Bee Caves Chiropractic & Scoliosis Center

Sudden and painful injuries are an unfortunate but common fact of life. Sports injuries can be some of the worst. Because of the intense nature of many sports, sports injuries can sideline even the most physically fit for weeks, or even months.

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.

If you are a sports enthusiast, avid runner, or your regular day requires you to be on your feet quite a bit, you’ve probably experienced shin splints at some point in your life. The shooting or aching pain as you take each step is recognizable, and typically happens after overuse, or too much physical training. Chiropractic care in Austin can treat your shin splints and get you back to your regular activities.

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.