What are the most common sports injuries?
The most common types of sports injuries include Achilles tendon injuries, fractures, dislocations, knee injuries, sprains and strains, and swollen muscles. Sometimes, injuries are sustained after accidents. Some injuries happen when a person is not thoroughly warmed up or in proper condition to participate in a given sport. Other injuries occur due to poor training practices while playing. At The Phoenix & Dragon, Sharon Shuppert Dipl. OM, L.Ac. treats injuries sustained from many activities. She specializes in treatment and health maintenance for runners and dancers.
What kinds of treatments are available for running sports injuries?
Most running sports injuries happen due to overuse of muscle or ligament. The most common running injuries are runner’s knee, stress fractures, Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, and pulled muscles.
Immediately after an acute, or sudden, injury, treat it using the R.I.C.E. method for alleviating swelling and inflammation. This method consists of resting the injured body part, applying ice, compressing the injury to minimize movement, and elevating the injury to reduce blood pressure.
Acupuncture is a very effective treatment for running-related sports injuries. It offers immediate pain relief and enhances the body’s natural healing abilities to reduce recovery times. Depending on the injury, Sharon may include massage or cupping to ease pain and accelerate healing.
The massage technique known as tui na is excellent for maintaining flexibility of the muscles and strengthening of the tendons and ligaments to prevent injury.
What kinds of treatments are available for dancing sports injuries?
Injuries are prevalent in dance just as they are in all other types of athletic performance. Most dance injuries occur at the foot, ankle, lower legs, low back, and hip. Most dance injuries are the result of training for prolonged periods of time, environmental hazards like hard studio floors, improper equipment, history of injury, nutritional deficiencies, and the alignment of the individual dancer’s body.
Dancer sports injuries are treated with the R.I.C.E. (i.e. rest, ice, compression, elevation) also. This is usually where treatment begins. In treating dance injuries, Sharon considers the individual and his or her unique type of dance and level of experience as well as any previous injuries. Typical treatment may include massage therapy, acupuncture, and cupping, as well as suggested gentle exercises to help full recovery.
Sharon may also offer nutritional advice and tui na massage to keep your dancer-body in tip-top shape and to help optimize your physical performance.
If you have suffered a sports injury due to running or dancing, or you want to prevent injury, call today for a personalized consultation with Sharon.
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