No matter how hard you work to prevent them, sometimes sports injuries occur. It’s no surprise really since a lot of quick moves and turns are typically involved when playing on a field or court. Add that to opponents who sometimes collide and that is a sports injury in the making.
According to WebMD, some of the most common injuries related to sports include ankle sprains, hamstring strains, groin pulls, knee injuries, and tennis elbow. A few of these may occur due to overuse, but others happen when certain muscles, ligaments, or tendons give way under the demands that sports often place on them. Fortunately, massage and various therapies can help.
Sports massages specifically are designed to keep you, the athlete, in top physical form, making them great remedies when an injury exists. By massaging overworked muscles and releasing their tension, the therapist can help lessen the pain. Additionally, massage opens up circulation to the affected area, increasing the blood supply and making it easier for the healing process to take place. Of course, they’re great on a preventative level as well, so you might want to add them to your current health and fitness routine.
Another therapy that can aid in easing sports injuries and increasing the healing process is physical therapy, or physiotherapy. A physiotherapist is someone who is trained to deal specifically with a number of injuries, allowing this person to help you create an exercise and movement plan that promises the best results. To find a chartered and licensed practitioner near you, you may want to do a search on the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s website.
A final option to consider when dealing with a sports injury is chiropractic care. Sometimes all you need is to get your neck or back into place to open up your nerves and help your injured tissues better correspond with your brain. Research has also found that chiropractic offers some preventative effects as well, such as a study that was conducted on semi-elite Australian Rules footballers which found that those involved in regular chiropractic had fewer knee injuries. So, again, this could be part of a well-balanced athletic plan.
If you’ve had a sports injuries, what types of therapies worked for you? Feel free to share them with others by commenting below!
