Address Injury Sooner Than Later

Now that school has started, there are many extracurricular activities available to students. Many of these activities encompass a variety of different sports. As you, or your children become more active this fall, it is essential to be mindful of ways to protect yourselves from injury. According to John’s Hopkins University, a few things that can lead to a higher risk of injury include:

• Improper or poor training practices
• Wearing improper sporting gear
• Being in poor health condition
• Improper warm-up or stretching practices before a sporting event or exercise

As you begin athletic activities, it’s important to respect the amount your body is putting forth to allow you to compete at such a high level. As the season progresses, it is also important to listen to your body and be mindful of any aches and pains you might have. As time progresses, if injury and even small aches and pains are not addressed, they can lead to a more severe injury. Bigger injuries can take you out of the game longer while you recover. If you have an ankle sprain and experience pain while walking, the limitations you feel in your ankle are going to cause you to walk differently. To demonstrate, try walking without moving your ankle. Note how different parts of your body have to work harder or even move improperly to overcompensate. This, in turn, will affect every joint above the ankle: knee, hip, SI joint, and back. Once those joints are all affected, it will take even longer to rehab and return at a level where you can be competitive. It is much easier to take a few days off to rehab that ankle sprain and ensure your body is functioning at it’s optimal level.

At Schofield Spine + Motion, we specialize in keeping your body working at it’s optimal level. Whether it’s a small ache or more of a chronic injury, we will give you a personalized plan to get you back to whatever activity it might be that you excel at.

source: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/sports-injuries/preventing-sports-injuries

Dr. Kristin Henry earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Des Moines University in 2015. She has advanced training in manual therapy and pelvic rehabilitation. She also has experience with patients ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics.