Good health is a priceless privilege of life that many people are lucky enough to have, and few are informed enough to keep. Serious athletes, however, do have to take an intense interest in the long-term health of their bodies. Professional athletes often place a high amount of stress on their bodies, and the strict training often starts at a very young age. Working in a high-stress environment for a sustained period can have a major impact on your physical wellbeing, so it is extremely important to take preventative measures when it comes to working out. All parents of aspiring Olympians and professional football players need to learn about the best ways to prevent injuries in young athletes, and the professional team at RxWellness Rockville will be happy to help.
Common Types of Preventable Injuries in Young Athletes
When athletes exert a considerable amount of energy on physical activities, they have to take precautions to make sure they can perform at a highly competitive level. Accidents and injuries are always a possibility of participating in any type of sports, but not taking the proper preventive measure can significantly increase the risk of sustaining an injury. Some of the most common types of injuries in young athletes are:
- Sprains: a pulling or tearing of the ligament
- Proper stretching can prevent sprains
- Some athletes brace areas that have been sprained before to prevent future sprains.
- Strains: muscles are pulled farther than they should be or turned incorrectly.
- The best thing to do is rest the affected area, as strains usually heal on their own.
- It is important to warm-up and stretch before working out.
- Knee injuries: ACL tears, cartilage tears, dislocation, and fractures are all possible types of knee injuries.
- It is important to warm up and always practice good posture and technique.
- It is also important to wear knee pads when playing sports like football or volleyball that may involve contact to the knee.
- Facture: when a bone is broken, this could be mild or severe
- Wearing the correct padding and keeping the muscles strong can help to prevent fractures.
- Tennis elbow and shin splint: results from straining and overusing the ligaments in the elbow.
- It is important to take regular breaks when doing strenuous activities
- Plantar fasciitis: similar to tennis elbow, this results from overuse of the tendons in the arch of the foot or lower leg.
- Is common among runners, soccer players, basketball players, or any sports where considerable force is constantly placed on the foot.
This is a small list of possible injuries young athletes are susceptible to because of the level of stress they are constantly under. Chiropractic care is not a guaranteed defense from injury, but it does put them in the best possible position to avoid it. At RxWellness Rockville, we will work with your child to ensure that their body is in the best possible shape to successfully perform in a highly strained and demanding environment without having to sacrifice long term physical health.
What Athletes Can do to Prevent Injury
If you have scheduled your chiropractic consultation there are a few things your young athlete can do in the meantime to make sure they are being as safe as possible.
- Stretches before working out
- It is important to warm-up your muscles before engaging in an intense workout. Doing the correct type of stretching will help prevent injury.
- Warm-ups before workouts
- Getting your muscles engaged and prepared for a workout helps them easily adapt to the range of motion needed for a particular exercise.
- Practice proper posture
- Stay conscious of habits and make posture adjusting a constant part of your day.
- Correct form when lifting heavy objects
- Proper lifting techniques are important for maintaining back health and avoiding injury.
- Knowing not to do certain things like turn or twist while holding a heavy object can help you avoid injury.
- Recognize the difference between feeling the burn and playing through the pain.
- When doing an activity, it is important to know the difference between what you are feeling, so you can make corrections, if needed.
The Importance of Doing the Correct Stretches
There are three types of stretching that athletes should incorporate into their workout routine, and it is important to learn the difference between the three and to understand when to do which. The three types of stretching are Ballistic stretching, static stretching, and dynamic stretching.
- Dynamic Stretches
- Are movements that put your body through a full range of motion.
- Should be part of your warm-up routine
- Static Stretches
- Holding a specific position for a few seconds then moving on to the next.
- Should be part of your cool-down routine
- Ballistic Stretches
- Pushing your body past its natural range of motion by bouncing or pressing.
- Should be done with supervision because it can cause injury if not done correctly.
There are many positive benefits to incorporating these three different types of stretching techniques into your fitness routine, but it is also very important to do them correctly or they could become the cause of injury.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is very effective as preventative care because the goal is to get the body functioning at its optimal level and then keep it there. When athletes train, they are constantly applying an intense amount of pressure to their bodies, and this level of physical stress can cause soreness, inflammation, and misalignment.
Chiropractic Care as Preventive Care
A young athlete’s performance ability is significantly reduced when certain areas of the body are restricted, in pain, or misaligned. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help young athletes’ improve performance by:
- Improving joint mobility
- Improves function in organs like the heart and lungs
- Improve circulation
- Reduces inflammation
- Speeds up the recovery process
Preventative Care With RxWellness
When you have your first consultation at RxWellness Rockville, you will consult with the doctor to discuss your fitness goals. They may take x-rays and perform a full chiropractic examination to get a better understanding of what is happening with your body. The doctor will explain what treatments can help your body improve its performance, as well as outline a plan for how to help you achieve that fitness goal. We will also incorporate massage therapy into your sessions to help you see the most results from each visit.
Massage therapy is great for young athletes because it loosens muscles, improves blood flow, improves range of motion, and improves posture. All of which can be significantly compromised after long-term exposure to the prolonged level of intense stress athletes are typically under.
At RxWellness Rockville, Dr. Andrew Boswell is the dedicated chiropractic professional who can help keep your young athlete in the best possible shape for a long-lasting sports career. Dr. Boswell is currently working towards his International Certification in Sports Chiropractic and specializes in sports performances of young athletes.
Contact Us
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of ways to protect your children who have big dreams of pursuing professional sports opportunities. It is our hope that you will allow Dr. Boswell and the RxWellness Rockville team to help you by providing the best ways to prevent injuries in young athletes. If you ever have any questions or you are ready to work with a qualified chiropractic professional, contact RxWellness Rockville, MD and book a consultation, or give us a call at 1+240-556-5721. We are located at 15001 Shady Grove Rd Suite 140, Rockville, MD 20850, and we look forward to seeing you soon.