Injuries are no stranger to the physically active. Whether you partake in recreational sport, exercise regularly at the gym, are an avid runner, or compete athletically at a high level, the likelihood of injury is all but guaranteed. Additionally, the spectrum of injury seen regularly from fitness and sport span far and wide, ranging from mild to severe and apparent throughout the entirety of the body’s anatomy.
While the general event of an injury largely occurs by accident, the majority of fitness-related injuries can be prevented, or at the very least, minimized by holistic interventions and consistent physical care.
In what follows, we’ll be discussing the most common fitness-related injuries, what you can do to prevent them, and we’ll even be providing several tips for athletes eager to remain healthy throughout the competition season.
The Most Common Fitness-Related Injuries
As mentioned, injuries are extremely common, both in fitness and in sport. While they occur for a variety of reasons under a number of circumstances, they’re all but inevitable for those that use their bodies. This, however, doesn’t suggest that using your body and staying active is a bad thing. Of course, it doesn’t come without risk, but it’s more than necessary for remaining healthy and happy.
The following will be a composition of injuries most commonly reported for physical activity, whether fitness, sport, or otherwise.
Below are the Most Common Fitness-Related Injuries:
• Muscle Strains
• Knee Degenerative Disease
• Traumatic Knee Injuries (ACL Tears)
• Bone Fractures in Sport
• Tears & Ruptures
• Dislocations & Separations
• Tendonitis
As mentioned, all of these injuries can result in both mild or severe events, some more prevalent than others. Luckily, most can be prevented with the right approach…
How to Prevent Injury from Physical Activity
Prevention is no doubt the best medicine there is, whether preventing health-related conditions and diseases or fitness-related injuries. Unlike some health conditions that aren’t always preventable, the majority of fitness-related injuries are. Of course, there are exceptions and it should be understood that exercise, physical activity, and sport doesn’t come without risk, however small. That said, there are several interventions one can implement holistically and independently to avoid a common injury.
Below are Several Common and Effective Injury Preventative Measures:
• Warm-Up & Cool Down (i.e. Dynamically and Statically Stretch)
• Foam Roll & Trigger Point Therapy
• Rest & Recover
• Prioritize Nutrition and Hydration
• Practice Proper Movement Mechanics
• Avoid Overtraining
• Exercise Safely Using the Proper Gear & Technique
• Contrast Therapy
• Proactive Physical Therapies (i.e. Chiropractic, Massage, Physical)
While some of these interventions are effective for treatment as well, they’re doubly effective at prevention when implemented early and often. The most important takeaway here, however, is to simply listen to your body and do all that you can to take care of it.
One of, if not the most effective preventative measures? Regular chiropractic care, especially for the active and athletic…
The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Athletes
Not only can an experienced chiropractor evaluate, diagnose, and treat injuries and sources of pain & discomfort but they can also aid in proactive recovery and injury prevention via proven chiropractic techniques.
While this type of holistic care for treatment and prevention is fantastic, it also has direct positive effects on athletic performance as well. This is largely thanks to the range of motion, flexibility, and familiarity with movement gained from regular chiropractic care.
It’s no wonder that upwards of 90% of professional world-class athletes benefit from regular chiropractic care!
The following is a summarized list of the benefits one can expect from taking part in regular chiropractic treatment:
• Promotes Recovery
• Relieves Stiffness & Soreness
• Reduces Inflammation
• Increases Range of Motion & Flexibility
• Eliminates Pain & Discomfort
• Boosts Performance
• Helps Avoid Medical Intervention & Invasive Surgeries
• Aids in the Treatment & Prevention of Injury
If you’re feeling any pain or discomfort and are eager to do all that you can to prevent an injury from developing, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local chiropractor for advice, guidance, and treatment.
Tips on Avoiding Injury for Athletes
As outlined throughout this article, the available treatments and preventative measures available to athletes and leisurely gym-goers alike are comprehensive, to say the least. So much so, in fact, that you may find it overwhelming to understand where to begin.
On the contrary, preventing injuries as an athlete is simple, requiring only commitment, consistency, and discipline to do the tedious activities necessary while also understanding that no level of prevention is full-proof.
No matter your risk level, skill level, or activity level, the recommendation remains the same. Seek 7-9 hours of quality sleep, dial in nutrition and hydration, stretch regularly, both before and after workouts, practice proper form under safe environments, and where possible, seek physical therapy, whether massage, physiotherapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, or a combination of them all.
Above all else? Listen. To. Your. Body. Rest and recovery are of the utmost importance and they need to be treated as such.
Are you looking for an Athlete Chiropractor in Manhattan, KS?
Give our team a call today.
Good luck and stay healthy!
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