The most important thing one can do if stricken with a painful sports injury is to take the most effective steps possible in treating it immediately following the incident, during the healing, and during the process of active rehabilitation and finally back to 100% full activity again.

As an Austin Chiropractor who has seen and treated my share of sports injuries, I would like to share a few tips to help ensure you return to normal strength and mobility as quickly as possible.

Ice the Pain – Immediately following the injury, it is almost always a good idea to apply ice directly to the injured area. Ice acts to both relieve the pain by numbing the site as well as reducing the inflammation that may occur that can cause increased pain and encourage fluid retention and reduce mobility as well.

Those who are active in sports should always carry emergency cold packs, and it is a good idea to pack a few on excursions such as hikes or biking trips as well. Runners often carry an extra pack or two in their fanny packs as twisted ankles can be a common injury to runners and they know that the sooner the area is iced, the quicker their recovery period will be.

Get Active! – I know what you’re thinking…”Doc, I just hurt myself, give me a break!” I’ll bet most of you were told that when you are injured, you should lie down and stay immobile until the injury heals, right? This is NOT necessarily the best advice now.

For breaks or incredibly bad sprains, limited motion may be what is prescribed, but for many lesser injuries, you will want to keep the blood flowing in the affected areas. I am talking mainly about stretches performed to increase blood flow. This increased blood flow helps to flush the injured area and deliver the healing properties needed not only to speed the healing process, but to encourage regular functioning of the affected area.

In addition, a chiropractor may even recommend light weight bearing movements depending on the severity of the condition. If applying limited activity won’t exacerbate the condition, it just might make it better.

Get back into the game! – As far as active rehab is concerned you don’t want to hit the field and continue your sports activities too early. However, mimicking the types of activities you do take part in as soon as possible can greatly speed your recovery as well. As an Austin chiropractor who has suffered from sports injuries as well, I know how important it is to get your muscles performing at optimum level again as soon as possible. Performing exercises that are similar to those used in your sport is a crucial activity in this final rehab phase before you return to “active duty.”

So remember, active recovery is the best and with the help of a qualified physician as well as an experienced chiropractor in Austin, TX or in anywhere that you trust, you can be back on your feet again and competing at your regular level of physical ability.

Austin Chiropractor Discusses Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation is a post from: Austin Chiropractor Zeke Harkleroad doczeke.com

I know that is probably a no brainer statement, but here is the real news. The actual physiological ailments and the result of prolonged misalignment have not been documented in a scientific manner prior to a recent study. This means the results that patients of Chiropractors have gotten through their adjustments, by extension, the relief experienced by their clients has been anecdotal at best, that is, until now.

Doctors Schweitzer and White of Thomas Jefferson University hospital have recently completed a study that shows, through Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI), the exact effects of what happens to the biomechanics of the body when the spine is out of alignment.

Their study was simple, yet very effective in making the case for the type of work that Chiropractors do each and every day. Simply put, they gathered subjects and knocked them out of alignment for a few weeks and then measured how their body was responding. They did this by placing a small arch insert into one of their shoes to gently, but effectively, force the subject’s bodies to be out of alignment. This would be similar to walking along for several weeks wearing one high heel and one flat, though not so dramatic. The compound effects of this uneven stress were enough to show that the negative effects begin to occur quickly.

Once the two weeks were up, these subjects were photographed using an MRI to see exactly what changes may or may not have occurred. The MRI’s were conclusive in showing the beginnings of bone marrow edema, or fluid buildup, in bones of the feet, leg bones, and hip joints. These results were astounding because these physicians were immediately able to create REAL visible physiological reactions based on misaligning the body.

Even more astounding was that once the insert was removed and the subjects were then photographed with the MRI, the bone marrow edema and subsequent swelling all but disappeared, and in several subjects, the edema completely disappeared.

I know what you’re thinking…”Ok Doc, what the heck does this all mean?”

Well, put simply, when the body is out of alignment, small but potentially significant changes occur throughout the body as it tries to compensate for the less than optimum biomechanics that result. This misalignment could occur because of prolonged bad posture, an injury, or simply a sudden movement that knocked you out of “whack”. The resulting effect can be that the bones near the area of misalignment can become brittle or receive tiny fractures as the weight of gravity on the body is not being distributed properly. In addition, the body’s process to try to repair this naturally can result in increased tissue and bone rigidity that will, over time, exacerbate or worsen the condition.

The important thing for the patient to pay attention to is like most of medicine: if detected early, treatment is easier and effective! What this means is, VISIT AN AUSTIN CHIROPRACTOR CLINIC TODAY for a detailed examination! Let an advanced chiropractic professional examine you and your source of back and/or body pain. A simple misalignment could lead to a worsening of symptoms and a lifelong condition that worsens with age. Regular consistent spinal manipulation can help to ensure your body is aligned, working correctly, and making YOU pain free.

Why Alignment is So Important As Explained by Austin Chiropractor Zeke Harkleroad, D.C. is a post from: Austin Chiropractor Zeke Harkleroad doczeke.com

As a practicing Austin Chiropractor, we know that a heel spur is a small hook of bone that can form on the back of the heel of the foot. While this is often the common name for the condition Plantar Fasciitis, it is NOT EXACTLY the same thing. Doctors may choose heel spur because, well, it’s a heck of a lot easier to say!

The fact is Plantar Fasciitis is the correct term for heel pain that many people feel for a variety of reasons. Heels spurs often exist in patients with Plantar Fasciitis, but they are not usually the cause of the pain.

The Plantar Fascia is the area of tissue and nerves that runs along the center portion of your foot and includes a portion of the heel, the arch, and the ball as well. When this area is affected by sudden or prolonged trauma, it can become inflamed causing constant and sometimes severe pain.

There are several causes of this type of heel pain with one of the most common being the problem of obesity. Overweight people suffer from this condition occasionally just from normal walking. Because we walk heel toe, the heel area of the foot takes the initial impact of most movement unless we are sprinting using the balls of our feet. Therefore, those who are overweight place a greater stress on this area just from everyday walking about.

Another cause of this painful condition is a sudden and traumatic impact such as when someone jumps off a high ledge and inadvertently lands directly on the heel area. This can cause sudden pain in the foot, or sometimes none at all initially, but over time the pain begins to radiate and increases. Perhaps the most common cause of Plantar Fasciitis is the overuse that occurs with regular exercise. It can be truly discouraging when an activity we are performing to try to better ourselves results in a painful injury.

Jogging is perhaps the biggest culprit of those suffering from Plantar Fasciitis. The key reason is when you jog, you are still moving heel to toe so there is direct impact on the heel,  and in turn, the Plantar Fascia area of the foot with each movement. The heavier the person is, the more likely this is to occur. The good news is, this condition is certainly treatable, and will not require surgery in most cases.

One simple treatment for this type of heel pain is to place an ice pack on the affected area to help reduce swelling. This often helps in the short run, but if there is true traumatic tissue damage, this ice pack treatment will only be effective on a temporary basis.

Another common therapy which is applied by chiropractors in Austin is to slowly stretch the calf area. Careful stretching of the calf on the leg affected can help increase the range of motion in the ankle which will in turn reduce the pain associated with Plantar Fasciitis as you move about.

A flexible shoe insert orthotic can also be extremely effective in helping to reduce the stress on the heel area of the foot, and in more extreme cases, a custom made orthotic by Austin chiropractors may be required.

Finally, Ultrasound treatment combined with a Vitamin C dosage has been shown to be effective in many cases to help reduce pain and inflammation.

No matter which method you choose, it is been shown in numerous case studies that full immobilization is NOT an effective treatment; active chiropractic therapy as described above is what is needed.

In only the most severe case is surgery actually needed to reduce the stress on the affected tissue of the Plantar Fascia area of the foot. A proper diagnosis by a qualified physician familiar with this condition will most likely result in one or more of the treatments above and get you back on your feet pain free as soon as possible.

What the HEEL? Plantar Fasciitis means Heel Pain…Learn what it is and how to get rid of it is a post from: Austin Chiropractor Zeke Harkleroad doczeke.com

The term “shin splints” actually refers generally to pain experienced in the muscles of the lower legs. Often shin splints occur when individuals are training incorrectly, but sometimes it’s just excessive muscle use that causes the pain.

Most people who have experienced the pain of shin splints know that it is attributed to over working your muscles. Often after a tough training regimen the pain ensues, causing you to almost immediately regret overdoing it.

Also, many patients experience shin splints because they have recently introduced a new routine into their life, a new job, new, or significantly increased, exercise program. Shin splints are most often described as soreness and aching in the lower leg muscles when standing or taking steps.  Sometimes the muscle pain occurs in just one leg, but oftentimes it occurs in both legs at the same time as the overuse was in both legs.

When there is increased demand on your muscles, through running or walking, the muscles that help to take on some of the shock of your heel hitting the ground are stressed. Consider that Austin, Texas has an average of 228 sunny days each year, and you can understand Chiropractors here in Austin see shin splint sufferers fairly regularly.

Luckily, shin splints are easily treated. Before seeing a doctor, evaluate all of your recent activities, and what specifically may have caused the shin splints. This is the first thing the doctor or chiropractor will ask of you, so it is good to be prepared.

Before shin splints even occur you can take easy preventive steps.  These include ensuring your running shoes are in good condition, and that the shock absorbing qualities have not been eliminated from over use. If your shoes are visibly worn down, or the cushion is basically non-existent, it is time to replace your running shoes.

Another way to avoid shin splints is to make sure your shoes fit properly. If you are running in shoes that are not well fitted to your feet, you will more often get shin splints than an individual with properly fitting running shoes.

You can also work on running on better surfaces; often softer or smoother surfaces are healthier to your muscles. Another technique is to run in a smoother style, making sure not to plant your feet heavily on the ground, causing unnecessary shock to your feet, knees, and joints.

It is also recommended to make sure you have a good pad in the heel of your shoe. Orthotics are often necessary which may be custom designed by your doctor for maximum relief.

Many Austin chiropractor doctors recommend certain exercises following a bout with shin splints to make sure you do not suffer from them in the future. There are quite a few strengthening exercises that may help you. These exercise are generally prescribed after you have given yourself some down time to allow your body to naturally begin the healing process.

If you are suffering from shin splints, the first thing to do is stop what is causing them. If you have recently introduced a new running regimen, stop that for a brief time and focus on other exercises. You can reintroduce running into your exercise routing slowly after your shin splints have healed on their own.

Make sure that you are always warming up and cooling down before and after exercise, as this may also help to tame the bouts of shin splints you suffer from. And the use of orthotics may also prove to be valuable. Orthotics slightly adjust the way your heel hits the ground, and absorb much of the shock that may be causing the problem. A visit with your Austin chiropractor (or doctor) can help to diagnose the ailment and the best choices for a full recovery.

How to Treat and Avoid Shin Splints is a post from: Austin Chiropractor Zeke Harkleroad doczeke.com

If you have spent any time at all talking about exercise with others you may have heard common sayings like “I can’t run, it hurts my knees.” or “Running is no good for your ankles.” The fact is running DOES put tremendous stress on your legs and feet and can lead to a host of painful ailments.

The top 3 sources of pain that runners develop in my experience as practicing Austin Chiropractor are those that develop in the Achilles tendon (the back part of your foot), Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain) and Patellofemoral discomfort (knee pain.) This makes perfect sense if you take a look at the mechanics of a runner going through the motions. First of all, the foot lands on the ground heel first…thus the heel pain that can result. Secondly, the actual impact of the leg hitting the ground means that the knee will take the brunt of the force which can result in trauma over time. Finally, the constant bending of the angle results in the Achilles tendon often popping like the string of a bow and can result in tiny micro tears that, over time, can cause excruciating pain and limit range of motion.

It’s no wonder why so many people decide to give up running! With the threat of ongoing pain and their assumption that running is the root cause, many decide to give up this beloved activity and opt for another workout or in some cases, quit exercising altogether. This is NOT the best alternative I can assure you, but I DO have a solution: Orthotics.

For those who are new to the term, Orthotics is the science of dealing with corrective issues of the joints and limbs. In this case, we are talking about the subject of SHOE INSERTS. You see, for all the injuries and maladies we have discussed above, most of them are caused by slight GAIT ABNORMALITIES. That means “running funny”.

The body is actually designed to run and if your foot falls heel to toe in perfect fashion and all weight is distributed evenly, then most of the time, no pain will occur at all. This is seldom the case, however, as even slight misalignments and abnormalities in how you run and how your feet land on the ground can cause the pain that we described above.

Most people that begin to feel pain from the impact of running simply assume it is “bad” for them and quit doing it altogether rather than seek relief. Those that DO seek relief often just opt for a new pair of running shoes. This MAY help somewhat, but for true pain relief, custom Orthotics are often what is needed.

Chiropractors in Austin TX have found that a custom Orthotic can oftentimes be a perfect solution for those that suffer from pain due to the impact that results from running. The process involves either taking mold of your foot, or using a pressure sensitive pad that you step on that will take a “picture” of your foot, or in some cases a combination of the two, to help the doctor understand exactly how your feet work when walking and running.

Processes like these can be used to determine what areas of the feet receive the most pressure when landing on the ground and will help the doctor determine what areas need the most support. This data, including a mold of the foot, will be used to create a custom Orthotic flexible shoe insert that will then act to provide overall support for your feet and legs while running and/or performing other high impact movements. The process is both simple and relatively inexpensive and has been responsible for getting thousands of runners back on their feet and enjoying the exercise they love…PAIN FREE!

So, if heel pain, ankle pain or knee pain has kept you from regularly enjoying a jog along beautiful Lady Bird Lake, here in Austin Texas, or wherever you may be, make sure you are examined by a qualified physician who has experience with orthotics to get a comprehensive evaluation today. A quality set of custom Orthotics may be exactly what the doctor ordered!

Austin Chiropractor Tip: Running Can Hurt…Orthotics Can Help! is a post from: Austin Chiropractor Zeke Harkleroad doczeke.com