5 Common Sports Injuries

O’Connor Family Wellness treats many patients who happen to be athletes. As a result, we see a lot of patients who experience injuries that are common to particular sports they engage in, whether it’s the basketball player experiencing lower back pain, the Jiu-Jitsu specialist needing chiropractic adjustments, and a number of scenarios commonly experienced by athletes.

Below are some of the most common sports injuries experienced by athletes.

1.) Back Injuries / Back Pain

It just so happens that your back and your spinal column experience varying levels of stress during any sports activity, depending on how much you push your body. Doing the same motions over and over, hitting your body with the same level of impact day in and day out, this can lead to the accumulation of stress, inflammation, muscle spasms, and more.  Injuries to the vertebrae, the muscles, and also the discs can frequently sideline athletes or at the very least cause increased levels of upper or lower back pain.

2.) Trauma / Impact

Collisions on the court or the field of play can often happen, which can not only cause injury at the point of contact, but can throw your spine out of line or tweak your neck. A case of a sudden, jarring impact can also cause acute injury to your back, neck, or other areas of the body.

3.) Neck Injury

Football especially leaves player’s necks vulnerable to injury, especially players like offensive and defensive linemen, who hit each other on every play, which has serious implications for the neck, head, and spine.

4.) Knee Injuries

Whether it’s a torn ACL or MCL or anything else that can happen with the complex knee joint, many athletes experience knee injuries. Basketball is one sport especially vulnerable to knee injuries due to the amount of jumping and landing that goes on. One small mistake like landing on another player’s foot the wrong way can send even the greatest player to the bench with an injury that could possibly even end their career.

5.) Concussions

We all hear about concussions happening to football players, but did you also know that concussions often happen to football (soccer to Americans) players? Any footballer who commits to a header is liable to get a concussion. Concussions are characterized by a sudden impact to the head that causes the brain to shift inside the skull. Headache, dizziness, sleepiness, even temporary loss of consciousness are all symptoms of concussions.

Things you can do at home to prevent injuries include stretching and warming up before strenuous activity. If you experience an injury you should see a physician immediately to determine the next best steps.

You can also supplement any active lifestyle with chiropractic treatments that vary widely depending on your specific condition. O’Connor Family Wellness offers drug-free, all-natural ways to treat and even prevent injuries. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.