Common Summer Sports Injuries & How to Prevent Them
June 1, 2018The summer months in the northern Midwest are a time of excitement and reawakening. Those who love to exercise outdoors often burst out of the house for some much-needed exercise after a period of hibernation. Those who are have been active all year round tend to whip out a new pair of outdoor shoes, try out a new sport or dive into a favorite sport after a bit of time away. The summer provides all kinds of new opportunities for exercise and relaxation, but it is also a time to be cognitive of what your body’s limits are as well. After all, no one wants to spend the summer sitting on the sidelines!
What common summer sports injuries should I watch out for?
Knee injuries are among the most common sports injuries in America. Because the knee joints are so important for explosive movements like sprinting across the field, pedaling a bicycle uphill, squatting on water skis or sliding to home plate, they can end up taking quite a beating in the summer months. Patellofemoral syndrome, ACL tears and muscle tears are painful and require long recovery periods.
Water activities like tubing and water skiing can also cause neck injuries and whiplash, which can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches and a loss of range of motion. Even when neck injuries aren’t painful, they can still be inconvenient and burdensome. These kinds of injuries are common in adults and children alike.
Chiropractors often see many shoulder injuries in the summer months as well. Misalignments, dislocations and muscle strains often come from playing baseball, beach volleyball and tennis. Many athletes overwork their shoulders in an effort to prepare for a big game or to jump back into a sport where they left off 8 months prior.
Tennis and golf also bring in individuals struggling with elbow injuries. These common injuries are often seen in individuals who pick up their rackets and clubs after the winter months, expecting to be at the same height of their range of motion from the previous summer. People use their elbows every day, and though elbows may seem like they don’t need proper training like knees do, they do actually need care as well.
Every part of the body should be cared for to prevent injury, and that is the beauty of chiropractic care.
How do I prevent summer sports injuries?
Getting injured in a sport is not necessarily “inevitable.” There are steps that athletes can take to improve their bodies and to avoid injury in sport. Sports Performance Care is essential for maintaining range of motion and keeping the body from being injured. At Van Ness Chiropractic, Dr. Van Ness, Dr. Parkin and Dr. Sabri offer elite chiropractic care for athletes of all ages – from the three-sport child athlete, to the twelve-time marathon runner, to the 20-something weekend warrior.
Van Ness Chiropractic offers top-of-the-line care, a compilation of chiropractic care, massage therapy and corrective exercise, which together help improve structural alignment, range of motion, muscle strength and flexibility. This method of care facilitates a faster recovery time and reduces athletes’ levels of pain so that they can heal more efficiently and effectively.
With three well-trained chiropractors and two certified massage therapists, the staff at Van Ness Chiropractic is prepared to help athletes of all kinds reach their peak performance in the summer months. Each of these professionals is educated in the holistic nature of chiropractic care and believes in the power of natural therapies. Their goal is to help each athlete avoid injury and have a happy, healthy summer.
Our professionals are happy to consult with you on a sports injury or to discuss a sports injury prevention plan. Schedule a complimentary new patient consultation here.
