Why Is Chiropractic Family Care Important For All Ages?
If you’re a typical weekend warrior playing regular tournaments with the lads, you know sports injuries are part of the game. However, most people with active lifestyles often just resort to icing injuries and resting. And while this usually suffices for minor ailments like sprains, it can also mask underlying issues.
Meanwhile, for regular people, it’s easy to get intimidated when you hear the term sports injury specialist. You might think it’s something reserved for high-level athletes. And while the roots of the misconception are apparent, it undermines the benefits offered by these specialised physical therapists.
Whether dealing with chronic pain and mobility issues or simply wanting to enhance an active lifestyle and prevent injuries, sports injury specialists can provide lasting benefits. Keep reading to learn about signs you may need to see a sports injury specialist.
If you’re experiencing nagging discomfort, the following might be signs that you need to make the trip to a sports injury centre:
Persistent Swelling
After an injury like a rolled ankle, experiencing soreness and swelling is normal. However, it’s best to consult a sports injury specialist for more serious injuries like a hyperextended knee or elbow, particularly if the swelling persists. This way, you can diagnose the injury’s extent and treat it accordingly.
It also isn’t limited to injuries. If you suddenly experience soreness and swelling, physical therapists can identify the cause of pain. They could also suggest exercises, massages, and stretches to help remedy it.
Numbness
Dealing with numbness is more alarming than soreness and swelling. This symptom could signal damage that leads to nerves losing their connectivity. It can result in the affected body part having limited mobility and sensory perception.
Again, sports injury specialists can trace the root cause and suggest mobility exercises to help get back full functionality. The worst thing you can do when experiencing numbness or loss of feeling is to ignore it, as this can compound the issue over time.
Pain Or Weakness In Performing Everyday Tasks
If you suffered a minor injury and are having difficulty performing menial tasks even after the recovery period, you should see a specialist. Physiotherapists can analyse functional movement and identify sub-optimal areas you need to address.
Suppose you haven’t suffered an injury but feel chronic pain and weakness performing mundane tasks like picking up the pot or bending from the waist. In that case, sports injury specialists can help find the cause too, saving you from further suffering.
Plus, they can suggest routines that unlock movement and promote flexibility, as well as strength training exercises. These exercises strengthen muscles, allowing them to better support the body and minimise strain on your joints.
Reduced Mobility
You can expect reduced mobility following an injury like a pulled muscle. But when the swelling has subsided but mobility is still disproportionately compromised, it’s time to see a sports injury specialist. They can find out if the mobility issues are symptoms of a worse injury or if another body part has been affected.
Reduced mobility can also signify that an injury didn’t heal correctly. This could have resulted in joints stiffening and pained tendons and ligaments. If you don’t address these underlying issues, other body parts may compensate and create even more imbalance.
Weakened Joints
Sometimes, you can feel perfectly normal one day, then wake up feeling weakened knee joints. Sports injury specialists can perform massages or foam rolling on specific areas to address the issue. Whatever treatment you end up doing, it’s always better to address joint issues before they get worse.
Chronic Pain
If you’ve been playing sports long enough, you know it doesn’t take injuries to experience chronic pain. The wear and tear the body undergoes throughout the years could layer issues, like tight muscles, joint swelling, and ligament damage.
Sports injury specialists can peel through these layers, addressing each one until the pain is reduced or altogether eradicated.
Other Cases Where A Sports Injury Specialist Can Help
Seeing sports injury specialists can assist in other cases even if you’re not experiencing any of the symptoms above. These cases include the following:
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You have an active lifestyle
If you want to keep enjoying the physical activities you do for fun, consulting a sports physiotherapist will be beneficial. They can teach you proper nutrition, how to warm up and cool down, and proper recovery – specific to your sport.
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You want to improve performance
Additionally, sports injury specialists can help you improve overall body balance. Restoring movement and function to optimal levels enhances performance and prevents injuries.
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You want non-surgical treatment
If you’re not a serious athlete, a sports injury specialist can offer alternatives to surgical procedures. Sometimes, strengthening exercises, stretches, and other physiotherapy routines are enough for performing everyday functions.
Final Words
The important thing to remember when it comes to injuries and chronic pain is that addressing it later can only make it worse. There are injuries minor enough to heal on their own, but even simple mishaps like a jammed finger can potentially be something more serious.
If something is physically bothering you, a visit to a sports injury centre may be all you need to rid yourself of the discomfort.
