Health blog Category: Sports Injuries
Tennis, Golf and Other Activities Requiring Repetitive Motions
Many people have heard and will use terms like “tennis elbow” and “golfer’s elbow” but what exactly is the difference?
Not much really….Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow are both overuse injuries that are caused by any activity that requires repetitive motion of the arm and wrist. The difference between the two conditions lies in where the elbow is inflamed.
Both of these conditions are forms or epicondylitis, which is a medical term for inflammation of a tendon that attaches to bone (Epicondyle) of the elbow joint.
Swimming for the First Time Since Last Summer?
This time of year we see more and more patients complaining of shoulder pain and with good reason. Maybe you’ve been swimming for the first time since last summer or you’ve had time to toss the softball with your kids unlike other times of the year. Whatever the reason, shoulder injuries are common reasons people seek physical therapy.
Most shoulder pain occurs following repetitive movements. These cause wear and tear that breaks down the rotator cuff tendons.
5 Steps to Create a Successful Exercise Plan
Hands down, the worst kind of plan is no plan. A plan has three purposes:
- Help reach goals
- Help prevent injuries while increasing performance
- Help monitor progress
We don’t want to do the same thing day in and day out. This will lead to burnout, boredom and an overall feeling that that exercise regimen isn’t as fulfilling anymore.
You may think that creating a exercise plan and a program is unnecessary if you’re not a high-performance athlete trying to compete in something.
What Are the Signs of a Pulled Muscle?
By Mike Bills, MS PT
So what are some signs that you may have pulled a muscle? You will generally notice some level of discomfort either right away while you are doing the activity or in the following 24 hours. This is what we typically brush off as “typical soreness” after going for a long walk, standing for a long period of time, running, doing yard work, etc. However, too often, people don’t pay attention to this post-activity soreness because they think it is normal.
Why Cross Training is Important to Prevent Injury
By Xavier Thompson, ATC
Cross training. What is it and why is it important? If you follow the headlines of any sports’ stars in the off season, you’ll likely see multiple stories about how an athlete is doing something besides their professional sport to prepare for the next season. You can find videos on the internet of star basketball players boxing or doing core work. Articles are written about football players taking up ballet or yoga.
Off-Season Conditioning to Prevent Problems
By: Cierra Washington, ATC
Summertime is often the cue to relax, lay by the pool, go on vacation and take some time off. While that may be true to an extent, it’s important, particularly for athletes, to make sure they are keeping up with off-season conditioning routines so they aren’t losing the progress they’ve made throughout the season. Summer is the perfect time to get in shape! Whether an athlete is preparing for the fall season or not, it’s important to maintain a basic level of fitness in order to minimize the chances of injury when they return to their sport.
Ever had shooting discomfort when walking or running?
Shin splints are a very common injury among active or newly active people. It’s also a very common injury with fall sports athletes who may have been relatively inactive over the summer and then are jumping back into their sport full force come tryouts.
The medical term for this condition is medial tibial stress syndrome. What does this mean? This translates into inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and bone tissues surrounding the lower leg or shin region.
Does Running Cause Arthritis…
As the weather cools down, you’re likely to spend more time outside walking, running, hiking and doing your other favorite outdoor activities. The concept of running seems easy. You put on a pair of sneakers, head outside and begin your journey. However, there are a number of misconceptions and misunderstandings about the sport that I would like to help dispel.
Whether you’re an avid runner, a weekend warrior, a beginner, or someone who only runs if you’re being chased, I’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions I’ve been asked about running.
Strengthening Multiple Parts Prevents Problems
May 10th 2018If you look through the plan of care for a patient who comes to Loudoun Sports Therapy Center because they are feeling ankle pain for example, you will notice that their exercises and stretches are not only focusing on their ankle but also their hips and their knees. Not surprising, a common question we hear as physical therapists is ‘why do I have to strengthen my hips if I am here for my ankle?’
Regardless of the body part a patient is coming here for whether that be their ankle, their hip, their back or shoulder, we answer with this explanation: Everything in the body is connected in some way and what happens at one joint affects what happens at other joints.
Taking Care of a Fracture
What is a fracture? The word, ‘fracture’ is a medical term that refers to a crack or break in a bone. Bones are made of calcified materials, which give them their hard rigid structure.
There are several types of fractures:
- Greenstick- when a bone is bent, but not broken all the way through.
- A buckle fracture results from compression of two bones driven into each other.
- A growth plate fracture occurs at the joint and can result in shorter bone length.
