With summer just around the corner, increasingly more people are starting to break out of their sedentary winter season routines and activity levels are on the rise. During the summer season, an individual’s participation in more cardio type of physical activities and exercises increments greatly. This increase of cardiovascular activities, such as running, biking, swimming, and other exercises, have many benefits in the body but, as with any type of physical activity, with an increase in physical activity, there is also a higher chance of injury.
As individual’s increase their cardiovascular activity, sprains
and muscle strains on the surrounding tissues of the hamstrings, quadriceps,
and calf muscles become several of the most common type of injuries. Back
injuries also become more frequent during periods of higher activity. More
severe types of injuries can often lead to muscle, tendon, or ligament tears as
well as bone fractures. A successful exercise program provides a complete
training routine which equally conditions different muscle groups while
reducing the chance of injury. In addition, seeking chiropractic care and
physical therapy to help during injury prevention can further maximize an
individual’s performance.
Exercise related injuries mainly occur due to improper
biomechanics. The improper movements of an individual’s structure during
physical activities or sports are often the root cause of spinal misalignments
and muscle imbalances. If the body is not moving or functioning the way it was
designed to, it can place unnecessary pressure and stress on a single side of
the body or an incorrect area of the body. Through time, the side of the body
that is being improperly overused can become irritated and inflamed, resulting
in symptoms of pain and discomfort. In these cases, sprains or strains occur,
most frequently in a single or multiple of the larger muscle groups in the legs
or other frequently used muscle groups, such as the shoulders.
Preventing Sports Injuries with Chiropractic
An injury and its associated symptoms, can tremendously
reduce an individual’s ability to perform to their fullest capacity, ultimately
altering an individual’s lifestyle. Regular chiropractic care and massage
therapy can help diagnose and determine the source of your injury as well as
help treat the injury and its symptoms. Occasionally, strenuous physical
activity can aggravate a prior underlying condition but, chiropractic treatment
can also help treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Regular
chiropractic treatment, including spinal adjustments and manual manipulation
before experiencing an injury can likewise help prevent and strengthen the
structures of the body to improve an individual’s overall function. Combining
chiropractic care along with physical exercise this summer can ultimately
improve your fitness, health and wellbeing.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
