How To Avoid Overuse Injuries
Whether you've been seeing a chiropractor for years or are just learning more about the practice, you're probably aware that both core and upper body strength are vital to proper posture. When you've got a strong core, you've got a solid foundation for a healthy spine. In order to maintain your strength, you need to pay attention to your body and avoid overuse injuries. Here are our tips:
THE BASICS
So maybe you don't practice extreme sports or high-impact exercise. That doesn't mean you're in the clear and don't have to think about overuse injuries. Overuse injuries are often caused by simple, everyday movements like sitting at your desk and typing on your laptop or computer. When you perform an action repetitively or a movement repeatedly, you are at risk of suffering from an overuse injury. Here's what we suggest:
- Identify the real issue at hand – If we are to properly treat your injury, we have to identify how it happened. We may not be detectives, but we're pretty good at solving these mysteries! Starting with a consultation, we should be able to determine the root of the problem in no time.
- Cross-train – So many aspects of our lives are about balance, and that includes your workouts. Your high-intensity workouts should be balanced with lower-intensity. Are you running 3 days a week? Try to get swimming in your regimen as well. Maybe cross-fit is your thing; add a yoga class to reduce muscle tension and increase flexibility.
- Stretch & strengthen – If you find yourself experiencing tightness in your muscles, stretch them out! Are your muscles weak? Time to start with the strength training. Building a strong and flexible body will help you avoid injuries from overuse.
- Rest – This one might be the most obvious of all...to avoid an overuse injury, don't over use your muscles. Strenuous exercise every single day won't get you the strong and healthy body you are looking for. You need at least one rest day per week to properly recuperate.
- Manage inflammation – If you are suffering from an overuse injury, chiropractic adjustments are a great form of treatment. We can also provide you with suggestions to manage inflammation, like the proper way to use heat and ice therapy!
MAKE A CHIROPRACTIC APPOINTMENT!
Overuse injuries can be quite painful, but they aren't always apparent. Over time, a number of small unhealed injuries can accumulate, leaving you feeling all out of sorts. Those small traumas can eventually put you in a weakened state and negatively affect how efficiently you move. Contact us to learn more about how to prevent overuse injuries and how we can help.