After a long winter of constant snow and gray, stormy days, it’s extremely exciting to see the sun again. Unfortunately, another thing I see in the spring and summer is an increase in sports related injuries. Now that we can once again leave our homes to play golf, run, surf, or do other activities, it seems we’re all finding new and fun ways to hurt ourselves.
When we talk about sports injuries, for the most part we are referring to musculoskeletal conditions such as stressed or damaged muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. Sports injuries can have a negative effect on the spine by causing misalignments (subluxations) that can lead to other conditions and poor overall health. Some of the most common sports injuries include herniated discs, tendonitis, ankle sprains, and neck injuries.
When it comes to sports injuries, immediate diagnosis and treatment is extremely important for the recovery process. In some cases, ignoring the signs or symptoms of an injury can lead to long-term chronic pain conditions, which are much harder to treat.
At Monmouth Spine and Rehabilitation Center, we recommend the following:
- Diagnosis: After any injury, it is imperative to get a proper diagnosis before beginning any treatment. Patients should have a full orthopedic and neurological examination. (At Monmouth Spine and Rehabilitation center, we use x-ray technology; we are also certified to read and review the results of MRIs.)
- Chiropractic Care: Chiropractic can help to promote the body’s natural healing process and restore it to optimal health. This is accomplished by fixing the misalignments in the spine that can be caused by any type of trauma, including sports injuries.
- Massage therapy: Massage therapy works well on its own or in conjunction with other holistic practices (such as chiropractic). It can help with the pain of muscle injuries, and relax the body so that chiropractic treatments can be more effective. In particular, deep tissue massage focuses on adhesions (bands of painful and rigid tissue) that are associated with injury. These adhesions can block circulation, limit movement, and cause pain and inflammation.
- Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can help to promote healing throughout the body and increase blood flow. The focus of physical therapy for sports injuries should be on creating balance within the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Patients should view physical therapy as a way to reduce pain without the use of pain-relieving medications. Low level laser therapy can be used in conjunction with physical therapy; this treatment helps to heal wounds and soft tissue damage with the use of red or near infrared light.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture addresses the pain and inflammation associated with sports injuries. This treatment can help to increase range of motion, decrease recovery and healing time, and strengthen the body.
Monmouth Spine and Rehabilitation Center and Sports Injuries
Our Red Bank, New Jersey office provides all of the services described above to treat sports injuries. Unlike many painkilling or anti-inflammatory medications, there are no dangerous side effects to any of these options. Please contact our Monmouth County office today to learn more about our holistic approach to sports injuries.
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