include:
Increased Flexibility
Improved strength and a range of motion allow the body to move flawlessly in various directions with minimal effort.
Increased Core Strength
All major muscles work together during a squat.
This increases muscle stabilization, maintains body balance, increasing core strength.
Injury Prevention
Squats work all leg muscles simultaneously, synchronizing the body.
This increases body stability decreasing the risk of injury.
Back Pain and Potential Injury
The spine is exposed and unprotected during a squat. This is where back pain and injury can happen. Potential causes include:
Priming each muscle is recommended. This could be:
Starting with glute work.
Then planks to activate the core.
Finish off with stretching and range of motion exercises.
A personal trainer can assist in creating a customized workout routine.
Starting Position
The feet should always face forward to protect the hips and knees when beginning a squat.
If the feet face at an angle, the form can be impacted, leading to back pain or collapsing arches.
Spinal Alignment
Maintaining a straight-ahead or upward gaze, which increases center awareness during squat exercises, can prevent the body from leaning forward and placing stress on the spine.
Only squat as far as possible, making sure to feel in control and maintain the form.
Squatting too deep can cause muscle strain leading to pain.
Focus on form, as it is more important than depth.
Joint mobility
Ankle mobility and stability are essential to balance and control.
If the ankle is compromised, the feet could lift off the floor, forcing the body to compensate, leading to strain and potential injuries.
Barbell back squats are more advanced and, if done incorrectly, can cause injury.
A chiropractor or physical therapist will be able to evaluate spinal health, exercise form, and advise if there is an issue.
Body Composition
Achieve Health and Fitness Goals By Doing What You Enjoy
Don’t engage in workouts or fitness programs that make you miserable. Do workouts/activities that you enjoy and have fun doing. Exercise for the love of the body, keeping it healthy and in shape, not because there is a feeling of obligation.
Individuals who don’t like lifting weights try using resistance bands or bodyweight exercises.
The same goes for nutrition. Don’t base diet and supplement choices on misperceptions about health.
References
Calatayud, Joaquín et al. “Tolerability and Muscle Activity of Core Muscle Exercises in Chronic Low-back Pain.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 16,19 3509. 20 Sep. 2019, doi:10.3390/ijerph16193509
Clark, Dave R et al. “Muscle activation in the loaded free barbell squat: a brief review.” Journal of strength and conditioning research vol. 26,4 (2012): 1169-78. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e31822d533d
Cortell-Tormo, Juan M et al. “Effects of functional resistance training on fitness and quality of life in females with chronic nonspecific low-back pain.” Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation vol. 31,1 (2018): 95-105. doi:10.3233/BMR-169684
Donnelly, David V et al. “The effect of the direction of gaze on the kinematics of the squat exercise.” Journal of strength and conditioning research vol. 20,1 (2006): 145-50. doi:10.1519/R-16434.1
Zawadka, Magdalena et al. “Altered squat movement pattern in patients with chronic low back pain.” Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine: AAEM vol. 28,1 (2021): 158-162. doi:10.26444/aaem/117708
When stress is placed on the shins with physical activity from walking, running, or exercise, the connective tissues attaching the leg muscles to the tibia can become inflamed, causing medial tibial stress syndrome, more commonly known as shin splints. This inflammation is caused by tiny tears in the muscles and tendons of the shin. Chronic shin pain could be related to foot arch problems, underlying issues with the muscles, or shoes that don’t support the feet properly. Although it usually goes away within a few days, it’s important to monitor to ensure that it does not progress into a stress fracture. A chiropractor can offer treatments to relieve the pain and help prevent shin splints from recurring.
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
Medial tibial stress syndrome can impact anyone. It can come from walking far distances or in awkward positions like going downstairs with small steps, jumping rope, and playing with the kids on the playground can all cause burning, tightness, and pain in the shins. Shin splints affect individuals differently. For some, the pain recedes when the triggering activity is stopped. For others, the pain can become a chronic condition that results in continuous pain, even when at rest.
The Shin
The shin is a part of the tibia bone in the lower leg.
This bone absorbs the shocks when moving through daily activities.
The muscles that run along the shin support the foot’s arch and raise the toes during movement.
Medial tibial stress syndrome is caused by excessive force on the shinbone and the tissue around it, which causes the muscles to swell and increases pressure around the bone.
If left untreated, small tears in the muscle and the bone can form, leading to chronic pain and stress fractures.
Medial tibial stress syndrome is more likely to happen from:
Not stretching before physical activity or exercise.
Constantly walking or running on hard surfaces.
Wearing the wrong shoes that don’t provide enough cushioning or arch support.
Over-exertion on the body with activity and movement.
The body is not given the proper amount of time to recover.
Athletes often experience shin splints when they’ve intensified their training routine or changed it up.
Symptoms
Pain during exercise or activity.
Pain in the front of the lower leg.
Soreness in the lower leg.
Swelling in the lower leg.
Shin is hot to the touch.
Treatment
Whenever pain is being experienced, some muscles will either get tight or weak in response. By identifying the weak and/or tight muscles, a chiropractor can prescribe stretches and exercises that will help alleviate the pain and prevent it. One of the main principles of chiropractic is to treat the body as an interconnected system. A chiropractor may work on an unrelated part of the body to treat the symptomatic area. For example, they may work to align the spine and pelvis to lessen the impact on the lower legs.
Part of a treatment plan may include:
Soft Tissue Mobilization
A handheld instrument loosens tight tissues during soft tissue mobilization therapy and breaks scar tissue around the tibia.
Massaging tight muscles in the leg keeps them loose and alleviates the pain.
Percussion massage can be added to reduce muscle knots, improve blood flow, and loosen up scar tissue.
The treatment relieves pain and can help avoid shin splints when returning to normal activities.
Ultrasound and Low Laser Therapy
Ultrasound and low laser therapy use heat to warm the deep tissues in the lower leg gently.
The treatment eases pain, reduces inflammation, swelling, and increases blood flow.
Kinesio Taping
Applying flexible Kinesio tape to the foot and lower leg can reduce stress on the shins.
The chiropractor or physical therapist will show how to apply the tape correctly.
Foot Orthotics
Individuals may be more likely to develop shin splints if they have high or low arches or their feet tend to roll inward or outward when walking.
Prescription foot orthotics can be made to keep the feet properly balanced and supported.
Stretching Exercises
Shin splints could be related to tight muscles in the back of the calf and weak muscles in the front of the lower leg.
A chiropractor or physical therapist will show stretching and strengthening exercises to maintain muscle balance.
Body Composition
Retaining Water Due To Salt Intake
Salt/sodium is everywhere and hard to avoid.
It might not be a surprise that a single patty cheeseburger contains over 500 mg of sodium – almost a quarter of the daily recommended level, but it is a surprise to know that the ranch dressing on a salad contains as much as 270 mg or a tablespoon of soy sauce on a healthy, vegetable-only stir-fry has 879 mg of sodium. The Mayo Clinic estimates that the average individual consumes about 3,400 mg of sodium a day: close to double what is recommended. Sodium is linked with water retention, and it is the kidneys’ job to expel unneeded sodium out of the body. Until the kidneys activate, an individual will temporarily be retaining extra water. If daily water and sodium intake habits change daily, this can contribute to water retention, causing fluctuations in daily weight. So, if an individual was on a diet but flooded the body with more salt than usual, expect to see a temporary increase in weight.
References
Bates, P. “Shin splints–a literature review.” British journal of sports medicine vol. 19,3 (1985): 132-7. doi:10.1136/bjsm.19.3.132
Chiropractic Economics: The Science Behind Percussion Massage.
Gross, ML et al. “Effectiveness of orthotic shoe inserts in the long-distance runner.” The American journal of sports medicine vol. 19,4 (1991): 409-12. doi:10.1177/036354659101900416
Heer, Martina et al. “Increasing sodium intake from a previous low or high intake affects water, electrolyte and acid-base balance differently.” The British journal of nutrition vol. 101,9 (2009): 1286-94. doi:10.1017/S0007114508088041
McClure, Charles J. and Robert Oh. “Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 11 August 2021.
A sports hernia is a soft tissue injury that happens in and around the groin area. It is a strain or tear of any soft-tissue muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the lower abdomen or groin area. It usually happens during physical sports activities that require fast, quick, sudden changes of direction and/or intense twisting movements. Despite its name, a sports hernia is not a hernia in the classic sense. The condition’s proper term is athletic pubalgia. However, a sports hernia can lead to an abdominal hernia. The condition can happen to both men and women.
Anatomy
The soft tissues most affected by sports hernias are the oblique muscles in the lower abdomen, along with the tendons that attach the oblique muscles to the pubic bone, are the most at risk. In many cases, the tendons that attach the thigh muscles to the pubic bone or adductors are also stretched or torn.
Core Muscle Injury
A core muscle injury is when the deep layers of the abdominal wall weaken or tear. This can cause nerve irritation and contribute to uncomfortable symptoms of numbness or tingling. The most common causes include:
Planting the feet and turning or twisting with maximum force.
Constant repetitive hip and pelvic twisting motions.
Imbalances between the hip and abdominal muscles can also, over time, cause overuse injuries.
Weakness in the abdominals and improper or no conditioning can also contribute to injuries.
Chronic groin pain is the primary symptom of a core muscle injury.
Sharp groin pain with exertion.
Basic movements like sitting down or getting out of bed can also present with pain or discomfort.
Pain on one side of the groin.
Pain or numbness that radiates into the inner thigh.
Pain when coughing or sneezing.
Tenderness or pressure on the lower abdominal area.
Pain decreases with rest.
Diagnosis
A doctor will discuss symptoms and how the injury occurred. They will run a series of strength tests like a sit-up or trunk flex against resistance. If it is a sports hernia, there will be tenderness in the groin or above the pubis, along with discomfort and pain. Further tests will include MRI, ultrasound, or X-rays to rule out hip, low back, or pelvis injuries to confirm a core muscle injury.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Rest
In the first 7 to 10 days after the injury resting and icing the area is recommended.
If there is a bulge in the groin, compression or a wrap can help relieve symptoms.
Chiropractic and Physical therapy
Two weeks after the injury, chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy exercises are recommended to improve strength and flexibility in the abdominal and inner thigh muscles.
For most cases, 4 to 6 weeks of chiropractic and physical therapy will resolve any pain and allow the individual to return to their exercise or sports activity.
Anti-inflammatory Medications
A doctor could recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling and pain.
If the symptoms persist over a prolonged period, a doctor may suggest a cortisone injection.
If the pain comes back when resuming the physical activities, surgery could be needed to repair the torn tissues.
Surgical Treatment
Repairing the torn tissues can be done with a traditional open procedure that involves one long incision or a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure. In an endoscopy, the surgeon makes smaller incisions and uses a small camera, called an endoscope, to see inside the abdomen. The results of traditional and endoscopic procedures are the same. Most individuals can return to sports and physical activities 6 to 12 weeks after surgery.
Body Composition
Muscle Gain
Individuals can’t lose fat forever. At some point, they need to work on developing muscle or work to preserve the muscle that is already present. This requires a different diet and exercise plan than one designed for fat loss. Instead of getting the body into a catabolic state, the body needs to be in an anabolic state where the body builds tissue instead of breaking it down. To build muscle, the body needs resources meaning proper nutrition and sufficient protein intake to increase muscle mass. Maintaining an energy surplus of around 15% is appropriate for developing musculature, meaning a moderately active individual with a BMR of 1,600 calories would want to their intake to about 2,852 calories a day.
References
Hoffman, Jay R et al. “Effect of protein intake on strength, body composition and endocrine changes in strength/power athletes.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition vol. 3,2 12-8. 13 Dec. 2006, doi:10.1186/1550-2783-3-2-12
Larson, Christopher M. “Sports hernia/athletic pubalgia: evaluation and management.” Sports health vol. 6,2 (2014): 139-44. doi:10.1177/1941738114523557
Poor, Alexander E et al. “Core Muscle Injuries in Athletes.” Current sports medicine reports vol. 17,2 (2018): 54-58. doi:10.1249/JSR.0000000000000453
Thorborg, Kristian et al. “Clinical Examination, Diagnostic Imaging, and Testing of Athletes With Groin Pain: An Evidence-Based Approach to Effective Management.” The Journal of orthopedic and sports physical therapy vol. 48,4 (2018): 239-249. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.7850
Tyler, Timothy F et al. “Groin injuries in sports medicine.” Sports health vol. 2,3 (2010): 231-6. doi:10.1177/1941738110366820
Around a half-million high school students in the U.S. play volleyball. Whether the parent of a volleyball player or part of a recreational league, the goal is to be ready for the season, which means preventing and addressing volleyball injuries. It is a highly demanding sport with quick movements, jumping, twisting, diving, spiking, etc. Despite being fit and healthy, extensive training along with match play takes a toll on the body. Chiropractic can benefit volleyball players.
Common Volleyball Injuries
Why Chiropractic Works
Chiropractic treatment and rehabilitation, especially by a sports chiropractor, is recommended for volleyball injuries because it addresses acute and chronic injuries to all areas of the body. Chiropractic treats the entire musculoskeletal system. Proper joint alignment from chiropractic adjustments in the spine and throughout the body maintains the biomechanic integrity. This reduces high-impact forces in the joints. Soft tissue treatments like instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization can help resolve injuries by providing the tissues with more blood flow into the affected area allowing for faster healing. Most volleyball injuries result from overuse to the joints and muscles, resulting in repetitive strain. In volleyball, repetitive/overuse injuries are common in the knees, ankles, and shoulders. This comes from all the jumping, serving, and spiking.
Player Benefits
Body Soreness Is Reduced/Alleviated
Many athletes, including volleyball players, do not get the proper recovery time from training or playing.
Reduced recovery periods cause body soreness and stiffness that can overlap into an injury.
Chiropractic can reduce and alleviate body soreness.
Chiropractic promotes faster recovery.
Optimal Performance
Studies show that athletes that receive regular chiropractic care found speed and mobility performance enhanced.
Athletes require fast reflexes and optimal hand-eye coordination.
Speed, mobility, reflexes, and coordination depend on a healthy nervous system.
90% of the central nervous system travels through the spine.
Spinal alignment can either allow for proper nerve flow or disrupt nerve flow.
Even when just one spinal segment is misaligned and out of place, the nervous system can impact reflexes, speed, mobility, and hand-eye coordination.
A properly functioning spine and nervous system will ensure the player is at their best.
Faster Injury Recovery Time
Healing the body properly takes time. Just like the body needs sleep/rest to function properly, so it is with injuries.
The issue for athletes is how much time healing takes.
Individual athletes receiving chiropractic care have been shown to heal faster.
Mobility and Strength
A chiropractic doctor can reduce the pressure around the nerve roots that exit the spine, which will help improve player performance. This includes:
Range of motion
Mobility and flexibility
Strength
Endurance
To find out how chiropractic can help, contact Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic. We will perform a thorough musculoskeletal and nervous system examination.
Ankle Sprain Treatment
How Many Calories Over 24 hours
Myths that offer strategies that avoid the hard work and commitment that diet and exercise demand should be avoided. Individuals cannot expect to experience healthy body composition changes by increasing/decreasing meal frequency if they are living a sedentary lifestyle. It is not important how often or what time an individual takes in calories (has a meal). What is important is how many calories an individual has over a 24-hour period. A study looked at healthy individuals that ate one large meal a day for two weeks and then later ate the same meal but spread out over five smaller meals for another two weeks. It was concluded that there was no statistical difference in body weight gain or loss between the two eating methods. 2000 calories over 3 meals is the same 2000 calories consumed over 5 meals. There is no substitute for proper diet and exercise. The focus should be on what and how much you eat.
References
Eerkes, Kevin. “Volleyball injuries.” Current sports medicine reports vol. 11,5 (2012): 251-6. doi:10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182699037
Gouttebarge, Vincent et al. “Preventing musculoskeletal injuries among recreational adult volleyball players: design of a randomized prospective controlled trial.” BMC musculoskeletal disorders vol. 18,1 333. 2 Aug. 2017, doi:10.1186/s12891-017-1699-6
Kilic, O et al. “Incidence, etiology, and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries in volleyball: A systematic review of the literature.” European journal of sports science vol. 17,6 (2017): 765-793. doi:10.1080/17461391.2017.1306114
Seminati, Elena, and Alberto Enrico Minetti. “Overuse in volleyball training/practice: A review on the shoulder and spine-related injuries.” European journal of sports science vol. 13,6 (2013): 732-43. doi:10.1080/17461391.2013.773090
Wolfram, G et al. “Thermogenese des menschen bei unterschiedlicher mahlzeitenhäufigkeit” [Thermogenesis in humans after varying meal time frequency]. Annals of nutrition & metabolism vol. 31,2 (1987): 88-97. doi:10.1159/000177255
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