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Sports Injury

Back Clinic Sports Injury Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Team. Sports injuries occur when an athlete’s participation associated with a specific sport or physical activity leads to an injury or causes an underlying condition. Frequent types of sports injuries include sprains and strains, knee injuries, shoulder injuries, Achilles tendonitis, and bone fractures.

Chiropractic can help with injury prevention. Athletes from all sports can benefit from chiropractic treatment. Adjustments can help treat injuries from high-impact sports i.e. wrestling, football, and hockey. Athletes that get routine adjustments may notice improved athletic performance, improved range of motion along with flexibility, and increased blood flow.

Because spinal adjustments will reduce the irritation of the nerve roots between the vertebrae, the healing time from minor injuries can be shortened, which improves performance. Both high-impact and low-impact athletes can benefit from routine spinal adjustments. For high-impact athletes, it increases performance and flexibility and lowers the risk for injury for low-impact athletes i.e. tennis players, bowlers, and golfers.

Chiropractic is a natural way to treat and prevent different injuries and conditions that impact athletes. According to Dr. Jimenez, excessive training or improper gear, among other factors, are common causes of injury. Dr. Jimenez summarizes the various causes and effects of sports injuries on the athlete as well as explaining the types of treatments and rehabilitation methods that can help improve an athlete’s condition. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900 or text to call Dr. Jimenez personally at (915) 540-8444.


5 Things Your Sports Chiropractor Wishes You Would Stop Doing

5 Things Your Sports Chiropractor Wishes You Would Stop Doing

Sports Chiropractor: To figure out what these professionals dont want you to do before making an appointment, Runners World asked two chiropractors who specialize in running about what common training flaws are leading to patients ending up in their offices over and over again.

RELATED: When Should You See a Sports Chiropractor?

DONT Buy Shoes For Looks

sports chiropractor

 

While studies go back and forth on whether or not specific types of running shoes lead to injury, it’s still a good idea to opt for a proper fit over a pair of kicks that look cool or that you got for cheap. Ian Nurse, D.C., founder of Wellness in Motion Boston and a sub-2:30 marathoner, believes that many running injuries can start from not having the right shoes on your feet.

The nurse recommends going to a run specialty store and having someone watch your gait outside or on the treadmill. This will allow someone at the store to find a range of shoes that might work best for your specific running/walking mechanics. (You can find a nearby running store by checking out our Store Finder.) From there, you can go by what feels the best when running.

RELATED: How to Buy the Right Running Shoes

sports chiropractor

The nurse said he also asked his patients if there had been a change in running shoes from one style to another. For example, switching to a zero-drop shoe from a normal shoe, without easing into them, may increase your risk of injury. Like a fitter at a running store, a sports chiropractor like a Nurse may even look at your running gait in the office to diagnose imbalances in your foot’s motion mechanics.

The whole biomechanics starts in your foot, Nurse said. We all have different foot strikes. If it hits the ground in a certain way, the shoe has to support that. If you are a forefoot striker, rearfoot striker, overpronator, or under pronator, all of those foot strikes can lend themselves to various running injuries.

DONT Do Static Stretching Before A Run

sports chiropractor

Holding a static stretch for longer than 10 seconds can take away from your explosive muscular power before a run, according to Derek Vinge, D.C. at Fit Chiropractic & Sports Therapy in Courtenay, British Columbia. One study even showed that stretching cold muscles before a tough 3K left individuals starting their runs slower and at a greater perceived effort. And when your muscles aren’t signaling properly, it can lead to small injuries turning into larger problems over time.

You are better off with a series of dynamic stretches like lunges and squats to get the blood flowing in the body. (This 2-minute warmup should do the trick.) The benefits will be noticeable if you add five to 10 minutes of dynamic stretching before hitting the roads or trails.

If you do some activation and dynamic warmups, you will be a stronger, faster runner. I also forget to do a busy stretch, and I think maybe it is a time thing where you tell yourself  I’ll do this later. I’ll deal with it later, Vinge said.

DONT Overdo It On Foam Rollers

sports chiropractor

Foam rolling and other ways to work out a knot or refresh your legs can be a good thing in moderation. But less sometimes is more, according to Nurses.

I see a lot of people who tend to go overboard on that, Nurse said. They do so much foam rolling on their IT band and quads and are even more in pain. It’s more like a finesse, where you are trying to get blood flow into the area, but you aren’t trying to beat up the room so badly that you are causing more damage.

RELATED: 14 Foam Rollers, Balls, and Sticks to Work Knots Out

Stop if you’re working out on a foam roller and something continues to hurt or gets worse. Overdoing a problem spot may inflame it more. If you’re feeling relatively good, the Nurse suggests doing light work on the foam roller after a run to hit any problem areas for one to two minutes.

DONT Clam Up When You Get Into The Office

sports chiropractor

It would be best if you didn’t arrive at an office visit with pages and notes from WebMD. But you shouldn’t be silent and think a sports chiropractor has all the answers just by looking at you.

Going into an appointment, think about what has been consistently driving you crazy on a stiff run neck, a cranky left ankles that will allow a dog to focus on what’s bothering you.

Runners know their bodies a lot better than a lot of people, Nurse said. As we run, we are constantly checking in on different body parts, and people can recognize what is wrong, and they can tell if their gait is altered and what is hanging them up. The information I get from my patients helps me a lot.

DONT Forget To See Someone If You Need It & Listen To Your Sports Chiropractor

sports chiropractor

With training goals and miles to complete, runners often dont admit when there is something wrong. It’s almost a badge of honor to stay off the table for long periods.

But Vinge thinks there’s more to what he does than fixing injuries. Once an underlying issue is taken care of, you can teach your body to perform at a higher level than you thought was possible.

After they start to get better, then we can work on other issues to get some more performance out of them, said Vinge. If you’ve never been looked at, you have no idea what’s going wrong.

 

Muscle Cramps In The Calves? Might Be Trigger Point Pain

Muscle Cramps In The Calves? Might Be Trigger Point Pain

Introduction

Various muscles help support the lower legs in the body and allow movement to the host. The lower extremities include the hips, pelvis, thighs, legs, knees, and feet. At the same time, the various muscles help provide support and stability to the upper body’s weight and incorporate mobility and movement for the entire body to go from one location to another. The legs have two sections connected with the knees; the upper portion has the hips and thigh muscles, while the lower legs have the calve muscles, shin muscles, and the Achilles tendon. The calve muscles have two groups of muscles, and when the calve intense exercises, or normal factors have overused muscles may potentially lead to muscle cramps associated with trigger points. Today’s article examines one of the calve muscles known as the gastrocnemius, how the calves are affected by trigger points and corrective actions to prevent muscle cramps in the calves. We refer patients to certified providers that incorporate various techniques in the lower body extremities, like lower leg and calve pain therapies correlating to trigger points, to aid many people dealing with pain symptoms along the gastrocnemius muscles, causing muscle cramps. We encourage and appreciate each patient by referring them to associated medical providers based on their diagnosis when it is appropriate. We understand that education is an excellent way when asking our providers intricated questions at the patient’s request and understanding. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., only utilizes this information as an educational service. Disclaimer

What Are The Gastrocnemius Muscles?

 

Have you been dealing with walking from one place to another? Do your calves feel hard or tense with the slightest touch or movement? Or are you feeling excruciating pain in your calves that make it hard to move? These pain-like symptoms are indicators of trigger points associated with the calves affecting the gastrocnemius muscles. The calves are mostly referred to as the posterior portion of the lower legs responsible for the foot and ankle plantarflexion while also engaging in activities like running or jumping. The two muscles that make up the calves are the gastrocnemius and the soleus. The gastrocnemius is a complex, superficial muscle fundamental to good posture or walking. This muscle has a casual relationship with the lower body as it affects hip movement and the lumbar area of the spine. The gastrocnemius provides a round shape for the calves to form and narrows down to the ankles, where it forms a tendon.

 

How Are The Calves Affected By Trigger Point Pain?

 

Since the gastrocnemius provides the round shape to form the calves when the muscles have become overused or injured in a sports activity, it can cause the individual to have limited mobility. Studies reveal that a tear in the gastrocnemius muscles can implicate lower leg trauma and affect the muscle function to plantar flex the foot at the ankle joint and reduce flexion on the leg to the leg knee joint. When it comes to the development of trigger points along the gastrocnemius muscles that are affecting the calves, according to “Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction,” written by Dr. Janet Travell, M.D., the book states that latent trigger points along the gastrocnemius may cause individuals to complain about calf cramps on the legs, however, when the trigger points are active, the individual is aware of the calf pain and would complain about experiencing pain in the back of their knees. The book also mentioned that trigger points associated with the gastrocnemius muscle could be mistaken for other conditions like plantar foot pain or radiculopathy in the sacroiliac joints. When trigger points affect the calf muscles, it can lead to mobility issues and causes people to be unstable when walking. 

 


Trigger Point Of The Week: Gastrocnemius Muscle- Video

Have you been dealing with calf pain when walking for a short distance? Do your calf muscles ache or tense up when you put slight pressure when stepping down? Or do you feel that your calf muscles are hard when resting? Many of these issues affecting the calves are associated with trigger points affecting the gastrocnemius muscles. The gastrocnemius muscle is one of the muscles that make up the calves in the lower legs. This complex, superficial muscle provides a round shape to the calves and can become overused in various activities that can cause a person to have limited mobility. When the gastrocnemius muscle is overused, it can develop tiny nodules in the muscle fibers known as trigger points that mimic other conditions affecting leg mobility. The video above shows where this complex muscle is in the calves and where the trigger points are located in the muscle fibers. Trigger points along the affected muscle can cause referred pain while mimicking other conditions that can often confuse people about what they are feeling. All is not lost, however, as trigger points are treatable and can be managed through various treatments.


Corrective Actions To Prevent Muscle Cramps On The Calves

 

When the calf muscles like the gastrocnemius are causing symptoms of pain and muscle cramps due to trigger points, there are various treatments and corrective actions that can prevent muscle cramps from causing more issues in the legs and even help manage trigger points from re-forming in the muscle fibers. Some corrective actions that can help improve calve function are gently flexing the foot at the ankle joint to allow the calf muscles to tract and retract to reduce swelling and pain. Other correction actions that people should incorporate to prevent muscle cramping in the calves when they are sitting is to gently rock in a chair to reduce prolonged immobility to the calves and increase blood flow. Studies reveal that dry needling and other various treatments can help reduce muscle stiffness in the gastrocnemius and improve muscle strength in the calves.

 

Conclusion

The calves are part of the legs that allow plantarflexion at the ankle joint. Known as the gastrocnemius muscle, it makes up the calves’ round shape. The gastrocnemius muscle is complex and superficial as it forms a rounded shape at the calves and narrows down at the ankles. However, when the muscle has been through various activities and is constantly overstretched, it can affect a person’s walking mobility and develop tiny nodules known as trigger points. Trigger points in the gastrocnemius muscle can cause referred pain in the calve muscles and mimic conditions like plantar foot pain to the feet. Fortunately, various treatments and corrective actions can prevent referred pain from re-occurring in the calves and bring mobility back to the legs so a person can continue to their destination.

 

References

Albin, S R, et al. “The Effect of Dry Needling on Gastrocnemius Muscle Stiffness and Strength in Participants with Latent Trigger Points.” Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology : Official Journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 9 Oct. 2020, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33075711/.

Binstead, Justin T, et al. “Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Calf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 29 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459362/.

Bordoni, Bruno, and Matthew Varacallo. “Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Gastrocnemius Muscle.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 26 Apr. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532946/.

Nsitem, Virginia. “Diagnosis and Rehabilitation of Gastrocnemius Muscle Tear: A Case Report.” The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Dec. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3845475/.

Travell, J. G., et al. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual: Vol. 2:the Lower Extremities. Williams & Wilkins, 1999.

Disclaimer

Muscle Twitching Chiropractor: Back Clinic

Muscle Twitching Chiropractor: Back Clinic

Nerves control muscle fibers. Muscle twitching is an involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers. When individuals play sports/work out vigorously or for a long time, they may experience muscle twitching and can often see and/or feel the twitches happening. The most worked-out muscles are likely to twitch, which includes the biceps, thighs, and calves, but twitches can occur in any muscle. Chiropractic care, massage therapy, and functional medicine can help relax the muscles, improve circulation, restore function, and train individuals to prevent future episodes.

Muscle Twitching Chiropractor

Muscle Twitching

A muscle twitch often occurs after intense physical activity or a hard workout because the muscle or muscles have been overworked, and there is hyper-excitability of the nerve/s that makes the muscle/s continue to contract.

  • A muscle twitch that can be seen is called fasciculation.
  • A muscle twitch that cannot be seen is called fibrillation.
  • If there is pain or the twitching is prolonged, it is a muscle spasm.

Causes

The most common causes include the following:

  • Intense exercise and rigorous physical activity build up lactic acid in the muscles.
  • Dehydration is a very common factor for shaky muscles.
  • Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies could cause muscle spasms in the hand, calves, and eyelids.
  • Using caffeinated products to increase physical performance.
  • Not enough or a lack of healthy sleep.
  • Anxiety or stress.
  • Certain medications like estrogen and corticosteroids.
  • Nicotine and tobacco use.

Physical Activity/Exercise

  • Intense exercise and physical activity can cause muscle fatigue.
  • Muscle fatigue triggers twitching and cramping in overworked muscle fibers.
  • Electrolytes play a role in muscle contraction.
  • Electrolyte loss and imbalances within muscle fibers through sweating can lead to twitching.

Dehydration

  • Muscle mass comprises 75% water.
  • Water carries nutrients and minerals to muscles to support function.
  • Not being properly hydrated can cause twitching and cramping.

Vitamin D Deficiency

  • Nerves need vitamin D to relay messages to and from the brain to the body’s muscles.
  • A vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle weakness and twitching.

Magnesium Deficiency

  • Magnesium deficiency is known as hypomagnesemia.
  • Magnesium plays a role in maintaining nerve and muscle health.
  • Magnesium helps transport calcium across cell membranes to support nerve and muscle function.
  • A magnesium deficiency can cause twitching anywhere in the body, including the face.

Causes of magnesium deficiency include:

  • Poor diet
  • Diarrhea
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Not addressing magnesium deficiency can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Caffeine

  • Caffeine is a stimulant.
  • Drinking too much coffee, tea, or energy drinks can cause fasciculation.

Not Enough Sleep

  • Brain chemicals or neurotransmitters transmit information from the brain to the nerves that control muscle contraction.
  • Sleep deprivation can affect how neurotransmitter receptors work.
  • This means excess neurotransmitters can build up in the brain.
  • Lack of sleep can affect neurotransmitter function.
  • A common site of fasciculation tiredness occurs in the eyelids.

Anxiety and Stress

  • Experiencing psychological stress or high anxiety levels can cause excess muscle tension.
  • This can lead to muscle twitching.
  • Muscle fasciculation caused by stress can occur anywhere in the body.

Certain Medications

  • Certain medications can lead to involuntary muscle twitching.
  • The reaction can be a side effect due to interactions with other medications.
  • Individuals should discuss side effects and medication interactions with their doctor when taking a new medication.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors are experts on the musculoskeletal system and have many techniques to treat muscle fasciculation and spasms. It often depends on the cause/s, and specific treatment varies on a case-by-case basis. Common chiropractic treatments include:

  • Massage therapy
  • Heat and ice therapy
  • Manual manipulation
  • Joint adjustments
  • Ultrasound
  • Stretches to keep the muscles flexible
  • Exercises to strengthen the muscles
  • Nutritional recommendations

Fasciculation


References

Bergeron, Michael F.. Muscle Cramps during Exercise-Is It Fatigue or Electrolyte Deficit?. Current Sports Medicine Reports July 2008 – Volume 7 – Issue 4 – p S50-S55 doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e31817f476a

Gragossian A, Bashir K, Friede R. Hypomagnesemia. [Updated 2022 May 15]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (F.L.): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500003/

Küçükali, Cem Ismail, et al. “Peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndromes.” Reviews in the neurosciences vol. 26,2 (2015): 239-51. doi:10.1515/revneuro-2014-0066

Maughan, Ronald J, and Susan M Shirreffs. “Muscle Cramping During Exercise: Causes, Solutions, and Questions Remaining.” Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) vol. 49, Suppl 2 (2019): 115-124. doi:10.1007/s40279-019-01162-1

Miller, Kevin C et al. “Exercise-associated muscle cramps: causes, treatment, and prevention.” Sports health vol. 2,4 (2010): 279-83. doi:10.1177/1941738109357299

Riebl, Shaun K, and Brenda M Davy. “The Hydration Equation: Update on Water Balance and Cognitive Performance.” ACSM’s health & fitness journal vol. 17,6 (2013): 21-28. doi:10.1249/FIT.0b013e3182a9570f

Volleyball Back Pain Chiropractic Clinic

Volleyball Back Pain Chiropractic Clinic

The low back is a common source of discomfort and soreness among volleyball players because of repetitive jumping, bending, and rotating of the trunk. Adolescents have an increased risk of this injury because their vertebral bones are still developing, which increases the risk for stress fractures. Chiropractic care, massage therapy, decompression, rest, and athletic training can help expedite pain relief and heal the injury.Volleyball Back Pain Chiropractor

Volley Back Pain

Muscle or ligament strains are the most common injury from repetitive jumping, bending, rotating movements, and hyperextension during serving, hitting and setting. This can lead to excessive compression forces on the discs and joints, causing reduced blood circulation, increasing the risk of overload injuries. One study reported that low back pain is experienced in 63% of players. However, if low-back pain is accompanied by pain that runs down the leg along with numbness or weakness in the foot or ankle, the issue could be a herniated disc.

Causes

One common reason is endurance imbalances in the muscles that stabilize the low back. The core muscles provide stability to the low back and spine for all movements. If imbalances are present, a player may spike or serve the ball with intense turning and arching. The added actions cause increased pressure in the joints and hip, gluteal, and leg muscles, affecting the spine’s stability.

  • The gluteals run from the back of the pelvis/hip bones down to the outside of the thigh.
  • The gluteal muscles prevent the trunk and hips from overbending forward when landing.
  • If the gluteal muscles do not have the strength and endurance to perform this motion, the upper body will bend too far forward, causing poor landing posture and decreased spine stability.

Anterior Pelvic Tilt

Studies have shown that players with low back pain tend to stand and land with an anterior pelvic tilt. This is an unhealthy posture when the front of the pelvis tilts forward, and the back of the pelvis raises. Landing hard with an anterior pelvic tilt causes increased arching and increases the pressure in the joints.

Chronic back pain

Warning signs of a more serious back problem include:

  • Pain that has lasted for more than 1 week and is not improving or getting worse.
  • Pain that prevents sleep or causes the individual to constantly wake up.
  • Difficulty sitting.
  • Back soreness when performing basic tasks and chores.
  • Significant pain on the court when jumping, landing, or rotating.
  • Chronic pain ranges from aches to shooting or throbbing pain that can run down the buttocks and legs.

Chiropractic Care

A chiropractor can alleviate volleyball back pain, rule out a more severe injury, such as a stress fracture or herniated disc, and provide a healthier and faster recovery. According to a study, athletes who received chiropractic care showed better speed and mobility. Quick reflexes and hand-eye coordination depend on an optimal functioning nervous system. 90% of the central nervous system travels through the spine. When one or more spinal segments are misaligned, the effect on the nervous system can seriously impact and disrupt nerve circulation, affecting speed, mobility, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination. Chiropractic adjustments will:

  • Relax and reset the back muscles.
  • Realign and decompress the spine.
  • Remove the pressure around the nerve roots.
  • Strengthen the core.
  • Improve and increase range of motion, strength, and overall endurance.

Anterior Pelvic Tilt


References

Haddas R, Sawyer SF, Sizer PS, Brooks T, Chyu MC, James CR. “Effects of Volitional Spine Stabilization and Lower-Extremity Fatigue on the Knee and Ankle During Landing Performance in a Population With Recurrent Low Back Pain.” J Sport Rehabil. 2017 Sep;26(5):329-338. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2015-0171.

Hangai M. et al., Relationship Between Low Back Pain and Competitive Sports Activities During Youth, Am J Sports Med 2010; 38: 791-796; published online before print January 5, 2010, doi:10.1177/0363546509350297.

Jadhav, K.G., Deshmukh, P.N., Tuppekar, R.P., Sinku, S.K.. A Survey of Injuries Prevalence in Varsity Volleyball Players. Journal of Exercise Science and Physiotherapy, Vol. 6, No. 2: 102-105, 2010 102

Mizoguchi, Yasuaki, et al. “Factors associated with low back pain in elite high school volleyball players.” Journal of physical therapy science vol. 31,8 (2019): 675-681. doi:10.1589/jpts.31.675

Movahed,Marziehet al. (2019). “Single leg landing kinematics in volleyball athletes: A comparison between athletes with and without active extension low back pain.”

Sheikhhoseiniet al. (2018). “Altered Lower Limb Kinematics during Jumping among Athletes with Persistent Low Back Pain”

Skateboarding Injuries Chiropractor: Back Clinic

Skateboarding Injuries Chiropractor: Back Clinic

Skateboarding is a popular activity among children, teenagers, and young adults. It is recreational, competitive, fun, and exciting but, like any sport, carries a risk of injury. There are around 70,000 skateboarding injuries requiring a visit to the emergency room every year. The most common injuries involve the shins, ankles, forearms, wrists, elbows, face, and skull, with many left untreated that worsen as they heal improperly, leading to further damages and complications. Chiropractic can treat the injuries, rehabilitate the muscles and joints, and strengthen the body to get the skater back on their board.

Skateboarding Injuries Chiropractor

Skateboarding Injuries

Skateboarding injuries can range from scrapes, cuts, and bruises to sprains, strains, broken bones, and concussions.

  • Shin injuries often happen during flip/twist tricks where the board or axle hits the shin causing bruising and swelling.
  • Shoulder, wrist, and hand injuries are common when skaters lose their balance and fall with outstretched arms.
  • Ankle injuries include rolls/sprains, as well as dislocations and fractures.
  • Dislocations usually happen to the shoulders, wrists, and fingers.
  • Facial injuries include teeth knocked out, broken nose, or jaw are typically caused by fast forward hard falls.
  • Severe injuries include concussions and head injuries.

Injury causes

Skateboarding injuries typically occur from:

  • Skating on irregular surfaces locks up wheels and affects balance, causing falls.
  • Losing balance or losing control of the board and falling hard/slamming into the pavement.
  • Inexperience, slow reaction times, and less coordination lead to falls and slams.
  • Skating into another skater, a person walking or cycling, a car, or a road hazard.
  • Trying an advanced trick/maneuver too soon and beyond their skill level.
  • The inexperience of knowing how to fall to prevent injuries.

Chiropractic Therapy

A chiropractor can work with other doctors and specialists to:

  • Assess and treat the skateboarding injury/s.
  • Reset the spine, hips, arms, hands, and feet.
  • Rehabilitate and strengthen the body.
  • Recommend safety and prevention education.
  • Help prevent further injuries and long-term effects.

Chiropractic Skateboarding Injury Treatment


References

Forsman, L, and A Eriksson. “Skateboarding injuries of today.” British journal of sports medicine vol. 35,5 (2001): 325-8. doi:10.1136/bjsm.35.5.325

Hunter, Jamie. “The epidemiology of injury in skateboarding.” Medicine and sport science vol. 58 (2012): 142-57. doi:10.1159/000338722

Partiali, Benjamin, et al. “Injuries to the Head and Face From Skateboarding: A 10-Year Analysis From National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Hospitals.” Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery: official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons vol. 78,9 (2020): 1590-1594. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2020.04.039

Shuman, Kristin M, and Michael C Meyers. “Skateboarding injuries: An updated review.” The Physician and sportsmedicine vol. 43,3 (2015): 317-23. doi:10.1080/00913847.2015.1050953

Wrestling Injuries Chiropractic Team

Wrestling Injuries Chiropractic Team

Wrestling is a sport that requires speed, strength, and endurance that involves intense physical contact, pushing and pulling the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints to their limits. Wrestlers’ are constantly contorting their bodies. Pushing the body to its limits increases the risk of developing wrestling injuries that include:

Wrestling Injuries Chiropractor

Wrestling Injuries

The most common injuries usually occur from forceful contact or twisting forces. And if a wrestler has been injured, there is an increase for re-injury. Wrestling tournaments typically take place over days, often with back-to-back matches, which significantly fatigues the body and increases injury risk. The most common wrestling injuries include:

  • Muscle strains of the lower extremities and/or the back.
  • Chronic problems can result from hours in the forward stance posture and repetitive motions.
  • Trigger points.
  • Neck injuries.
  • Ligament knee injuries – Meniscus and MCL tears.
  • Pre-patellar bursitis/Osgood Schlatter’s syndrome from consistently hitting the mat.
  • Ankle injuries.
  • Hand and finger dislocations and fractures.
  • Dislocations and sprains of the elbow or shoulder from take-downs.
  • Cauliflower ear – is a condition that can cause ear deformity and develops from friction or blunt trauma to the ears.
  • Skin infections occur from constant contact, sweating, bleeding, and rolling on the mats. Infections include herpes gladitorium, impetigo, folliculitis, abscesses, and tinea/ringworm.
  • Concussions are usually caused by hard falls/slams or violent collisions with the other wrestler.

Injuries can cause wrestlers to alter/change their technique, exacerbating the existing damage and potentially creating new injuries.

Chiropractic Rehabilitation and Strengthening

There can be a variety of pain generators/causes when it comes to wrestling injuries. Joints and muscles can get overstretched, muscles can spasm, and nerves can become compressed and/or irritated. For example, a neck muscle spasm could be caused by nerve irritation from a shifted vertebrae. To determine the specific cause or causes of the injury/pain, a detailed chiropractic examination will be performed that includes:

  • Range of motion testing
  • Ligament tests
  • Muscle palpation
  • Gait testing

Injuries often relate to the proper weight, neuromuscular control, core strength, proper technique, hygiene, and hydration management. Successful treatment depends on identifying the root cause of the wrestling injury. Chiropractic restores proper alignment through massage, specific manual adjustments, decompression, and traction therapies. Adjustments can include the back, neck, shoulder, hips, elbows, knees, and feet. Once correct body alignment is achieved, rehabilitative exercises and stretches are implemented to correct and strengthen muscle function. We work with a network of regional medical doctors specializing in referral situations and strive to return the athlete to their sport as soon as possible.


Wrestling Match


References

Boden, Barry P, and Christopher G Jarvis. “Spinal injuries in sports.” Neurologic clinics vol. 26,1 (2008): 63-78; viii. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2007.12.005

Halloran, Laurel. “Wrestling injuries.” Orthopedic nursing vol. 27,3 (2008): 189-92; quiz 193-4. doi:10.1097/01.NOR.0000320548.20611.16

Hewett, Timothy E et al. “Wrestling injuries.” Medicine and sport science vol. 48 (2005): 152-178. doi:10.1159/000084288

Mentes, Janet C, and Phyllis M Gaspar. “Hydration Management.” Journal of gerontological nursing vol. 46,2 (2020): 19-30. doi:10.3928/00989134-20200108-03

Wilson, Eugene K et al. “Cutaneous infections in wrestlers.” Sports health vol. 5,5 (2013): 423-37. doi:10.1177/1941738113481179

Athletic Referred Pain Care

Athletic Referred Pain Care

Referred pain is the interpretation of feeling pain in a different location than the actual cause. For example, a pinched nerve in the spine/back causes pain not to show up not where it is pinching but further down in the buttock, leg, calf, or foot. Similarly, a pinched nerve in the neck could translate to shoulder or elbow pain. Referred pain is often caused by the muscles overcompensating weaker ones, like feeling pain outside the knee, with the actual injury stemming from hip joint dysfunction caused by weakened lateral hip muscles. The athletic referred pain could have been brought on by an acute sports injury, an overuse injury from the repetitive motion/s.

Athletic Referred Pain

Athletic Referred Pain

Somatic referred pain originates from the muscles, skin, and other soft tissues and is not to be confused with visceral pain, which refers to the internal organs/viscera. However, the pain presents in regions supplied by the same nerve roots. Damaged or injured body structures can cause referred pain. This includes the muscles, nerves, ligaments, and bones.

Common Sites

Individuals can experience referred pain almost anywhere. Athletic referred pain commonly occurs in these areas:

  • The neck and shoulder where pain can be felt in the elbow, arm, and hand or cause headaches.
  • The back where pain can be felt in the hips, buttocks, and thighs.
  • The hip/s area, where pain can be felt in and around the low back and abdominal regions.
  • The groin, where pain can be felt in and around the abdominal region.

Problems with the vertebral discs, nerve root compression, muscle spasms, osteoarthritic changes, spinal fracture, or tumor/s can affect the body’s ability to transport sensory information, which can cause strange sensations and weakness of muscle tissues, and sometimes problems with coordination and movement. Part of an accurate diagnosis is knowing the patterns of referred pain in all the muscles and internal organs.

Pain Activation

Many nerve endings come together and share the same nerve cell group in the spinal cord. When signals travel through the spinal cord to the brain, some signals follow the same path as the pain signals from a different body part. Pain awareness is felt in a deeper center of the brain known as the thalamus, but the sensory cortex determines the perception of where the pain is coming from and the location of the pain. The intensity and sensation of the athletic referred somatic pain vary for different structures and depend on the inflammation level. For example:

  • Nerve pain tends to be sharp or shooting.
  • Muscle pain tends to be a deep dull aching or a burning sensation.
  • However, muscles can give a sensation of tingling where referred pain is presenting, but tingling is more commonly associated with a nerve injury.

Diagnosing referred pain injuries can be complex as there are various areas where the pain can show up. The source of damage needs to be identified; otherwise, achieving lasting pain relief will not last. A biomechanical analysis can help to find movement/motion patterns that may be causing pain and help identify the source.

Treatment

Athletic performance and spinal health are interconnected. Chiropractic treatment involves whole-body wellness that involves the spine and nervous system. Routine chiropractic care relieves neck, shoulder, arm, back, leg, and foot conditions/injuries and helps prevent disorders of joints and muscles. It calms the mind, provides pain relief, and educates individuals on being more aware of the body. Chiropractic adjustments improve blood flow and nerve function to increase agility, reaction times, balance, strength, and expedited healing of the body.


DRX9000 Decompression


References

Kapitza, Camilla, et al. “Application and utility of a clinical framework for spinally referred neck-arm pain: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study protocol.” PloS one vol. 15,12 e0244137. 28 Dec. 2020, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0244137

Murray, Greg M. “Guest Editorial: referred pain.” Journal of applied oral science: Revista FOB vol. 17,6 (2009): i. doi:10.1590/s1678-77572009000600001

Weller, Jason L et al. “Myofascial Pain.” Seminars in neurology vol. 38,6 (2018): 640-643. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1673674

Wilke, Jan, et al. “What Is Evidence-Based About Myofascial Chains: A Systematic Review.” Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation vol. 97,3 (2016): 454-61. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2015.07.023