Back Pain From Sports-Related Injuries

If you play sports or have a child that plays sports, then you know how common back injuries can be in sports. In Texas, football is a major sport for youth and injuries happen all the time. As kids growing up, we are fans of all the Texas football teams from the Dallas Cowboys, to the Houston Texans, and dreams of playing this contact sport runs from El Paso, Texas to Houston. These injuries can be ongoing and nagging for many, so understanding what they are and how to treat them should be a priority for most. Some people are more susceptible than others to back related injuries, this could be because of many reasons, weight, health history, and sport being played. If you live in Texas and feel that you or your child may be suffering from a sports related injury, you should seek medical attention from a qualified chiropractor. Practices like Taylor Chiropractic in Frisco, Texas specialize in treating sports related injuries.

Common Back Related Injuries From Sports

Being active can lead to sports-related injuries, however, being complacent and sitting on our ass can lead to even more severe sports injuries. These injuries can occur to the lower back, mid back and upper back. Shoulder related injuries can stem from this as well. Here are some of the injuries you could expect to encounter in sports and other active lifestyle choices. Some of these injuries may include the following.

• Lower Back Strain
• Upper Back Strain
• Neck Stingers
• Fractured Spine And/Or Shoulder
• Trauma-Related Muscle Bruising

Some injuries occur from long durations of time spent in awkward positions, while others come from repetitive high-impact sports. High impact sports like football, MMA, and rugby can cause serious back injuries.

How To Prevent Sports-Related Injuries From Happening

To help prevent sports-related injuries from happening you need to understand the importance of stretching. Warming up and stretching before you participate in high impact sports will be important for avoiding injury. High impact sports, mountain biking, hiking, and anything else that may be tough on the knees, ankles, and legs will require adequate stretching. Stretching and proper warm-ups will help to make sure you don't get hurt.

Stretching alone won't prevent injury. There are plenty of game-time decisions that can be made to avoid injury as well. Everything from tackling properly, to be conscious of the direction that you bend and angle your legs when working out or warming up. Other things that can cause performance issues is lack of sleep, poor diet, dehydration, and lack of focus. Some of these play of the other, so getting proper rest, eating right, and staying hydrated will all compliment each other come game day.

Here Are The Top 5 Things You Can Do To Help Prevent Sports Injuries

1. Getting plenty of sleep will allow you to function properly during game day. Lack of sleep may disrupt your focus and derail your thinking process. Understanding how important sleep can be for your wellbeing is important for staying safe during competition and training exercises.
2. Pilates And Yoga is a great way to stretch the body out during the week in between practices and games. Staying focused on the mechanics of the body should be a major focal point of your exercise routine. Pilates and Yoga are a great way to participate in a group stretching activities.
3. Swim more. If you are fortunate enough to have a pool or are part of a fitness center that has a pool, use it! Swimming is a great low impact way to get your body warmed up for the day. There are cardiovascular benefits to swimming, and it's a great way to stay in shape.
4. Invest in stretching equipment. There are plenty of products on the marketer that can be purchased for home use that will allow you to get some deep stretching in during the morning hours. If you have time, stretching multiple times throughout the day will benefit your mind and body. Those that work at a desk will find value in getting up and moving throughout the day.
5. Avoid sudden and jerking movements. You will see people in the gym lifting weights and when the weights are heavy posture and form may suffer as a result. When this happens, injury is likely to follow. Exercising doesn't need to be done in aggressive movements, slow, precise repetitions will benefit you more in the long run than trying to throw around heavy weights.

Sports-related back and neck injuries can be a major setback for athletes and weekend warriors. Understanding the basic mechanics of the body, how it moves, and how to properly work it out will help you prevent injuries. Knowing your own personal limits, vulnerabilities, and injuries you may be susceptible to will also help you prevent major injuries from happening.

If you have experienced a sports-related injury and feel you need professional help recovering, here are some more tips, otherwise, we suggest you find a local chiropractor to evaluate and treat your injury. If a chiropractor is unable to help through adjustments and acupuncture, they can refer you to a specialist that can help.