Bodily injuries while practicing sports are incidents that many coaches and athletes are accustomed to. They can temporarily disable the athlete, but in many cases can disable the entire team. An ousted team member can affect the outcome of games and can have enduring repercussions on the season as well. Similar to the way a team is influenced by a benched member, an injured body part influences the entire body. Injuries such as weak knee injuries, shin plints, and twisted ankles can be caused by improper form, lack of flexible muscle tone, and overuse of the lower body. According to medical physicians at the Cleveland Clinic, almost every athlete have to deal with shin splints at some time. Here’s how to avoid and heal these painful problems, as well as averting other common sports injuries.
Shin Splints: The Evils of Overuse and Impact on the Lower Leg
Shin splints cause symptoms such as frontal pain in the shin area. The pain can be constant and debilitating, especially when increasing pressure on the affected leg. There can also be swelling in the area that can produce tightness as well as make tissues appear swollen in the muscles. No matter what type of activities, from running to football any athlete can suffer from these conditions. It is essential that shin splints treatment be sought immediately so that proper physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs can be started. The most common treatment for shin splints guidelines followed by sports therapists includes rest, elevation, and icing of the injured area for one to two days. Continued physical therapy and preventive exercises include strength training moves and stretching of the Achilles tendon and the group of long muscles that run from the knee to the ankle.
How Sports Can Cause Knee and Ankle Twist Injuries
Another type of injury that is seen in impact sports is twisting of the ankle and knee. This is caused by either a forceful injury, which cannot be prevented, or from weak muscles of the ankle, lower leg, and knee. Weak muscles can be strengthened with weight bearing or movements recommended by a sports therapist that target the muscular areas that support the knees and ankles. Weakened muscles lead to weakened support structures in the entire lower leg so that simple movements or motions can cause twisting injuries. Another preventive measure for avoiding these types of injuries are to be sure the feet have proper arch support. This can be accomplished through sports orthotic shoe inserts that support the foot during impact. The physicians at the Cleveland Clinic also suggest taping the arch for added arch support during sports activities.
How Tearing Injuries Happen
Tearing of the connective tissues are also common types of sports-related injuries. This is most commonly found in the connecting structures of the knees and back of the heels. An Achilles injury is commonly caused by little flexibility in the heel tendon due to poor stretching exercises. This is a vital part in the warmup procedure that should never be skipped. Slow stretches without much force are recommended for athletes prior to activity. Holding the stretch for a minimum of 30 seconds, resting for a few moments, then repeating the stretch is what kinesiology specialists suggest. Anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) are surrounding the knee area and help hold the knee structure together. Injuries to this region can be avoided by weight-bearing exercises of the knee , calf and quadriceps through leg curls and leg extensions. The right arch support inserts can help avert both of these kinds of injuries by providing proper arch support, foot alignment, and cushioning.
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