ATHLETIC INJURIES
ALTERNATIVE THERAPY
SERIES NO: 19 ATHLETIC INJURIES
ATHLETIC INJURIES
SYMPTOMS
o
Pain,
discomfort, restricted movement, tenderness, and possible swelling may be
indicative of some form of muscle or ligament injury, such as sprain or strain.
o
Pain,
swelling, tenderness, and deformity may indicate a fracture.
o
Pain,
restricted movement, misshapen appearance, and swelling in a joint are symptoms
of a dislocation.
o
Localized
pain just below the kneecap may be sign of patellar tendonitis. In adolescents, the condition may indicate
Osgood-schlatter disease if accompanied
by swelling.
o
Pain
in the elbow, often accompanied by tenderness in the inner or outer portion of
the elbow and forearm, and possibly a weak and painful grasp, may indicate epicondylitis.
WHAT IS
ATHLETIC INJURIES
Every family has been its share of injuries tracking to athletic
endeavors or, ironically, the pursuit of physical fitness. For the most part,
athletic injuries are a result of stress put on bones or muscle. Most common
are injuries to soft tissue muscle, tendons, and ligaments.
A dislocation occurs when two bones are jolted apart at a joint and
is often accompanied by ligament tear in the joint and is often accompanied by
ligament tear in the joint. The pain is cause by the sever stretching of soft
tissues.
A fracture
is either simple (closed) in which the broken bone remains beneath the skin
surface and does minimal damage to surrounding tissues or compound (open) in
which the bone protrudes through the skin. In the ankle, hand, wrist, and
collarbone are common sites of fracture.
Shoulder injuries are common in
sports that require throwing motion or intense contact. Dis-location are most
common in the shoulder joint. Acromioclavicular
joint (Ac) separation occurs when the ligaments that supports the
collarbone are torn. The rotator cuff is where four muscle is meet and attach
to the humerus ; overuse of the shoulder may inflamed or tear tendons in the
area, causing rotator cuff tendonitis.
Epicondylitis affects the elbow and typically occurs in
sports requiring frequent wrist manipulation and forearm rotation. The lateral
(affecting the outer elbow ) form is tennis
elbow. Medical epicondylitis
involves the inner elbow.
Lower back injuries, such as muscle tears, are common in sports that
involve a lot of bending. The high velocity and football frequently cause neck
and spine injuries, such as a herniated
disk, in which an intervertebral disk protrudes from the spinal column (see
Disk problems).
Intense leg movement, including twisting and
spreading, may tear the adductor muscle (groin
strain), which connect the leg with the pubic bone.
The knees are involved in some of the most common lower body injuries.
Continual jumping may result in tearing of the tendon just below the kneecap,
or patella, causing patellar tendonitis,
or jumper’s knee. The knees may also suffer from other injuries, such as
tears of the meniscus, a piece of cartilage in the knee joint between the femur
and tibia.
The sudden tearing of muscle fibers that may occur after excessive
athletic activity and the consequent accumulation of fluid in the muscle that
cause pain, tenderness, and local swelling characterize a charley horse.
Increase interest in jogging and cross training
has resulted in a parallel rise in leg injuries, including shin splints, tendonitis, and stress
fractures, especially in the tibia or fibula bones. If continually expose
to stress from prolonged standing, running, or walking, a stress fracture may
result in a larger facture.
The foot often fall’s victim to injury because
it must support the weight of the entire body. Plantar fasciitis often affects inexperienced runners, causing pain
along the inner heel and along arch of the foot, sometimes accompanied by
stiffness and numbness in the heel. A similar problem, march fracture, develops in
the bones of the foot when extreme stress (running, walking) is continually placed
on the ball of the foot.
CAUSES
An AC
separation results from sudden impact on the side of the shoulder or on an
outstretch arm. Wear on the rotator cuff, causing rotator cuff tendonitis, may occur if you continually engaged in
sports that you require overhead motion like that in a tennis serve. Medial Epicondylitis is cause by traumatic,
repetitive arm motion, as when pitching in baseball. Sudden, violent twisting
of the elbow or continual pulling and strain on the forearm muscle can cause
the condition.
A charley horse is usually
caused by a sudden, acute strain in the leg, but mineral deficiency, hormone
imbalance, calcium deposits in the muscle, or dehydration can also be cause.
Muscle imbalance, a poorly aligned leg, or running on a hard road with improper
footwear may cause a stress fracture. Tight hamstrings may
contribute to lower back problems, and tight Achilles tendons may precede cases
of tendonitis of the foot and ankle.
DIAGNOSTIC AND TEST
PROCEDURES
Basic assessment of an injury begins
with your medical history and physical exam. X-rays may be ordered to examine
your bones for possible fractures,
dislocation, and other injuries. A bone scan is a highly sensitive test
that may detect stress fracture that
might not show up in x-rays.
Arthroscopy,
ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are generally used on joints.
Arthroscopy employs a tiny camera inside a very small tube, called an
arthroscope, to examine interior of your joints; it is useful in both
diagnosing and repairing some joint injuries (for example, cartilage fragments
can be removed through the tube). Ultrasound scanning uses sound waves to
generate an imagine that your doctor can view on screen. An MIR produce
excellent images of soft tissues, enabling diagnosing of damaged to muscle,
ligaments, and tendons.
TREATMENT
Treatment
for sports injuries aims or realign bones, and restore your body to its full
athletic ability.
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
Most
minor soft issue injuries are best treated with RICE: rest, ice, compression,
and elevation. (see sprains and strains).
Injuries such as tendonitis
and plantar fasciitis usually
require rest and rehabilitation program to maintain flexibility and strength. Aspirin or ibuprofen may help reduce the pain and inflammation that accompany
these condition.
Depending on the severity of the pain, your physician may treat your epicondylitis with an injection of a corticosteroid, with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, or with
aspirin. An elbow cuff and physical therapy may also be indicate (see Tennis Elbow).
For acute pain as a result of an AC
separation, codeine may be prescribed for the first couple of days. Thereafter,
aspirin and non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs may be taken for chronic
pain. Your physician may immobilize the injured area with sling.
If possible, the displace bones of dislocation are manipulated back into
place. If this is not feasible, you may need surgery, after which the joint is
immobilized until it is stable.
If necessary, a fracture is treated by reduction, a procedure in which
the broken bone ends are manipulated so that they abut each other in their
original position. The procedure may be done surgically or without cutting the
skin. More serious fracture are repositioned and held in place with metal pins
or by screws, plates, and rods placed permanently in or on the bone.
A march fracture is customarily treated by placing the foot in a plaster
cast or a rigid boot; you must rest it for three to six weeks.
ALTERNATIVE
CHOICE
ACUPUNCTURE
Administered by a professional, acupuncture may be helpful in treating
athletic injuries and soothing the body after strenuous training. It has been
shown to reduce pain and swelling and should be applied as soon as possible
after injury occurs.
BODY WORK
Massage relives aches and pains, is especially helpful
for tendonitis and epicondylitis, and can lessen the onset
of muscle soreness. Administered by a professional, the Alexander technique, Rolfing, and the Feldenkrais method may be useful. Knead the area of a Charley horse, rubbing in the direction
of the muscle fibers.
HOMEOPATHY
Arnica (12 c) may be taken every 10 minutes for 1 to 2
hours, until the shock of fracture passes, and then every 8 hours for the next
two to three days. Taken every 8 to 12 hours for up to three days, Ruta (12 c), taken four times a day for
as long as a week.
HYDROTHERAPY
Water
is the perfect place for athletes recovering from injuries to work out. Aquatic
movement provides muscle resistance without straining joints.
LIFESTYLE
Heat
before exercise can loosen joints and soft tissues. Various types of braces and
supports worn during exercise can protect joints and soft tissues and
stabilized an uncomfortable joint or tendon. Consult your doctor or a physician
therapist. To avoid ankle injuries, always wear appropriated shoes with ample
protection and support.
NUTRITION AND DIET
Many
experts advise athletes to maintain a high carbohydrate, low fat diet to
increase energy levels and promote muscle strength.
Taken
orally or topically, vitamin E may
guard against muscle damage during exercise. Magnesium helps maintain muscle flexibility, which lessen
susceptibility to injury.
For bone fracture, vitamin B complex and Zinc
may help.
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