Avoid Overuse Injuries!

If you’ve been following our blogs, you already know how important it is to stretch and strengthen your body, particularly your core. When you have a strong core, you have an excellent foundation for a healthy spine. To maintain that strength and support, you have to be on the lookout for injuries from overuse. Here are our tips to avoid them:

Overuse Injury 411

You are probably thinking that you have to do high-impact exercises or participate in extreme sports to suffer from an overuse injury, but that is simply not the case. It isn’t only those activities that cause injuries from overuse. You can sustain them from sitting at your desk, typing away on your computer or cell phone. When you perform a repetitive motion, you put yourself at risk for an overuse injury.

To prevent overuse injuries, here are our tips:

• Identify the cause of the problem – If we are to properly treat your injury, we have to determine what the activity is that is causing it. With a few questions, we should have no issue getting to the bottom of this!
• Cross-training – You may be a creature of habit, but it’s important to switch up those workout routines. Are you a CrossFit junkie? Try attending a yoga class to reduce muscle tension and increase flexibility.
• All about balance – Your body needs balance. If your muscles are overworked and tight, take the time to stretch them out. Are they weak? Set a goal for yourself to tone and increase muscle strength. This balance is imperative to avoiding overuse injuries.
• Rest – If you think you have to work out every single day to obtain a strong core, we’re happy to report that you’re wrong! When creating a physical fitness regimen, your body needs at least one day of rest each week in order to properly recuperate.
• Inflammation – Regular chiropractic care is an excellent way to find relief if you are already suffering from an overuse injury. It’s also important to learn how to manage that pain on your own, and we suggest good old fashioned ice and heat therapy!

Check In With Your Chiropractor!

Injuries from overuse don’t always show themselves. Over time, a number of small, unhealed injuries can develop which will ultimately leave you feeling terrible. Those traumas may seem unimportant, but they eventually leave you weakened and negatively impact how efficiently you move.

If you would like to learn more about preventing overuse injuries, feel free to ask during your next visit, or schedule a consultation today!