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

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

Traumatic Injuries

These injuries produce the debilitating difficulties often associated with trauma. Most traumatic injuries are to the ligaments, the tissue that connects bone to bone, and to body muscles, but fractures and dislocations do happen at times, particularly with contact sports. Trauma to a ligament is called a sprain, while an injury to a muscle or its tendon is a strain.  Sprains and strains most frequently occur in the ankles, knees, and shoulders, and less frequently in the low back and neck. Because the spinal cord and/or spinal nerves can be affected, injury to the neck and low back can be extremely serious.

Traumatic injuries can range from a mild “muscle pull” or ankle twist to a serious problem requiring surgery. The seriousness of the injury depends upon several factors, such as the severity of tearing of the tissues, the whereabouts of the injury, and the age of the person. The majority of sprains and strains are associated with some degree of swelling and frequently with internal bleeding, especially with injury to the ankles and knees. Strains and sprains require proper attention, particularly during the initial stages of an injury, to insure proper healing and guard against future disability. Treatment from a competent health-care professional, such as your Fort Worth chiropractor, is highly advisable.

If you’ve sustained an injury, the best course of action is to see a professional. Until help is available, remember the acronym, PRICE:
P    Protect injury to prevent further damage
R    Rest the injury
I     Ice injury to reduce swelling, bleeding, muscle spasm, and pain
C    Compress injury with a specialized support or elastic bandage to support injured tissues
E    Elevate the injury, expressly when dealing with ankles and knees

Naturally it is necessary to get the injury appropriately examined by a chiropractor, or other competent health professional, to ascertain the amount of damage. Most of these injuries can mend, though they do require knowledgeable care during the various stages of healing. If not carefully monitored and treated, a sprain or strain injury can bring about long-lasting joint instability, painful or weak joints and muscles, and lack of mobility. Good care of your sports injury by a chiropractor with an abundance of experience in sports injury treatment will insure that your injury heals properly. Call your Fort Worth Chiropractor if you have sustained a traumatic injury.

Overuse or Repetitive Strain Injuries

These injuries are becoming more and more common, especially among individuals pursuing sports such as golf, tennis, bowling, and any other activity that requires the same activity over and over (repetitively). Even running, especially on a treadmill, can produce such conditions.

Repetitious activity can frequently produce a very small strain to tissues, particularly tendons and muscles. However, it is the accumulative effects of the repetition that causes the more serious problem.  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common types of overuse injuries. Over time the muscle or other affected tissue establishes changes that no longer permit it to function normally, resulting in pain, stiffness and disability. There are two kinds 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 generally be changed or controlled by the sufferer.

Some of the most widespread intrinsic factors for injury

Age is the mostcommon intrinsic factor for injury. The older a person is, the easier it is for that man or woman to get injured. Congenital abnormalities are another factor. There are those who are born with joint or muscle problems. And, ultimately, previous injuries are a factor as they frequently prevent the joints or muscles from functioning normally.

Extrinsic factors for injury

There are plenty of extrinsic injury factors.  For instance, sports equipment can insufficient–an inappropriate grip size of tennis racket or worn-out running shoes are good examples, even a playing surface can be a factor, e.g., a too-hard surface for soccer or an uneven treadmill. Improper technique in any sport, such as an awkward golf grip is, as unfortunately, an injury waiting to happen Another factor is poor conditioning. A number of men and women are injured because they are deconditioned. Increased frequency or lengthly duration of an activity, without developing slowly, can produce the conditions for injury. Inadequate flexibility can produce injury if someone is too stiff to do an activity safely. Lack of warm-up, like stretching and appropriate preparation, is a frequent factor in injuries.  And, finally, and maybe surprising to some, stress is a factor. Being tired or stressed can cause tense, inflexible muscles that are too tight for most activities.

There are quite a few factors that are extrinsic and, consequently, within a person’s control. Before starting a new sport, or as a way to avoid injury in a current sport, it’s smart to get an assessment of your overall body condition. If you’ve been injured, it is vital to seek out a competent professional, like a chiropractor, to diagnose the nature of the injury and create a plan of therapy. If left untreated, sports injuries can significantly affect a person’s life and limit a favorite activity. Treatment such as joint manipulation, massage, bracing, and specific exercises is generally necessary 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 Fort Worth Chiropractor has years of experience helping people just like you.

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