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.
IT Iliotibial band syndrome is a very common injury among runners. If it is diagnosed early and treatment commences immediately the chances of it becoming a chronic condition are reduced. It responds very well to chiropractic since it involves the pelvis and related muscles. When pelvic mechanics are not functioning properly the muscle don�t work efficiently which hinders flexibility and mobility. This can lead to tight muscles which may inhibit motion and cause pain. Chiropractic adjustments have been proven to help with the condition.
What Is The Iliotibial Band?
The Iliotibial Band, or fasciae latae, is the outer casing of muscle that extends along the outer thigh, from the top of the hip to the outside of the knee. IT Iliotibial band syndrome occurs when that casing becomes thickened. It is flexed or tight when you stand; it is what keeps your let straight, allowing the larger thigh muscle to rest.
There are two primary muscles that are involved in iliotibial band syndrome, the buttock muscle, or gluteus maximus, and the tensor fasciae latae muscles. Sometimes Iliotibial Band Syndrome is referred to Tensor Fasciae Latae Syndrome and the two terms can be used interchangeably.
IT Iliotibial Band Syndrome Defined
As the iliotibial band thickens it pulls in the area where it connects to the knee. This results in knee pain due to the application of too much pressure on the bursa. The bursa then becomes swollen, inflamed, and painful. During activity, such as running on an incline, the glutes are heavily involved.
The other end of the iliotibial band is inserted at the glutes so as the band tightens from this activity, it can trigger iliotibial band syndrome pain. Repeated activity further aggravates it, as does running on tight indoor tracks or uneven roads as well as having collapsed arches or running it inferior or worn out running shoes.
Symptoms Of Iliotibial Band Syndrome
There are several symptoms that can be used to diagnose iliotibial band syndrome. Lateral knee pain (pain on the outside of the knee) is a primary symptom and often used as a key diagnostic tool. Few conditions involve lateral knee pain. Other symptoms include:
Pain that worsens after running, particularly after running on an incline, climbing stairs, or climbing hills
There may not be any pain until you do something that aggravates it like climbing a hill.
The pain may not begin until you are mid-way through a run.
The pain can be intense and debilitating.
It can accompany a snapping hip, which occurs when the muscles that cross the outer hip may click or snap while running or walking.
The pain may be present along the lateral thigh without incorporating the knee, but it is only in very rare instances that it is concentrated on the gluteal or hip muscles.
Iliotibial band syndrome is often attributed to over training. This can mean suddenly increasing hill repeats or doubling your mileage.
Treatments For IT Iliotibial Band Syndrome
If your iliotibial band syndrome is caused by a problem with pelvic function, relieving the pain from the condition can be difficult. Stretching is not likely to bring relief � and if it does it won�t last long. If the pain from iliotibial band syndrome lasts for more than two weeks even if you are only stretching, your regular exercise routine, and ice and you don�t see much improvement, a chiropractor can help.
Even if the pain is located in the knee, the problem could originate in the pelvis. A chiropractor can assess your condition, check to see that your pelvis is functioning properly. If it isn�t, spinal adjustments and other chiropractic treatments can bring the body back into alignment and make the pelvis more functional.
Chiropractic Clinic Extra: Sport Injury Treatments
Feeling back pain, being unable to perform daily tasks, workout and play sports can be frustrating for anyone. The debilitating symptoms can drive individuals to seek fast relief. But, while a person�s only concern maybe only to fix the day�s pain, fixing the root/cause of the problem is far better in the long run and�can be easily achieved from chiropractic treatment. After receiving a single adjustment, many people especially athletes can expect an increase in their range of motion and less pain. Regardless of the reasons for seeking chiropractic treatment, one question always crosses people�s minds, how often should one see a chiropractor?
The answer to that question depends on the individual�s goals. Generally, spinal complications are not the result of a single day�s activities but tend to occur gradually over a period of time. Many spine conditions and injuries result in symptoms that may intermittently increase and decrease over several years, causing constant, nagging pain or sharp, extreme pain due to wear and tear type of injuries that the body is no longer able to heal on its own.
Chiropractic Treatment Sports Injury
Healing requires time and patience, a person also needs to be aware of what caused the complications in the first place. Suddenly stopping strict exercise routines or gaining weight in a certain amount of time can create an accelerated aging process on the joints.
If an individual�s goals are solely focused on alleviating the pain resulting from one time, then it won�t take much time to heal. Generally, receiving adjustments 2-3 times per week for several weeks can ease pain and decrease other symptoms. But, if a person is seeking to relieve the symptoms associated with an underlying condition or injury, or if a person is seeking to correct an improper posture or a mechanical dysfunction, the process could be much longer. This healing process often may require about 2-3 months of regular adjustments.
Despite completing treatment and successfully alleviating any symptoms, it is recommended to continue chiropractic adjustments on a regular basis. What is considered a regular basis for adjustments? Getting adjusted at least once a week by a chiropractor can help maintain a person�s overall health and can prevent small problems from becoming greater issues. For a greater majority of individuals, especially those who sit most of the day, it�s recommended to maintain an adjustment schedule every week or two. A chiropractor will explain what is the right schedule.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Chiropractic Clinic Extra: Sport Injury Treatments
Sports Injuries: Sandra Rubio has been working with Dr. Alex Jimenez for about 6 years. By caring for patients on a regular basis, Sandra has learned how essential and effective chiropractic care can be. Sandra describes how Dr. Alex Jimenez provides patients with a better way of healing themselves naturally, without the use of drugs/medications and surgery. The trust between Dr. Jimenez and the patient establishes a positive treatment outcome for many athletes with sports injuries as well as patients with other types of injuries and/or conditions through chiropractic care. Sandra Rubio expresses that Dr. Alex Jimenez is a safe non surgical choice for sports injuries.
Sports Injuries
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Sprains and strains are some of the most common type of sports injuries frequently reported by the average athlete. Sprains are injuries that affect the ligaments, tough bands which connect bones to the joints. Abrupt stretching of the ligaments beyond their natural range can deform or tear them. Strains are injuries that affect the muscle fibers or tendons, which function by anchoring muscles to bones. While most sports injuries are mild or moderate in nature, seeking immediate medical attention can help these heal faster in order for the athlete to be able to return-to-play quicker. A variety of treatment options, including chiropractic care can help treat sports injuries.
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Thank You & God Bless.
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, C.C.S.T
There is no doubt that football is a rough sport. At times it can be downright brutal, especially on the body. The sport sees a myriad of injuries, some serious, including head and neck, ankle, knee, and spinal. Chiropractic care is quickly becoming a popular, viable method of not only treating injuries, but also for managing injury related pain and even injury prevention. There are several significant benefits that football players can glean from chiropractic care.
A survey exploring the prevalence of chiropractic care in the National Football League (NFL) showed that of the team trainers surveyed, 77 percent responded that they have referred players to a chiropractor for treat or evaluation. At that time, in 2002, 31 percent of the NFL teams have a team chiropractor on staff. Now all 32 of the NFL teams utilize chiropractic care for their players and staff.
College teams are also finding that chiropractic care can help their players. Virginia Tech has a chiropractor who routinely treats the players, helping them with injury recovery and physical health. The doctor has an office in the sports complex and the trainers are able to schedule appointments for the athletes.
The Benefits Of Chiropractic Treatment For Football Players
Improved Mobility
Chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT), aka the chiropractic adjustment, is one of the primary chiropractic therapies in sports medicine. It helps to increase flexibility and minimize or eliminate pain in movement. CMT is often used by football players as an injury prevention measure. It has also been shown to improve athletic performance.
Solid Body Maintenance
The brutality of football leads to frequent injuries. However, soreness and stiffness are even more commonplace. Many players use chiropractic care to ease the general pain that comes from overexertion and rough play. They may not be injured, per se, but are experiencing the normal pain that comes with the territory when one is an athlete. Chiropractic care keeps the body working as it should at optimal athletic performance.
Pain Relief
Chiropractic care has long been recognized as an effective pain management tool and now athletes are discovering the benefits of chiropractic therapy as well. It has been shown to relieve headaches, particularly those stemming from head and neck injuries. It also relieves shoulder pain and pain from ankle and knee injuries such as sprains.
Injury Prevention
There is a direct correlation between athletes who regularly use chiropractic care and a decline in sports injuries. Those who use the treatment experience better flexibility and mobility which has been linked to injury prevention. Additionally, chiropractic care helps to increase strength and by making the body stronger it is more resistant to injury.
Increase Strength & Endurance
Chiropractic care has been linked with increased muscular strength. While it is often thought of as a way to relieve pain, it has been shown to effectively promote strength in the muscles after only a few sessions. This can help players avoid injury by combining the increase in strength with increased mobility. This also works to promote endurance and stamina.
Sports Hernia Relief
A significant amount of athletes experience groin pain due to injury. Athletic pubalgia is one of the most common causes of injury related groin pain. Also known as sports hernia, athletic pubalgia can cause significant pain. Chiropractic care has been shown to relieve the discomfort within 8 weeks when combined with rehabilitative exercises.
Chiropractic care plays a very important role in injury prevention, whole body care, and pain relief for athletes in one of the roughest sports in the world. These benefits can also be translated to other sports where injury is a frequent occurrence.
Soccer is one of the most popular team sports in the United States, and offers an excellent form of exercise to children and adults alike. Unfortunately, the nature of the sport, the repeated movement and the chance of collision, add up to quite a few opportunities for injury.
Lower and upper extremity injuries, overuse injuries, and head, neck, and face injuries are commonplace. According to Stanford Children’s Health, “88,000 children 8-14 were treated in an emergency room for soccer-related injuries.”
Soccer players who take certain precautionary measures decrease their chances of injury. Let�s look at three ways you can avoid injury as a soccer player:
#1: Soccer: Use Proper Equipment
Donning proper fitting cleats, uniforms, and shin guards decrease the risk of being hurt in the first place. Make adjustments often, especially if the player is growing rapidly or fluctuates in weight.
#2: Get Checked Out By A Chiropractor Pre-Season
Soccer players who allow their fitness less to lapse increase the chance of injury. Visit a Doctor of Chiropractic to ensure there are no underlying issues with participating in strenuous activity. A chiropractor is also able to make sure the spine is aligned and muscles and joints are strong and functioning properly.
#3: Pay Attention To The Surroundings
A field that is not kept up well offers a greater chance of turning an ankle or falling. It’s vital to check out the playing area beforehand and note any uneven areas that could cause a player to trip.
In addition, consider the weather. Muddy, slick fields create extra issues, and particularly hot temperatures make players run the risk of dehydration or heat stroke. Prepare for weather issues in advance of the game.
If, even though you take all of these precautions, you still end up injured, there are several options for treatment. The injury is hopefully mild and heals on its own after a few days of rest. More serious injuries require a doctor visit, and one of these three treatments.
First, ice and elevate it: Keep weight off the injured area as much as possible, and elevate it with pillows. Use an ice bag wrapped in a towel to keep down swelling and inflammation. If the injury is painful, over the counter medication helps reduce discomfort.
Then, take a break: The last decision you want to make is to begin playing too soon and re-injure yourself. With more serious injuries, sitting out of a few games, or even an entire season, is a choice that promotes healing and health. Talk to your chiropractor about the timeframe the injury needs to be able to recover correctly, and follow his or her advice.
Finally, keep your chiropractic adjustments: Chiropractors are trained in treating the neuromusculoskeletal system as a whole. Many of the injuries suffered from soccer show an improvement after a few chiropractic visits.
Spinal and joint alignment, muscle healing, and tendon relaxation are all techniques chiropractors employ to promote and hasten healing. Additionally, chiropractors give insight on valuable ways to use nutrition and exercise to keep the body functioning at optimum capacity, to avoid re-injury.
Enjoying physical activity is essential to maintain a routine that provides a healthy, active lifestyle, and joining a soccer team is a great choice for children as well as adults. Knowing the advance precautions to put in place to avoid injury will help keep you strong and safe.
If, however, you or your child end up hurt, these forms of treatment will lessen healing time and get you back in the game at full speed. So give us a call to schedule your next appointment before you get back out on the pitch.
Chiropractic Treatment For Concussions
This article is copyrighted by Blogging Chiros LLC for its Doctor of Chiropractic members and may not be copied or duplicated in any manner including printed or electronic media, regardless of whether for a fee or gratis without the prior written permission of Blogging Chiros, LLC.
Baseball Injuries: The crack of a ball against your bat, good! The crack of a back or shoulder, bad!
Baseball, the nationwide pass time, heats up in summer. From little league on up, individuals enjoy swinging the bat and running the bases. Unfortunately, the movements baseball requires can wreak havoc on a person’s body, leaving them with strained backs, hurt shoulders, and pulled muscles. According to Livestrong, there are over 600,000 injuries from playing baseball per year, and 5-14 year olds suffer from 117,000 of them.
The aspects of the game � running, sliding, twisting, and jumping � cause the body to maneuver into awkward positions. If you or a loved one has slid into first and felt a pop, or twisted to catch a fly ball and felt a snap, chiropractic care offers several ways to help put you on the road to a complete recovery.
Baseball Injuries: Manage Pain
Baseball injuries frequently involve large muscles, resulting in a high degree of pain. Chiropractic treatment offers relief from severe pain of many injuries involving the spine, muscles, and joints.
Using spinal adjustments, a chiropractor is able to help the body align itself properly, and sooth the injured area. Once the body functions normally, pain is diminished. Sometimes this can be accomplished in one visit, while other injuries require a few sessions before pain diminishes.
Increase Mobility
A strained neck, pulled back, or overextended knee may cause the individual serious issues in being able to move. Limping around slowly is nobody’s idea of fun!
Chiropractic adjustments are proven to help reduce inflammation and improve mobility in many injury cases. If that last baseball game has you unable to put weight on your knee, your neck won’t twist without pain, or your shoulder won’t lift your arm, it may be time to visit a chiropractor for evaluation.
Promote Healing
The premise of chiropractic care is to treat the entire body as a whole, not just the injured part. As the body becomes better aligned, it functions at a higher capacity, and begins to heal itself.
Most injuries resulting from playing baseball, such as tendonitis, strained muscles, torn rotator cuffs, and the like, heal faster with chiropractic care. Increased blood flow to the injured area, and less pressure on the body part (usually due to misalignment of the spine) allow the injured area to regenerate, and a greater chance to begin healing faster than without chiropractic care.
Avoid Medication
Even over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory drugs cause side effects in certain individuals. Allergies, stomach issues, and other reasons result in many injured people steering clear of medication to relieve pain and inflammation.
Chiropractic care provides these individuals a drug-free, less invasive way to help manage the pain and promote healing. More people every year are choosing to visit a chiropractor for pain relief instead of popping pain medicine.
Before jumping into a baseball game, or even if you or your children play regularly, remember that prevention is worth its weight in gold. Take care of your body by stretching beforehand, being aware of your physical limits, maintaining proper posture, and staying hydrated during the game. With a little extra effort, the chance of a baseball injury can be dramatically decreased.
Summer fun often includes activities such as baseball, whether in a league or in your back yard with your family. Avoid suffering from an injury as best you can, and, if you or your child end up with an achy knee, twisted elbow, or smarting shoulder, call you chiropractor to schedule a thorough evaluation as quickly as possible.
Prevention, Recognition & Management Of Youth Sports Injuries
This article is copyrighted by Blogging Chiros LLC for its Doctor of Chiropractic members and may not be copied or duplicated in any manner including printed or electronic media, regardless of whether for a fee or gratis without the prior written permission of Blogging Chiros, LLC.
El Paso, TX. Chiropractor, Dr. Jimenez takes a look at top running shoes that are great for knee pain and Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome.
Running Shoes: Knee pain is one of the common problems with most active people. It could get worse for those who love running, especially the athletes. A majority of them suffer from knee pains each year. This pain hinders you from enjoying your daily sports activities and might even become worse with time if not treated correctly. There are causes and cures for such pains that this article is going to look at, but the main focus is on the best shoes for knee pain, also referred to as Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome.
This can happen due to various causes like overtraining, running many hills, and wrong running form, among others. These injuries are very frustrating as they can take up to months to go away. This is the reason different companies have designed shoes that will offer you support for any knee problem.
What Goes Wrong
The iliotibial band (ITB) is usually a structure whose job is to provide leg stability whenever you take a step. It works with the hip muscles in a thigh’s outward movement and also helps counter the movements within the knee joint. This band starts in the hip and ends just under the knee joint.
Repeated use of the ITB leads to stress, causing knee pain. You will also notice clicking sensations from the joint as ITB snaps across it. This pain is always experienced when the heel comes into contact with the ground; running slowly or downhill tends to make the symptoms worse.
ITBS will usually start as tightness while running but continues to a point where the pain is severe and unbearable. Although ITB continues to tighten when overstressed or injured from training, this is not the main problem. What causes the injury is how the ITB functions and the weakness around it.
The ITB is generally a weak structure and any weakness around it will lead to injury. Most runners have weak core muscles due to the fact that they don’t do strength training or have never been in any sports with side-to-side movement.
Signs Of IT Band Syndrome
If you are a runner, you will be able to distinguish ITBS by:
A swelling
A cracking feeling when stretching the knee
A feeling of burning, stinging and aching on the outer side of the knee that might migrate to the thigh. You will notice these discomforts especially, on your second half of the run.
Bending the knee at 45 degrees causes severe external knee pain
Criteria You Should Follow When Selecting The Best Running Shoes for ITBS
?There are various things that you should always consider when buying running shoes. Since most runners experience knee pain, it is wise to look for shoes that will help alleviate this pain without slowing them down. Below are some of the features to look out for in running shoes:
Stability/ Support
Since it is common to have knee pains due to lack of motion control and lack of stability, it is good to choose shoes that will offer you the support you need while running. If your running shoes don’t have any stability, you will end up stressing out your knee, which will result in pain and discomfort while running.
Fit
If you want to do away with pain, you might consider looking for a fit pair of shoes as they will reduce any pain, causing issues in the long run. Pay attention to small specifics like shoes that offer enough heel space, sufficient toe box room, and enough space for wide feet. Your toes should be able to move freely without being constricted.
If your foot cannot move freely and the toes are restricted from spreading, it could lead to painful issues in your feet, legs, and knees.
Motion control footwear is not the whole solution; you need to ensure your feet can still function naturally as they are supposed to.
Comfort
No one wants to wear uncomfortable shoes! Each of these selected best shoes come with upper and underfoot comforts to ensure you get to enjoy your run.
Most of these shoes are made with DNA technology, Gel cushioning, and REVlite midsole for ultimate comfort.
Durability
Your running shoes should run their course without falling apart as this will cause you pain in the long-run. If they promise to offer you support, they should do just that and not start peeling off and tearing when you are on the run.
The ??below 5 shoes have passed the durability test to ensure they give you maximum performance.
Breathability
Although this has nothing to do with knees, it is paramount that your running shoes have enough breathing space to avoid accumulating excess moisture, which might bring discomfort and other feet related problems.
There is no magical cure for knee pain and you should always know the root cause. This way, you will be able to come up with the best solution of minimizing or even eliminating the pain entirely. Although there are various causes of knee pain, this article is focusing on ITB syndrome which happens to be one of the causes.
Reviews Of The Top 5 Shoes
These shoes have been selected with the runner’s welfare in mind. They will help deal with the ITBS, which is a problem for most of them. Since one way of dealing with this condition is getting good running shoes, here is a review of such products.
Asics Gel Kayano 23
This upgraded version is lightweight to help with any knee problems. It offers you comfort through cushioning that help absorb shock as you run as well as other features like grip, fit, and durability. The shoe has an added outer sole to ensure it lasts you as long as possible.
PROS
?Gel cushioning will act as a shock absorber for more comfort
?Has superb breathability feature
?Is ideal for overpronation and knee pain
?The outsole’s traction will offer the intended support on various surfaces
CONS
?It is a bit pricey
New Balance 890v5
It tops the list of 5 best running shoes. Also, it has remained the first choice for most runners with knee pain issues. This pair offers all the above functionalities too, making it your best choice.
PROS
?It comes with one of a kind breathability and fit due to its great FantomFit design
?Its smooth upper construction will ensure no irritation occurs
?The REVlite midsole will give you much needed cushioning
CONS
?It has a narrow toe box and might not fit a person with a wide foot
?Puma Faas 600 V3
Puma models have never disappointed, and this one is no exception. Puma Faas 600 is the solution to your knee pain. It is also an affordable option for the short-handed.
PROS
?Great breathability
?Comes at a reasonable price
?It’s lacing system and fit offers you a secure and comfortable run
?It is designed to fit perfectly
CONS
?There have been reported concerns about the outsole’s durability
New Balance 1080v7
This is another great choice on the list. It is one of the New Balance Fresh Foam Series. Its midsole offers you the required support coupled with comfort to eliminate knee pains.
PROS
?Very durable
?Enough breathability for long runs
?Good amount of cushioning and support from the Fresh Foam midsole
?It fits like a sock giving you a confident use
CONS
?The upper design is not seamless
?Can be stiff
Saucony Hurricane 16
This is the 16th edition of the Saucony Hurricane, which offers a combination of steadiness and protection. Those with knee pain have agreed with the stability offered by this shoe. It is also cushioned to help you go for long runs without any pain or injury. It is perfect for heavy runners and those who are out of shape due to inactivity.
PROS
?Superb stability
?Lightweight rubber offers protection and cushioning
?Great ground contact
?Reflective parts allow you to have a safe run
?Comes with Sauc-Fit Technology that enhances its comfortability
CONS
?It is a bit narrow
?Limited colors to choose from
?Might be heavy for fast runners
If you are a long-distance runner, it is good to know that your shoes cushioning will wear out quite easily and you might be tempted to continue using them since they look good on the outside. This is a big mistake. The following will help you prevent any more ITBS recurrences:
Replace running shoes frequently to avoid wearing those with worn out inner cushioning
Always give your shoes time to rest so that the cushioning can get restored; it would be wise to have two pairs of running shoes.
Although shoes can offer you relief from ITBS, it is better to look out for other ways of helping you cope with or eliminate the pain entirely. Also, know what triggers the problem and avoid it at all costs.
These shoes have been tried and tested and found to offer support and help in managing the iliotibial band syndrome. Asics takes the lead on these best shoes. It comes with gel cushioning that will offer you the best shock absorption and maximum comfort as seen above. Its sole is also made to help you tackle any terrain and you can be assured that your knees will thank you later. The only drawback is the price, which is on the upper-side. However, always remember that cheap is expensive.
If you are an active person or an athlete suffering from ITBS, go ahead and get yourself a pair of these shoes as per your preference and choice.
Hey there, I’m Zoey, founder and the main editor of The Babble Out. I know nobody’s life is smooth as they wish, and it�s the same with mine. I had some terrible news a few years ago and running was the way I got through these issues. This has given me enough motivation to create this blog, so that I can give you a helping hand for as many daily problems as I can. If you are curious why “babble out” is the? name of the blog, then check the “About” page and find out more about me.
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