Chiropractors, who are widely known as spine, muscle and nervous system experts, are the ones to turn to in helping manage and prevent sports-related injuries. Here in the United States, chiropractic care has a long and vibrant history of treating weekend warriors and professionals alike. They are trained to assess, diagnose and manage sports-related injuries as part of their core competencies. In fact, through a comprehensive physical and history examination, these doctors can determine the cause of the pain and dysfunction and even recommend an appropriate plan of management. Care offered by a chiropractor – depending on the industry and mechanism – may include joint manipulation and mobilization, soft tissue therapies, adjunct modalities, rehabilitation and individualized exercises and lifestyle advice to help restore proper function, therefore enhancing healing of damaged tissue and reduce pain. Chiropractors may also help in determining the best strategy to help get an athlete back on the ice, field, court or in the ring.

There are all sorts of ways to heal a sports injury – from mild to severe. Let’s start with the basics. Get rest, apply ice on the affected area, use elastic compression bandages to help limit swelling, keep your injured body part above the level of your heart to help reduce swelling, and also protect the area from further injury, like with using a support. Pain relief can be achieved with over-the-counter medications, and creams are available to help ease pain and reduce swelling. Staying put, that is immobilization, may also help prevent further damage by reducing movement, and it may also help reduce pain, swelling and spasms.
 
Then there is physiotherapy that helps athletes recover from a long-term injury. Physiotherapy is performed by a specialist who may utilize a number of techniques, including massages, and manipulation of exercises that are used to improve range of motion, strengthen surrounding muscles, and return the normal function of the area injured. A physiotherapist may also help develop an exercise program that will help strengthen the affected body part and help reduce the risk of the injury recurring.
 
More serious sports injuries may require corrective treatment, or the realigning displaced bones without an operation, and in some cases surgery.

The first aid for a sports injury involves common sense and medical help. If you notice you are in pain, then stop all physical activity right away and apply ice to the area. You can also reduce swelling with ice and compression, and medicate when appropriate. After a few days of rest, most strains and sprains and other injuries will start to heal; however, if swelling or pain doesn’t decrease after a couple of days, call a doctor and see them. Once the healing begins, gentle stretching, mobility exercises, and light massages might be in order: they may help reduce adhesions and scar tissue formation and help improve your muscle function. After this, you will want to turn your attention to having your joints return to proper alignment. This is why a good rehab program is a great next step – exercises that target joint stability is considered one of the most important things in rebuilding after a lower extremity injury. Once your injury is healed then consider strengthening exercises with easy weights and ensure you use good form.
 
If you have an injury that is causing concern, talk to your doctor for the best treatment options available. If your injury is serious, then seek medical attention right away. Contact us for more information. We serve patients from Portland OR, PDX, Happy Valley OR, Tigard OR, Milwaukie OR, Cedar Hills OR, Cedar Mill OR, Lake Oswego OR, Oak Grove OR, Vancouver WA, Aloha OR, Minnehaha WA, Gladstone OR, Tualatin OR, West Linn OR, Fairview OR, Oregon City OR.