Sports Injuries

When a runner injures a calf midway through a race, or a footballer pulls a hamstring as he kicks the ball, it may not be the running or the kicking that has caused the injury – but an underlying problem that is finally showing itself. Whether it is a previously undetected Spine or joint problem, or years of poor posture, the resulting injury could potentially signal the end of a sporting career.

Sports injuries
Every sport has its own distinctive patterns of movement. Some sports use certain joints and muscles repeatedly while virtually ignoring others, increasing the risk of injury. Tennis, for example, is very much a one-sided game. Others demand biomechanical efficiency to minimise the potential damage caused by an action, such as fast bowling in cricket. Impact sports like rugby and football require a high level of conditioning plus a good range of Spinal and general joint mobility.

Whether you are an amateur or professional, your body is prone to the same kinds of injuries. Repeated stresses can lead to a loss of proper movement in the spine, which in turn can interfere with the healthy working of your muscles and nerves. It’s not surprising that our practitioners are seeing more and more professionals and amateurs with:

• Hamstring and calf strains
• Achilles tendon injuries
• Groin and thigh sprains
• Back and Neck pain
• Tennis elbow
• Shoulder sprains
• Tendonitis
• Sciatica (often confused with hamstring pulls!)

These injuries often recur, and may shorten promising sporting careers.

Problems with performance
Injury is not the only problem for sports enthusiasts and professionals. Many find that they reach a “threshold of ability”, and cannot improve further, however hard they work.

At Back Pain Centre Sunderland we work to improve your Spinal function and therefore improve your sporting performance.

Back on track
Unlike painkilling drugs, at Back Pain Centre Sunderland our specialised team of Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Physiotherapists and Massage therapists treat the cause of an injury, rather than just the injury itself. We will carry out a full examination, assessing your sporting life, posture, medical history and lifestyle, to discover the cause of your injury or poor performance and make a diagnosis. Your treatment will begin, often with gentle, specific spinal adjustments done by hand, to free stiff joints and remove spinal nerve irritation.

How often do you see a runner who has suffered an injury to their leg shift their weight onto the other side of their body? This ‘injury adaptation’ puts an unaccustomed load on certain joints and could result in them developing another injury. Part of your treatment will include a rehabilitation plan to improve your flexibility, muscle strength, muscle coordination and address any ‘injury adaptation’ present. This all helps to prevent future flare-ups.

Most athletes who have benefited from our treatment return for regular check-ups to keep their body and spine at its best. A regular ‘Spinal MOT’ may improve your athletic potential.

How can a reoccurrence of the problem be prevented?
This will depend upon the problem itself, but many sports injuries are caused by a poor approach to sport. It is vitally important that you warm up before you start, and stretch when you’ve finished.

What about just “running it off”?
This is usually not a good idea. If your body isn’t working properly, you will continue to overload the injury, prolonging the healing process and risking further problems as a result of your body compensating. When your practitioner has improved the mobility and alignment of your joints and muscles, your injury will heal more quickly and be much less likely to come back.

Pre-competition “tune-up”
It can be frustrating when you know your performance was not your best. Whatever your sport, physical malfunctions in your spinal joints or muscles can badly affect your performance. Once recognised, these can usually be corrected, thus improving your mobility and performance. Our practitioners can give your spine a pre-competition “tune up”. These can be done quickly and easily and will help you to achieve your best and give you that competitive advantage!

Remember pain is a warning do not ignore it!

Like most athletes who have benefited from treatment it is advisable to return for regular ‘Spinal MOT’S’ to keep your body working at it’s best. Regardless of your age, condition or type of sport our treatment may improve your athletic performance.

The information provided is for general guidance only and must not be used for diagnosis or treatment of a health problem. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.