According to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission exercise-related injuries and injuries sustained through the use of exercise equipment sent more than 166,000 people in the 45-64 age group to the emergency room, clinic or doctor’s office in 2008. Though middle-aged people today are a lot more active than their parents were, and are basically more fit and athletic longer into their lives, older athletes need to take a few precautions to protect themselves from injuries like rotator cuff tears, tendonitis and stress fractures.

Though most of the injuries in the Consumer report appear to be due to people not giving themselves enough time to rest up after tough workouts, Monto and AAOS offer a number of helpful tips to avoid exercise injuries: Check with your physician before starting any type of exercise program (your doctor can make sure you’re healthy and offer advice on sports and activities that fit your fitness level). Don’t do the same workout day after day (this will help to avoid repetitive stress injuries and eliminate chronic injury patterns). Work on your flexibility (it’s crucial to stretch and warm up before a workout, and cool down and stretch again, the AAOS advises). And, be sure to schedule days off into your exercise regimen, especially after a particularly intense workout.

So, Baby Boomers, even though you may feel young, it’s still wise to take extra precautions to protect your body when you’re active. After all, wisdom comes with aging.

Full article by Anne Harding (Reuters Health)

ORIGINAL SOURCE: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, June 22, 2009.

Technorati Tags: exercise, rotator cuff tears, sports injuries, stress fractures, tendonitis

Most of injuries can be put into two classifications: 1) traumatic injury, such as a slip, fall, or collision and, 2) repetitive stress or overuse injury.

Traumatic Injuries

As the name implies, this sort of injury causes the kind of incapacitation and debilitation most often associated with trauma. As a rule injuries to the ligaments (the tissue that connects bone to bone) and to muscles are the most frequent, though the trauma of fractures and dislocations frequently occurs in contact sports. Trauma to a ligament is called a sprain, while trauma to a muscle or its tendon is a strain. The most common areas for these types of injuries are the ankles, knees, and shoulders, but other areas can be affected including the low back and neck. Injuries to the neck and low back can be quite serious as the spinal cord or spinal nerves can also be harmed.

A traumatic injury may be relatively mild, such as a “muscle pull” or ankle twist. But, some can be extremely serious and require surgery. It is based upon the degree of tearing of the tissues, the area of the body, and the age of the person. Some degree of swelling takes place with almost all sprains and strains. In addition, with certain injuries, especially those of the ankle and knee, there can be some internal bleeding as well. Strains and sprains demand competent attention, particularly during the initial stages of an injury, to guarantee proper healing and protect against future disability. Therapy from a competent health-care professional, such as your Costa Mesa chiropractor, is highly expedient.

If you’ve sustained an injury, the best course of action is to see a professional. Until help is attainable, remember the acronym, PRICE:
P    Protect injury to avoid more damage
R    Rest the damaged body region
I     Ice injury to diminish swelling, bleeding, muscle spasm, and pain
C    Compress injury with a specifically designed or elastic bandage to support injured tissues
E    Elevate the injury, especially when dealing with ankles and knees

Naturally it is necessary to get the injury appropriately evaluated by a chiropractor, or other competent health professional, to find out the extent of damage. Nearly all of these injuries can recover, though they do demand proper management during the various stages of healing. If not managed carefully, some sprains and strains can result in long-lasting problems such as joint instability, painful or weak joints and muscles, and lack of mobility. Good care of your sports injury by a chiropractor with plenty of experience in sports injury management will insure that your injury recovers properly. Call your Costa Mesa Chiropractor if you have sustained a traumatic injury.

Repetitive Stress, or Overuse, Injuries

Sports such as golf, tennis, and bowling, as well as any other activity that necessitates the same motions over and over are prevalent reasons for repetitive stress injuries. Even running, especially on a treadmill, can generate such problems.

Fundamentally, overuse or repetitive stress injuries come about when an individual is occupied in a repetitious activity that creates a very slight strain to tissues, expressly tendons and muscles, that in and of itself would not generate a problem, but done many times has an accumulative effect.  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common kinds of overuse injuries. Over time the muscle or other affected tissue undergoes changes that no longer permit it to function properly, resulting in pain, stiffness and disability. There are two types of factors that predispose a person to these types of problems:  1) Intrinsic, i.e., found within a person’s own body, and 2) Extrinsic, i.e., external factors that can frequently be changed or controlled by the individual.

Some of the most common intrinsic factors for injury

Age is the mostwell-established intrinsic factor for injury. The older a person is, the easier it is for that individual to get injured. Congenital abnormalities are another factor. A number of people are born with joint or muscle problems. And, lastly, previous injuries are a factor as they frequently prevent the joints or muscles from functioning properly.

Extrinsic factors for injury

There are plenty of extrinsic injury factors.  For instance, sports equipment can insufficient–an improper grip size of tennis racket or worn-out running shoes are clear examples, even a playing surface can be a factor, e.g., a too-hard surface for soccer or an uneven treadmill. Inept technique, like an awkward golf grip or swing, can create stress and strain injuries. An additional factor is poor conditioning. Some individuals are injured because they aren’t in shape. Added frequency or prolonged duration of an activity, without building up slowly, can cause the conditions for injury. Inadequate flexibility can create injury if someone is too stiff to do an activity properly. Warming up is very important before sports activities and not warming up, that is, not stretching or preparing for an activity is a widespread cause of injury.  And, lastly, but perhaps surprising to some, stress is a factor. Muscles that are tense and inflexible because of stress are too tight and, hence, unprepared for most sports activities.

It is encouraging to remember that the majority of factors are extrinsic and, therefore, they are factors that can be individually controlled. But, most people need evaluation by a qualified health care professional to ascertain their overall body health, the nature of an injury, and the answer to the problem. If left untreated, sports injuries can considerably affect a person’s life and limit a favorite activity. Treatment such as joint manipulation, massage, bracing, and specific exercises is often needed to stabilize the condition. A chiropractor is and excellent source of help. Call a chiropractor if you’re either thinking of beginning a new activity, you’re feeling pain related to a current sports activity, or you’ve sustained a sports injury. Your Costa Mesa Chiropractor has years of experience helping people just like you.

Technorati Tags: chiropractic, chiropractor, repetitive stress, sports injuries, sprain, strain