Back Pain, Chiropractor, Massage Therapy, Muscle Pain, Sports Injury, Children, Pregnancy - Chiropractic - Australia
Muscle Pain
Treatment of sports injuries
Once an injury has occurred in an athlete, it is important to rehabilitate the player to pre-injury strength, as well as to decrease the chance of future injury. Chiropractic is an effective non-drug treatment for soft tissue and other musculoskeletal injuries.
Often, when a muscle or joint is injured, the body naturally compensates, attempting to maintain balance and protect itself by tightening other muscles and joints. To address a problem specifically, the persistent pain in your shoulder could be the result of a direct injury to the shoulder; it could also reflect your body's compensation for spinal-joint movement restrictions in your neck or upper back.
Chiropractic adjustments help restore the natural balance that was present before the injury. Treatment of sports injuries at by chiropractic includes widely used physical therapies such as ice for swelling and inflammation and heat and electronic muscle stimulation for muscle strains and sprains. These techniques help athletes return to training and perform at their peak level sooner.
Your body moves quickly to protect itself by swelling up around the injured area, and too much of that will lengthen recovery time. To immediately address sports injuries, follow the RICE model: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
Rest
Once you've been injured the rule is stop playing. Like most things, pain becomes a bigger problem if it's not dealt with immediately. Taking painkillers to allow you to play with an injury is a dangerous game. Cutting out all unnecessary movements will prevent aggravation and relieve pain and spasm.
Ice
Ice is a great pain reliever and a simple remedy for swelling. It numbs the area by lowering its temperature. Apply ice until the area turns pink (approx 10-20 mins) and reapply every hour. It is a good idea to move gently after icing. Be aware that ice can burn bare skin so make sure to wrap it in a towel.
Compression
Compression simply means a crepe or elastic bandage wrapped comfortably around the injured area. This can limit swelling, so long as it is not too tight. Remember that bandages are for compression not for support.
Elevation
You should try to elevate the injury as much as possible, as gravity drains fluid from the area back into the circulatory system. If the area is not elevated, fluid accumulating under the bandage could set you back by increasing the swelling.
It is important to remember that RICE is first aid treatment for the first 48-72 hours.
