Health blog Category: Sports Injuries
Warm Up & Cool Down to Prevent Injuries
Many people go out for a run or start a pickup game of baseball without taking the time to properly warm up or cool down afterwards. But making this part of your routine before and after playing a game, running, exercising or engaging in any high-intensity activity is crucial to preventing serious injuries.
Some of these injuries include:
- Strains and sprains
- Shin splints
- Knee injuries
- Tendinitis
- Dislocations
- Fractures
We see these types of injuries on a regular basis.
Read full blogWhat Are Certified Athletic Trainers?
Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education, training and the state’s statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. The NATA Code of Ethics states the principles of ethical behavior that should be followed in the practice of athletic training.
Read full blogShoulder Dislocations
What is a shoulder dislocation?
The shoulder joint is called a ball-and-socket joint. The ball is the rounded top of the bone in the upper arm (humerus), which fits into the socket — the cup-shaped outer part of the shoulder blade. When the top of the humerus moves out of its usual location in the shoulder joint, the shoulder is said to be dislocated. A related injury called a shoulder subluxation occurs when the top of the humerus is only partially displaced and not totally out of its socket.
Read full blogProper Warm-ups
Do you get sore after working out? Or tend to injure yourself working out? If yes, I have a question for you—what does your warm-up look like?
Hopefully, it’s a dynamic warm-up. Dynamic warm-ups are the best type prior to activity because you are activating and stretching the muscles at the same time. This is the best way to ease your body into a workout.
More on dynamic stretching: https://loudounsportstherapy.com/warmup-stretch-performance-10-11-19
When you do not do proper warm-ups, you are at risk for:
- Acute injuries
- Muscle strains
- Ligament sprains
- Delayed onset muscle soreness
- Decreased flexibility overall
An example of a good dynamic sequence would be:
- Hamstring scoops
- High knees
- Butt kicks
- Forward lunges
- Side lunges
- Walk outs
- Jumping jacks
Your warm-up should last about 5-10 minutes and incorporate movements of the upper body and the lower body.
Read full blogCommon Injuries with Running
Have you recently started running and are having pain? Increased your mileage and having pain? Increased speed and having pain?
Types of Injuries
All levels and types of runners may experience pain at one point or another. Running injuries most commonly affect the knee, lower leg, and foot. Some of the injuries seen are:
- Knee pain
- ITB Pain
- Patellar tendonitis
- Hamstring strain
- Calf pain
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Plantar Fasciitis
Overuse and training past the point of fatigue, are generally what leads to injury, as the specific structure is unable to perform properly.
Read full blog3 Common Knee Problems We See
If you are concerned that you might have or have been recently diagnosed with one of these issues, consider a visit to Physical Therapy! We can make sure that you are appropriate for therapy and walk you through the process of improving your wellness and decreasing pain.
Patellar pain:
This refers to pain behind or around the knee cap, and is quite common especially with active people, but can also happen in people who are less active and sit most of the day.
Read full blogSigns & Symptoms of Strained Muscles
What is a “pulled” muscle?
The medical terminology for “pulled” muscle, is a strained muscle. The strain occurs when fibers of the muscles are torn. There are different degrees of a strain that directly correlate with how many fibers of the muscle are torn.
- Grade 1 strain: mild damage to tissues; less than 5% of fibers torn
- Grade 2 strain: more damage to muscle fibers; less than 50% of fibers torn
- Grade 2 strain: complete rupture of the muscle or tendon
What causes a strain of a muscle?
Read full blogTop 7 Sports Injuries
Sports injuries are injuries that occur during any sport or physical activity. Typically in a sports injury, the musculoskeletal (muscles, bones and ligaments) system is involved.
Why do sport injuries occur?
Sports injuries are commonly caused by:
- Poor training methods
- Muscular weakness
- Structural abnormalities
- Faulty movement patterns
- Improper form
- Improper warm-up and cool-downs
Common types of sports injury:
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome:
- Pain at the front of the knee due to improper movement, tight muscles and/or overuse.
Grading a Muscle Strain
A muscle strain is a very common injury to muscle tissue that is often caused by overuse/fatigue or excessive tension put on the muscle.
What is actually happening in a muscle strain?
When you strain a muscle, you are essentially overloading the muscle cells capability to provide the force necessary to perform a certain movement. When this happens, the tiny muscle cells tear apart. There is also connective tissue in between the muscle cells that often gets torn as well.
Read full blogA Sprain or A Strain
I’m sure you’ve heard of someone that has had a sprain or a strain or even experienced one yourself. Sprains and strains are common injuries that affect the soft tissues of your body. You don’t have to be an athlete to experience one of these injuries.
People of all ages and activity levels are susceptible to sprains and strains. Sometimes these injuries can be confusing to keep straight, so what is the difference between a sprain and a strain?
