Health blog Category: Sports Injuries
“I’ve Pulled My Hamstring!”
There have been numerous times athletes have grabbed the back of their leg and hobbled off the field or court in pain. This is often because they’ve pulled their hamstring muscle.
What is the hamstring and why is it injured so often?
The hamstring complex is made up of three muscles that originate from the ischial tuberosity (bone in the buttock region), proceeds down the back of our leg, and then crosses the knee on either side.
Read full blogWhere That Elbow Pain is Coming From
Nov 12th 2019Many people have heard of and will use terms like ‘tennis elbow’ and ‘golfer’s elbow.’ What exactly are these conditions and what’s the difference? The truth is, not much. 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:
The difference lies in where the elbow is inflamed.
Read full blogA Strengthening Program’s Role in Preventing Injuries
For athletes, being stronger and strengthening properly will help them to experience a significant decrease in potential for injury, and experience an overall greater ease of activity and movement with everything they do. This all starts with knowing what muscles to work and how to work them correctly.’
Typically, there will be no immediate effect to having weakness in a particular muscle in your body. The effects are usually more long term in the sense that “weakness” or lack of proper strength in an area, results in excess friction on the bones in the joint, excessive wear and tear on tendons and cartilage around a joint, and more.
Setting up a Strengthening Program
First and foremost, you need to know what the strength of the smaller supporting muscles are, in the area you wish to begin to strengthen.
Read full blogWhat to Be Careful of When Running or Jogging
Whether we are pounding the pavement for a short jog or we’re a routine racer, running is great cardiovascular training. It is a gratifying way to maintain overall fitness. Although the act of running itself may initially seem daunting if we’re not an avid runner, we will reap the physical benefits within a few weeks.
The key is to start slowly and add distance incrementally to decrease the risk of injury.
Here are the top 10 health benefits of running:
- Improve Longevity
- Burn Fat
- Reduce Your Cancer Risk
- Strengthen Your Core
- Improve Your Sleep
- Reduce Your Risk of Osteoporosis
- Boost Your Mood:
- Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes
- Reduce Your Risk of Blood Pressure and Heart Disease
- Boost Your Immunity
Preventing Injury: Running Ritual Musts and the Importance of Stretching
These tips are essential for optimizing your running dexterity, whether you’re an indoor treadmill devotee, an outdoor roadrunner or a trail running enthusiast.
Sports Related Ankle Sprains
Defining Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are a common injury in sports and are a result of excessive stress on either side of the ankle causing excessive motion in the joint. Most commonly, people roll their ankle inward causing the ligaments on the outside of the ankle to stretch, tear or rupture. Some common causes of a sprained ankle might include a fall that causes you to twist your ankle, landing on your foot after jumping or pivoting, walking or running on an uneven surface or someone stepping or landing on your foot. 
Symptoms of an Ankle Sprain
- Pain, especially when you bear weight on the affected foot
- Tenderness when you touch the ankle
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Restricted range of motion (inability to point the foot without pain)
- Instability in the ankle
- Popping sensation or sound at the time of injury
Why is treatment so Important?
Read full blogProper Preparation is Key to Avoiding Injuries
Nowadays, free-time activities can look a little different for kids as various technologies are at our fingertips. If you’re a student athlete who participates in sports year-round, you might maintain a higher level of physical activity. Overall though, the general lack of physical activity, means fitness levels decrease significantly and therefore the return to sports is more difficult. It’s all the more reason why proper preparation is key.
When returning to any sport, it’s important to treat your body appropriately, with care and attention.
Warm-ups, Stretching, and Better Performance
No matter our active level; athlete, sedentary, a weekend warrior, young or old, the benefits of routine stretching reach far beyond rehabilitation.
What is stretching?
In general, stretching is the elongation of a muscle and is used to help prevent injury and discomfort. However, there are different types of stretching that are important to distinguish. One is best implemented as a warm-up to prepare your body for exercise and the other is best used as a cool-down to reduce post-activity muscle soreness.
Read full blogAthletes and Their Injuries
Often, after an injury, athletes try to get back on the field as quickly as possible or, they attempt to re-condition their bodies too quickly, after being relatively inactive in the off-season. However, despite proper conditioning, no matter how well-conditioned your athlete is, injuries can still occur.
Whatever the scenario, physical therapy is a very effective method to both prevent and rehabilitate a sports related injury. It addresses the issue before it becomes a much more serious problem, that could sideline your athlete for a prolonged period of time.
Stay in the Game: Avoid Sports Injuries
All sports we participate in, whether it be football, rugby, volleyball, soccer, field hockey, or many others, require a wide range of movements. Athletes have to be able to jump, run, change direction, and change speed. With so much variability, the possibility of sustaining an injury while practicing or playing is common. Injuries can pertain to specific muscles or joints, ranging from muscle strains (“pulled muscles: or tear in muscle tissue) to sprains of ligaments that help stabilize joints.
Read full blogConcussion Management at LSTC
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alters the way our brain functions. When the brain sustains trauma, it is our body’s natural reaction to respond and in doing so, the body releases chemicals to help in the healing process. These chemical alterations cause a change in the blood flow and metabolic activity surrounding our brain, and are likely the cause of post concussion symptoms. It is important to remember that every concussion is different and our body’s response will be different from others.
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