Football, basketball, cheerleading, soccer. This time of year is full of high-intensity activity and sports. With school back in session, practices, games, competitions, and recreational leagues are also back in full swing for everyone from young athletes to college students and adults. 

And with more activity comes more opportunity for injury. Sports injuries can happen suddenly or develop over time from repetitive movement and overuse. At Sentinel Health & Wellness, we look at how the injury happened and how it’s affecting your movement to create a treatment plan that fits your needs.

Compensation After a Sports Injury

After an injury, the body changes the way it moves to avoid pain or protect the injured area. That can mean shifting weight to one side, shortening your stride, limiting motion in a joint, or relying more heavily on surrounding muscles. While those changes may help in the short term, they can also place additional stress on other areas of the body.

Part of a chiropractic evaluation is looking for these compensations and determining how they may be affecting your overall movement.

Types of Sports Injuries

Sports injuries can affect muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and other parts of the musculoskeletal system. Some of the injuries we commonly see include:

• Ankle and knee sprains  
• Muscle strains  
• Shoulder injuries  
• Knee pain  
• Shin splints  
• Tendon irritation  
• Back and neck pain  
• Overuse injuries

The right treatment for you depends on where the injury occurred, how it happened, its severity, and how it’s affecting your movement and function today.

Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains are especially common in sports that involve running, jumping, quick changes in direction, or uneven playing surfaces. You may notice swelling, tenderness, bruising, or difficulty putting weight on the ankle.

Treatment begins with evaluating the ankle and surrounding joints to determine how the injury has affected movement and stability. Care may focus on restoring a comfortable range of motion, reducing stress on the injured area, and helping you gradually regain strength and stability.

Knee Injuries and Knee Pain

The knees absorb a tremendous amount of force during activities such as running, jumping, tackling, squatting, and sudden stopping. Sports-related knee pain can come from a single injury or develop over time because of repetitive stress.

Our approach looks at the location of the pain to evaluate how the knee is moving, but also at how the hips, ankles, and surrounding muscles may be contributing. Treatment is then tailored to the athlete and the specific cause of the discomfort.

Muscle Strains

A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is overstretched or injured. Hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, shoulders, and the lower back are all common areas for sports-related strains.

Treatment depends on the severity of the injury and the muscle involved. Once we understand how the injury is affecting movement, care can focus on improving mobility, supporting proper muscle function, and helping the area safely return to activity.

Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder problems can occur in contact sports as well as activities involving throwing, lifting, tumbling, or repetitive overhead movement. Athletes may experience pain, weakness, limited movement, or discomfort during specific motions.

Because the shoulder relies on several joints and muscle groups working together, we evaluate how the entire area is functioning rather than focusing on one painful point alone. Treatment may address mobility, joint mechanics, and the muscles supporting the shoulder.

Back and Neck Pain

Falls, tackles, collisions, repetitive movement, and even prolonged training positions can contribute to back and neck discomfort.

An evaluation can help determine how the spine and surrounding muscles are moving and identify areas that may be under additional stress. From there, care can be adjusted based on the athlete’s symptoms, sport, and activity level.

Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries develop when the body experiences repeated stress without enough time to recover. These can include tendon irritation, shin pain, recurring joint discomfort, and muscle soreness that does not seem to resolve.

Treatment often includes identifying which movements are repeatedly placing stress on the area and determining what needs to change before the athlete returns to full activity.

Every Injury Requires a Different Approach

Two athletes can experience pain in the same place for completely different reasons. That’s why sports injury care should begin with an evaluation rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment plan. 

For a closer look at one of the methods we may incorporate into injury recovery, read How We’re Helping You Recover with Applied Kinesiology.

Chiropractic Care for Common Sports Injuries

Ready to get back to moving comfortably? Schedule an appointment with Sentinel Health & Wellness and let’s take a closer look at your injury and next steps for care.