Have more fun in the sun
Summer is here and so are sport camps, leagues and just fun in the sun. If you are a parent of an athlete, you know that the excitement of any sport’s season can have on their bodies. If our kids remain active and are in a conditioned state, the activities they attempt will be less taxing, but even then, the susceptibility to injury is real. So, before you send your child to camp or onto the field, learn more about the most common injuries and how you can avoid or recover from them.
Did you know the most common sports injuries occur to the ankles, knees, shoulders, elbows, and back.
Broken bones can happen when playing sports or exercising, but the more common injuries are those that occur in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
When you twist or overextend a joint, a strain can occur, which is a tear in the muscle or tendon, or a sprain can occur, which is a tear of the ligament. The damage these inflict varies in severity from a few torn or stretched fibers to a complete tear right through the structure. The latter will often require surgery to repair.
Joint Inflammation: Over-training is a common cause of a condition called tendonitis, which is one of the so-called “overuse syndromes.” Tendonitis occurs when the joint is overworked, and the connecting tendons become inflamed, causing pain and dysfunction. Stress or fatigue fractures may also occur as a result of repetitive strain and activity.
For minor injuries, follow these simple tips to help you recover faster:
Relax and Elevate
48 hours rest and/or immobilization are usually enough unless the injury is more severe. Raise the injured limb above the level of the heart to help reduce the swelling. Your therapist can advise on the optimum times for rest and recuperation.
Moderate
Too much rest can work against recovery in many cases, and can even be harmful. The sooner normal function is restored, the better. Be careful not to hurry or become over-zealous in the recovery process as a rush to playing or training full out will cause further damage.
Ice
Ice can help to reduce the inflammation and speed healing.
Compression
Swelling may be controlled somewhat through compression of the injured area, as advised by your physical therapist.
Pain Relief
According to recent research, the use of certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be limited as they may, in fact, retard the body’s natural healing process, causing a longer recuperation than necessary.
Be Proactive
Many sports injuries are preventable through the use of proper physical conditioning, including warm-up and cool-down routines, and correct techniques when practicing the activity. Invest in quality safety equipment that is available for your particular sport or exercise to also help lower the chances of injury.
Hydrate
Keeping hydrated with a healthy intake of water also guards against injuries by feeding the tissues what they most require to function optimally – water.
Rely on us
Physical therapy can help you recover so that you can play and have a great time with friends and family this summer—without the pain.