Athletic injuries include sports related sprains and strains, and overuse injuries caused by repetitive motions.
Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are a common injury in sports that require you to plant your foot and shift your weight, like soccer, and in activities that take place on uneven terrain, such as hiking and trail running. Ankle sprains result from the stretching or tearing of any of the 3 ligaments that support and connect the bones of the ankle. The severity of the sprain depends on how many of the ligaments are injured and how badly they are damaged. Swelling, bruising, pain, and a lack of mobility in the ankle joint are the hallmarks of an ankle sprain. Once the primary inflammation subsides, however, the sprain may lead to long-term weakness and instability in the ankle joint, increasing the risk of repeating the injury. Stretching and strengthening exercises that emphasize balance can help to prevent recurrent ankle sprains.
To treat an ankle sprain, manual therapies may include one, or a combination of, the following:
Calf Strain
Calf strain is characterized by a sharp pain and tightening at the back of the calf muscles. Calf muscle strains are the result of injury to the gastrocnemius and/or soleus muscles. In addition to pain, a calf strain may cause swelling and difficulty walking.
To treat a calf strain, manual therapies may include one, or a combination of, the following:
ART (Active Release Technique)
IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization)
Trigger Point Dry Needling (depending on situation)
Hamstring Sprain
Hamstring strain is the result of damage to one or more of the hamstring muscles. It is a common injury in sports that involve frequent sprinting or jumping such as track & field, football and soccer. Symptoms of a hamstring strain include a sharp pain in the back of the thigh, pain when bending forward with straightened knees, and, in some cases, swelling and difficulty walking.
To treat a hamstring strain, manual therapies may include one, or a combination of, the following:
ART (Active Release Technique)
Trigger Point Dry Needling (depending on situation)
Lateral Epiconylitis
Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis elbow) is a type of elbow strain that results from tiny tears to the tendons and muscles of the forearm. The lateral epicondyle is a bony bump on the outside of the humerus, where the tendons and muscles of the forearm attach to the elbow. Direct trauma or overuse of these tendons and muscles may cause persistent pain, inflammation and stiffness felt on the outside of the elbow joint. The pain may worsen in response to movements such as turning a doorknob, or playing racquet sports.
To treat lateral epicondylitis, manual therapies may include one, or a combination of, the following:
ART (Active Release Technique)
IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
Medical Epicondylitis
Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s elbow) is characterized by pain, inflammation and stiffness in the elbow joint. The medial epicondyle is a bony bump on the inside of the humerus, where tendons and muscles of the forearm attach to the elbow. Damage to these muscles and tendons due to repeated strain can lead to pain felt on the inside of the elbow (a similar condition “Tennis elbow” results in pain felt on the outside of the elbow joint). The pain may worsen when swinging a golf club (hence the name “Golfer’s elbow”) or racquet, or picking something up with your palm facing down. Tingling, numbness and muscle weakness or cramping may accompany the pain.
To treat medial epicondylitis, manual therapies may include one, or a combination of, the following:
ART (Active Release Technique)
IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
Trigger Point Dry Needling (depending on situation)
Chiropractic Manipulation/Mobilization on the cervical spine and extremities
Running & Cycling Injuries
Although running and cycling are beneficial to your health in many ways, the repetitive motion of these activities often leads to overuse injuries. Our goal is to treat these injuries and teach our patients self-care and management techniques that allow them to maintain their active lifestyle. Common running and cycling injuries we treat include:
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (Shin Splints)
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) (Runner’s Knee)