Sports Injury Information

Sports and Treatment for Arthritic Athletics

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:40:00 +0000

Athletes with Arthritis

One might think that if one is arthritic, the last thing they want to be doing is becoming an athlete. But it seems that nothing could be farther from the truth. In many cases, engaging in sporting activities can actually help the athletes. Indeed there are many professional sports players who play competitively who have various physical ailments that could put them off playing but don’t. These include: Spurs defender Ledley King (who has chronic knee problems) and England cricketer Andrew Flintoff (who had deep vein thrombosis as well as encountering regular injuries during his sporting career, largely due to his heavy frame and bowling action).

Exercise for Arthritic Would-Be Athletes

In a recent study, scientists from Arthritis Research UK, headed by Prof. Alan Silman, the foundation’s medical director, are now trying to figure out how far athletes can go before risking long-term injury to their bodies. Researchers from the group are looking to see how best to “achieve a balance between exercise that is good and exercise that is harmful. In general, using your joints is good because cartilage and bone need the stimulus of exercise. Even a little bit of damage is okay because it will repair, but when damage is outweighing the repair mechanism, then it becomes something else." What it tends to become is osteoarthritis.” Sometimes, the wear and tear on joints from playing sports as well as ligament issues can lead to even more serious knee problems. As well, those with obesity are more likely to suffer from joint problems. And of course, one way of avoiding obesity is to exercise regularly, but therefore there must be a balance – exercise sensibly and look into the types of exercises that are easier on the joints such as swimming, cycling and walking, as the three combined give one a joint-friendly cardiovascular routine by using big muscles which can also lead to weight loss.

Ultimately though, while there are discussions on how much exercise is good for healthy joints and for this with arthritis or related issues, according to a consultant in sport and exercise medicine at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, Dr. Simon Till, keeping active is the way to go. But going to the gym isn’t necessarily the way forward; Till believes it’s more beneficial for one to keep active during their everyday activities, like walking all the time, taking stairs instead of elevators, etc. And this advice is the same even for one with osteoarthritis, slowly building up their cardiovascular fitness.

Helpful Therapies

There are some other helpful therapies for those battling these issues. One of them is alternative rosehip therapy. Taking anti-inflammatory medication, natural remedies, and aspirin, has also been known to be good for relieving joint pain. But alongside all of this, moderate exercise is vital. Concentrated rosehip can significantly alleviate inflammatory issues (like arthritis) and can even prevent the condition from activating. This is because it contains a high vitamin content relative to conventionally-dried material and is also shown to inhibit the chemotaxis and oxidative burst response of human peripheral blood inflammatory cells along with the chemotaxis of monocytes. It was found that this formulation could inhibit the chemotaxis of human peripheral blood inflammatory cells and to decrease the level of C-reactive protein, thereby reducing pain and inflammation for those with arthritis.

So ultimately, it’s all about moderation and combination. Finding the right exercise and treating inflammation with both western and eastern healing remedies, is the best way forward for arthritic patients or those who are likely to suffer from the condition.

School Sports: Certified Athletic Trainers Amiss

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:55:00 +0000

According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, it seems that less than half of all high schools in America have access to a certified athletic trainer, even though a staggering 7.7 million students participate in competitive athletics. These figures are quite worrying, as Red Bank Regional athletic trainer Christina Emrich pointed out, “athletic trainers are the first line of defense on the fields…They save lives.”

In some states however, the numbers are much better, such as New Jersey where trainers are working in 86 percent of high schools and 93 percent of public schools. But this just means that the average figures – as noted above – are indicative of some extremely troublesome low numbers elsewhere. Perhaps it is therefore not surprising that New Jersey recently held a Certified Athletic Trainer Spring Giveaway organized by JAG Physical Therapy to thank the Athletic Training Community for their hard work and dedication throughout the long athletic season. The winner was the one judged to have the “most interesting case of the year.”

One student – Keone Osby – knows firsthand how important it is to have these trainers around from when he dislocated his right shoulder during a wrestling match, partially tearing the labrum ligament. He received immediate treatment from athletic trainer Lee Ann Pearce who thereafter suggested he consult a specialist, even though he insisted the pain had significantly diminished. The MRI showed a 60-percent tear and Osby therefore underwent surgery. Had he not have gone this route, he wouldn’t be able to compete in the same way.

Ultimately there are always going to be sports-related injuries and by not employing these special athletic trainers, they may often go untreated, resulting in much greater long-term damage to the athlete, even potentially preventing them from competing later on.

Improving Helmet Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:19:00 +0000

Since unfortunately there are still way too many football-related injuries, a team of Americans have developed a helmet boasting improved technology, to provide stronger support. It seems that as awareness increases on brain injuries occurring from football-based accidents, helmet manufacturers are rising to the occasion. Indeed, Hanson Group of Alpharetta, Georgia and Protective Sports Equipment – America’s largest helmet manufacturers – are in the process of testing new ways to soften both large and small blows to the head as well as providing immediate relief in the moments following an injury.

Last year it was Model High that was the first high school to try the helmet covers developed by this manufacturer based in Pennsylvania. The cover has been called ‘The Guardian’ as it sets out to guard against injuries other helmets are unable to do. It contains 37 gel-filled pockets that fit over a helmet and cushion against helmet-to-helmet blows. These are extremely dangerous; so much so that the NFL has penalized them.

Head of the manufacturing group Hanson, sent out 600 samples to players to test during the 2011 season. In 2012, it hopes to sell around 200,000 of them, at about $60 each. It seems that no player who used these in the 2011 season reported a concussion. As well, Wayne State University testing found “the product reduced the amount of shock felt through a helmet.” So it really looks like this is the way forward for football fanatics who want to stay safe.

Social Media to Assist Sports-Related Injuries

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:26:00 +0000

In recent years, more youths have encountered sports-related injuries, despite the fact that there has been an increase of awareness on how to prevent them in high schools throughout America. The problem is, similar education has been lacking at home and thus students who are recovering from sports injuries are not getting access to the proper care they need.

How can this change? One way is with the help of social media: students can support and inspire each other when going through the same injuries. Helpful ideas can reach many more people through a worldwide network – the Internet. For example, on Facebook there is a sports injuries support group and through an online search, one can find the athletes toolkit. These are just two of the many available resources online that can link athletes to others to give and receive great advice and support. As well, parents and friends of those suffering from a sports injury can garner support and tips like this.

Physical Help Through the Web

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, connecting online in this way can also help the physical side of recovery. Various medical experts have seen that with such a social support network, recovery is aided. People share their woes and worries on blogs, which almost immediately attracts others looking for athletes in the same situation to share their experiences. This way the one going through it at the time, does not have to feel completely isolated. No matter how supportive their doctors, carers, parents and friends are, there’s nothing quite like getting the support of someone who has gone through the same thing; quite simply because they’ve just been there.

While gaining online support is not new (according to Wikipedia, the Internet “has provided a new and successful venue for support groups since at least 1982”), with the recent and continuing increase of the presence of social media, there is just easier access these days and more resources available. And, as Martha Ainsworth on Wikipedia was recorded to have said, “the enduring success of these groups has firmly established the potential of computer-mediated communication to enable discussion of sensitive personal issues.” In addition, people often find the anonymity that is offered by the Internet to be much easier than attending support groups in person.

With sports injury blogs, people feel they have access to all those following their blogs and can thus interact with them and ask for opinions, advice, resources etc. which they can access pretty immediately. Indeed, when Proactive Physical Therapy was set up in New Jersey, it also came with accessibility to staff members through Apps; again showing how social media is becoming an integral part of recovery.

This is not only helpful but potentially extremely inspiring and exciting to see someone who has encountered an injury get up again and resume their sporting activities. Seeing this will definitely inspire those in the moment, work even harder at their recovery.

Dealing with an ACL

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 09:06:00 +0000

Celebrity Sports Injuries

An ACL is what happens when one tears their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This often happens to people engaged in sporting activity. It can be especially detrimental to those who have made sports their livelihood and career. That is exactly what happened to Bernard King of the New York Knicks back in 1985.

As reported in Fitwar, at the time, nearly 30 years ago, it ruined him. He did come back some years later to his team and came in third in the NBA scoring in 1990-91 with 28.4 points for each game, but it was never the same. Ultimately it was the ACL which resulted in his early retirement. He had to have further knee surgery to remove his cartilage as well.

ACL’s Today

Nowadays things are quite different. Rashean Mathis of the Jacksonville Jaguars recently endured the same injury but he’s doing just fine. There are so many more rehabilitative options available for him than there were for King. Thus Mathis is currently working out at his team’s facility. He said, “'I'm not ready to let go of my guys yet - the locker room, the camaraderie we have. That is still a part of me. There will be a day where I wash my hands of it and say, 'The Lord has allowed me to do great things,' but that's not there.” The expectation today is that Mathis will return to football and re-sign with his team even if at some point later on, he moves to a different team. He does plan on going back to professional football though. It seems that his fate will be quite different to that of Bernard King a few decades ago.

Cheerleading Injury Prevention Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:04:00 +0000

Cheerleaders commonly experience accidents while training and performing. Many of these injuries can be minimized and prevented with the proper care. First of all, cheerleaders should limit their stunts. When doing pyramids, cheerleaders are supposed to adhere to the guidelines of only having two body lengths in high school and 2.5 in college with the base cheerleader in contact with the surface where they are performing. There are other strict guidelines for basket tosses, mat use and other tips that help to prevent injuries.

When training, it’s also important for the cheerleaders to have a qualified coach and to have proper training before trying out any stunts. Certainly, when training, cheerleaders should use resistance exercises to gain strength, regular stretching, and only returning to play when clearance has been offered by a medical professional.

All of this should help cheerleaders to stay safe and to properly prepare for their performances.

Martial Arts Injury Prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:25:00 +0000

Martial arts are a wonderful form of exercise, and it’s also a great way for children to learn discipline. It comes with potential injuries, however, and it’s important for children and adults alike who do martial arts to be aware of these potential issues.

Common issues with martial arts include concussions, head/eye/ear and nose injuries, neck injuries and injuries to the extremities.

How can these be prevented? First, before beginning martial arts, you should have a physical exam done to make sure that you are healthy and ready for this sport. You should learn about the potential risks for the sport before you look into exactly which type of martial arts to do.

You should always be training and practicing under the supervision of an experienced teacher. Make sure to do your warm-ups and cool-downs properly and to wear the proper equipment. This might include gloves, mouth protection pieces, headgear, padding, etc.

With these tips, you should be able to keep yourself safe while enjoying your martial arts experience!

Avoiding Baseball Injuries

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:37:00 +0000

Baseball can take its toll on your shoulder and elbow. Injuries in these locations are quite common from overuse and from many other issues. Most of these injuries, however, are preventable with the correct behavior.

To prevent baseball injuries to the elbow and shoulder, make sure to warm up properly by stretching, running and throwing gradually. Players should be rotated throughout the game so that the burden isn’t on any one player. Pitching should be done only in an age-appropriate manner. For instance, a 7-8 year old shouldn’t pitch more than 50 pitches in a game, and a 17-18 year old should max out at 105 pitches. There are even charts for the rest period that pitchers should take between games and the age recommendations for various pitches. Following these can significantly reduce injuries.

Pitchers should not continue if they have elbow or shoulder pain; and, if the pain continues, they should see a doctor. You should communicate regularly about how your arm is feeling and you should work on developing your skill in an age appropriate manner.

Preventing Soccer Injuries

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:58:00 +0000

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world – and it’s gathering speed in the United States. How can you prevent sports injuries and ensure safe playing for kids and adults? Here are some key tips to keep you playing soccer and enjoying without injury.

Make sure that your equipment is all well-fitted, including your cleats and shin guards. Pay attention to the field before you start to play and look for poor conditions, pot holes, etc. Try to play only with fixed goals so that you don’t have accidents with goals falling on players.

Use synthetic balls rather than leather balls, as the leather balls can become waterlogged and be dangerous – especially if you’re heading.

Make sure you stretch before playing and that you avoid overuse. Most injuries happen at the end of games when players are pushing their limits and demanding too much of their bodies. Finally, always stay hydrated and pay attention to the weather conditions before heading out for the game!

Dealing with Shin Splints

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:16:00 +0000

People who complain about pain in the shins after intense running, or after doing a lot of exercise when they don’t usually exercise, may find that they have shin splints. Another word for this is Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome and it is an irritation of the Tibia, or the shin bone.

For runners, this condition comes from over-use or from running on hard surfaces. There are, of course, other reasons that a person might have shin pain; the most common other reasons include Compartment Syndrome or a Stress Fracture. These conditions require testing and a visit to a sports medicine doctor.

For Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, a few common treatments to try before seeing a doctor include: ice packs, arch supporting orthotics and shock absorbing insoles. There are a number of other ideas as well. You can use anti-inflammatory gels, wear a compression sleeve to reduce symptoms, or maintain a running log to track progression.

Ski Safety Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:19:00 +0000

On the slopes, it's essential to pay attention to these tips so that you won't end up with a ski injury. While people think that skiing is a dangerous sport, most injuries on the slopes are due to situations that could have been avoided.

Taking a few ski lessons can actually reduce your chance of injury by as much as 50%. Make sure that your boots are fitted perfectly and have them routinely checked. Bindings should also be checked and maintained.

Certainly, you shouldn't find yourself on a slope that is too difficult for your ability level. Black diamonds, for instance, are only for advanced skiers, and double black diamonds are for truly advanced skiers.

Make sure to be properly warmed up before skiing. While we all agree that it's important to warm up before exercising, many people forget that skiing is also exercising. Stretch your hamstrings before you start, get your quadriceps and calf muscles warm and get your heart rate up a bit.

Finally, before getting on the slopes, make sure to have a good breakfast and to take energy snacks with you along the way. Pay attention as you get tired and give your body the chance to rest when you need to.

Golfer Elbow Explained

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:11:00 +0000

If you've never heard of golfer elbow you can probably breathe a sigh of relief that you haven't had it. It's a similar injury to tennis elbow but the pain is on the inside of the elbow rather than on the outside. It's common with golfers and with tennis players who use a top spin on their forehand shots.

Also referred to as flexor/pronator tendinopathy, it includes pain on the bone bit on the inside of the elbow and weakness in the wrist. It can also include pain when you bend the wrist palm downwards and with thumb downwards.

If you think you have golfer elbow, you can ice the injury for two days (15 minutes at a time for up to six times a day) and rest. See if you can find a brace or support to reduce the pressure on the elbow. If the pain persists, see a sports injury specialist who can help you with treatment and rehab.

A doctor or sports injury specialist will use ultrasound or a laser treatment, prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine and use sports massage techniques with you.

Identifying and Dealing with Concussions

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:59:00 +0000

People in the sports world hear about concussions often, but do they really know what a concussion is or how to identify one? A concussion is an injury to the head that is caused by a blow to the skull. It can involve a loss of consciousness but it doesn’t have to.

The symptoms that someone would see with a mild concussion include slight mental confusion, some memory loss, some ringing in the ears, mild dizziness and pain in the area where the head was hit.

For a moderate concussion, the person will have mental confusion and definite memory loss. There will also be some headache or dizziness and moderate issues with balance. It’s possible that the person will feel nauseous and vomit. Moderate concussions also have a loss of consciousness, but one that is less than five minutes in length.

A severe concussion includes the same symptoms as the moderate concussion but at longer lengths. This would mean, for instance, that the mental confusion would last for more than five minutes, the dizziness would be intense, the amnesia would be prolonged, etc.

If an athlete thinks that he has had a concussion, or if he experiences a blunt hit to the head, he should be removed from the competition and not left alone. He needs medical attention immediately and he should avoid contact sports for at least three weeks.

When Your Running Injury Needs Atention

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:02:00 +0000

If you are a runner, then you know that you’re likely to deal with aches and pains at times. You can usually run through most of these aches without having any permanent damage. As an initial treatment for injuries, you should try R.I.C.E. which includes Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

If, however, this plan doesn’t work in about two to three weeks, it’s probably time to seek out a sports medicine professional for help.

Similarly, if you have any of the following symptoms, then it may also be time to seek assistance from a professional. These include sever pain in joints or bones, pain that radiates from a different area of the body, injuries that are painful to touch, significant swelling, difficulty moving part of your body, or numbness or tingling in a certain area.

Rotator Cuff Injuries

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:04:00 +0000

If you think that you’ve torn your rotator cuff, it is certainly important to seek medical attention. Here is a way to know if you need medical help. You should go to the doctor is the pain continues for 2-3 days, if you can’t work because of the pain, if you can’t reach up or to the side with the arm that is injured after 2-3 days, or if you can’t move either the shoulder or arm at all.

When you go to the doctor, you’ll be asked for a complete medical history and you’ll have both shoulders looked at for comparison. They will also take a look at your neck, elbows and wrists to make sure that there aren’t injuries there that are contributing to the problem.

You’ll be asked to make certain movements to see how limited your range of movement is and the clinician will also initiate some movements to see how you feel and what you can do. It’s possible that they will do certain tests to identify which tendon is causing the problem and to make a confirmation that it’s the rotator cuff that’s torn and not simply an inflammation or other issue.

Floating for Sports Injury Relief

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:50:00 +0000

While this may sound slightly strange, one alternative method of relieving sports injuries is through floatation. Floatation? Yes. Floatation actually takes the pressure off of your sore joints and muscles and allows your body to relax. It increases blood circulation and accelerates your healing process.

The way that it works is that an athlete goes to a floatation rehab center and goes into the floatation pod. Sessions are usually an hour long. The lid of the floatation tank can either be closed or left open and the lights in the room can either be turned off or left on. The salt water in the pod allows the athlete to continue floating.

Sports psychologists are well aware of the benefits of relaxation and of floatation for rehab. It balances the autonomous nervous system, reduces stress and anxiety and takes the pressure off of joints. It also helps the athlete to improve concentration and to learn to relax, which can enhance performance.

Preventing Gymnastics Injuries

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:01:00 +0000

Most people would be surprised to learn that there are more than 86,000 gymnastics-related injuries seen by hospitals, doctors, clinics and ambulatory surgery centers each year. These injuries are usually in the ankles, feet, lower back, knees, wrists and hands and are usually due to overuse or stress, although they are also from falls.

In order to protect yourself during gymnastics, it is important to follow certain safety tips. Wear all of the proper safety gear including pads and braces as needed. Don’t continue to just play through the pain that you experience. If you have hurt yourself, you should consult with a doctor and get the treatment that you need.

Inspect all equipment before going on it to make sure that it is in good condition and that it includes the proper padded floors, secured mats and safety harnesses that you need.

Finally, make sure to warm up your muscles before you start your training or before you jump into new activities.

Dealing with Shin Splints

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 09:49:00 +0000

Athletes and others often get shin splints and don’t even know that this is the pain they are experiencing. Shin splints are due to a change in activity level, such as running or walking for much longer than a person is used to. They are often found in the military, from military training and can also be found with people with flat feet. They are pain that is located along the inside edge of the tibia, which is the large bone in the lower part of the leg.

The pain is actually caused by the swelling or inflammation of the muscles, tendons and the thin layer of tissue that covers the shin bone.

Most of the time, shin splints simply require rest at home. The athlete should rest completely for at least two weeks and then, if the pain is gone, they can go back to their activities but do so slowly. It is also important to warm up and stretch before and after doing exercise.

Shin splints are rarely serious; however, you should call a medical professional if the pain continues even after you’ve rested, if you’re not clear that the pain is from shin splints, if you have a stress fracture and if you’re simply not getting better.

Sports Injury Prevention Video for Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:24:00 +0000

Learn about important stretches that can help girls to keep their injuries on the field to a minimum and keep them ready for the game. Doing the right stretches and exercises before engaging in athletic activities can make all the difference.

Overtraining with Weights

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:57:00 +0000

Today, almost all athletes are encouraged to train with weights. Many athletes don’t know, however, exactly how much weight training they should do. This can result in a situation where they are overtraining and straining their muscles.

Overtraining occurs when either training volume or training intensity is excessive. It is vitally important to understand that these two variables are inversely related; when your training volume is the highest, your training intensity needs to be low and vice versa.

Many athletes, believing that more is better, will push both their training volume and their training intensity to levels that are not healthy. Athletes, therefore, should consult with a trained weight trainer who can tailor make a program based on the athletes individual needs, weight, muscle mass and more.

Risks When Running on Sand and Grass

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:22:00 +0000

While many runners think that running on sand or grass can decrease their risk of injury – they are actually increasing their risk. Sports medicine experts actually report more sprains, strains and even tendonitis because runners who are using these surfaces are actually running on uneven and inconsistent locations.

In addition, these surfaces often have slopes, creating off-center forces on the ankles and feet. With time, if runners consistently run on sand or grass, they may experience tendonitis, inflammation of joints and tendons and fractures.

While this information is important to keep in mind, it doesn’t mean that you should never run on grass or sand. Soft surfaces are helpful for reducing stress and impact. Experts advise that runners who want to use soft surfaces such as dirt roads, smooth fields, sand and running tracks, should build up slowly and pay careful attention to the surface. They should also wear the right type of footwear to minimize the chance of injury.

Tips for Preventing Sports Injuries

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:53:00 +0000

Anyone can incur a sports injury while exercising or playing a sport. It’s very important, therefore, to know what to do when you exericse – and what NOT to do. Here are four very basic tips to help you prevent injuries while you enjoy your exercise routine.

Don’t ignore pain. If your body is in pain, it’s telling you something. Chances are that if you continue with your routine, you will end up in even more pain and will do more damage to yourself.

Don’t ignore medical conditions and pre-existing conditions. If you know of health issues or problems that you have, speak with your doctor before starting to exercise.

While many of us are creatures of habits, it’s actually beneficial to vary your routine. Rather than doing exactly the same exercise routine every day, try doing some cross training. Go running one day, swim the next, enjoy aerobics a third, etc.

Finally, give your body some days off. Many people think that they have to continue exercising everyday. Instead, it’s actually important to give your body some days off so that it can rebuild muscle tissue. Build rest and recovery into yoru routine and your body will thank you later!

Indian Head Massage Therapies

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:20:00 +0000

One creative form of alternative therapy for sports injuries is Indian head massage. This alternative therapy involves massaging the scalp, neck, face and shoulders. The technique involved with Indian head massage includes an ancient Hindi form of treatment developed by Ayurvedic healing.

The treatment focuses on the idea that the body has in it energy channels which, at times, get blocked. The treatment serves to unblock these channels so that the energy can flow properly through the body again. Negative energy causes many of the ailments a person might experience including headaches, migraines, fatigue, neck pain, insomnia, sinusitis and more.

Today, Indian head massage is typically used to relieve stress and tension in the neck and to improve blood flow in these areas. It can be very effectively used to relieve headaches, to reduce neck pains and to relieve stress. It can also help with concentration issues and to stimulate hair growth.

Reflexology for Rehabilitation

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:14:00 +0000

There are, as we all know, many traditional types of rehabilitation from a sports injury. There are also many complimentary ways to add to your recovery and to build back your strength. One of these methods is called reflexology and it's a type of massage where pressure is applied to specific areas of the feet. The idea is that there are reflex points all along the foot that relate directly to points in other areas of the body.

A trained reflexologist will put pressure on various parts of the foot to cause reactions in other areas of the body. This treatment, which has been used for thousands of years, looks at the body as a whole and they see the feet as representative of the entire body.

Reflexology doesn't claim that it's going to cure all ailments; rather it's a supplementary treatment that can be used in addition to others. It has been shown to be successful with migraines, breathing problems, hormone imbalances, sinus problems, digestive issues, circulation problems, back pains and stress. Certainly, it's worth a try for those who have been injured and can work nicely in combination with other therapies.

Alternative Rehab Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Son Ngo) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:14:00 +0000

There are many ways outside of those that people normally consider to strengthen your muscles and to prevent injuries. Similarly, many of these exercises work well to rehabilitate after an injury.

Some of the recommended exercises include: Swiss ball exercises, free weight exercises, body weight exercises, resistance machine exercises and resistance band exercises. Each of these works to strengthen your muscles and to help your body to recover. Obviously, none of these activities should be done without consulting with a physician and ensuring proper use of the equipment.

Swiss ball exercises are a great way to tone, to work each of your muscle groups and to add core strengthening to your training. The Swiss ball is also called, at times, a fit ball or a physio ball. Finding out more about these types of exercises can be a great way to add to your rehabilitation and to your exercise routine.