How to Prevent Sports Injuries and Chiropractic

General prevention guidelines

Before beginning an exercise program or training for an athletic event, follow these simple guidelines to help prevent injuries.

Prevent injuries with a complete Chiropractic examination

Prevent injuries with proper attire and equipment

Make sure your equipment fits properly (ie, helmet, tennis racquet grip, golf clubs etc).
Make sure you wear quality shoes designed for your sport or foot type (ie, good arch support, durable heel, proper sole contour, and flexibility).
Obtain necessary protective gear, mouth guards or face masks for contact sports.

Prevent injuries by training and playing "smart"

Avoid overuse injuries like tendinitis and stress fractures by beginning slowly and gradually increasing the time and intensity of your workouts.
Acclimatise yourself to the environment. Avoid heat or cold-related stresses.
Limit your workout session training too hard can result in injuries. Allow adequate time to recover from a training session.
Maintain hydration or fluid levels. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after practice or competition.

Prevent injuries by training correctly

Address all aspects of fitness, muscle strength, endurance, cardiovascular fitness and flexibility.
The minimum training requirement is two times per week to see improvement in aerobic or anaerobic activity.
Noticeable improvements in strength and endurance take three to four weeks.
Your pre-season conditioning program should begin six weeks prior to the start of your sports season.

Prevent injuries by proper Warm-up and Cool-down

Warm-up prepares the body for performance, decreases the potential for soft tissue injury, and helps reduce delayed onset muscle soreness that can follow exercise.
Warm-up should consist of 15 minutes of sub-maximal sports-specific exercise. This activity increases the bodies heart rate, body and muscle temperature, and muscle performance.

Prevent injuries by stretching

Stretching prepares your muscles for activity and prevents injuries from tight soft tissue structures such as muscles and tendons.
Static stretches should be slow and sustained; no bouncing or jerking. You should not feel pain while stretching. Stretch the entire body. No sport requires just part of the body's involvement. Stretch each body part two to three times for 20 to 30 seconds.

First aid treatment for injuries (RICE)

Rest — Relative rest to reduce the stress to the injured area.
Ice — Apply ice to the injured area for 20 minutes at a time four times per day.
Compression — Apply an elastic bandage to the injured area. Do not sleep with elastic bandage on.
Elevation — Raise the injured body part above the level of the heart to decrease blood flow.

Contact Isis Chiropractic Centres if you have an injury. Early help reduces the recovery time!

Prevention of re-injury

Rehabilitate your injury completely, follow your chiropractors advise before returning to competition or activity.
Protect the injured area with special equipment or brace.
Gradually return to practice or competition.

Remember acute injuries are easier to treat than chronic (long standing) ones!

If you have pain that returns or gets worse stop training, tell your coach and contact Isis Chiropractic Centres!