Chiropractic and Active Release for Sports Injuries

Most athletic injuries are a combination of improper joint mechanics and repetitive overuse of muscles and joints. 

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a serious competitive athlete, Chiropractic treatment can help improve spinal biomechanics and athletic performance, while decreasing recovery time and your chances of re-injury. 

Chiropractic, when combined with Active Release Technique and Kinesio Taping, can be incredibly effective when treating sports injuries.  In fact, this combination of treatment can often get you out of pain and back in the game faster than conventional treatment.  Bellevue Chiropractor Dr. Keith McGahey has been successfully treating amateur and professional athletes alike since 1998. 

 

What Types of Sports Injuries can Chiropractic Help?

For a more information about specific sports injuries, running in juries, strains and sprains, refer to the Active Release Technique (ART) section on the top menu. 

 

Muscle Pulls (muscle strain)

A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon. This usually occurs when a muscle is placed under excessive force or stretched beyond its limit.  Muscle strains can range from mild (only a small amount of fibers are torn) to severe where there is a significant tearing of muscle fibers. They often occur where the muscle joins the tendon and can be quite painful. 

Once a strain occurs, the muscle is very susceptible to re-injury so it’s important to seek treatment to insure proper healing.  Active Release Technique is especially effective at treating muscle strains.

 

Strain Injury

A sprain is an injury to a ligament, which is the thick, fibrous tissue that connects bones to each other. 

Ligaments are designed to hold joints together and make them strong and stable. However, if a ligament is stretched too far it can become injured (mild or moderat sprain) or torn (severe sprain). 

Once a sprain occurs, your body can deposit scar tissue in the injured area, causing the affected joint to become ‘bound up’, stiff and weak.

Although severe sprains may need surgery, mild to moderate sprains respond very well to conservative care like Chiropractic.  Chiropractic mobilization and Active Release Technique (ART) together can help reduce pain, improve joint range of motion, and speed up healing.  This approach works very well for old sports injuries as well.

 

Tendonitis

Tendonitis is a painful, nagging condition that occurs when a tendon becomes inflamed from repetitive use of a joint. This type of injury is common in athletes who over-train or perform repetitive movements, and usually becomes worse over time with continuing use. 

Tennis elbow and rotator cuff tendonitis (shoulder) can occur with repetitive movements of the arm such as throwing.  Iliotibial band (IT band) syndrome, patellar tendonitis (knee), and Achilles tendonitis (back of the heel) occur with repetitive use of the leg and are common running injuries.

 

Chiropractic and Active Release Treatment for Sports Injuries

Chiropractic and Active Release Technique are an effective combination in the treatment of sports injuries.  Chiropractic joint mobilization and Active Release Technique can help to improve joint mechanics and speed up recovery, while decreasing pain and stiffness. RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation is effective at reducing inflammation and speeding up healing.

This combination of treatment can help reduce the risk of re-injury, and return the athlete to training more quickly than passive therapies such as bracing and rest.

 

Effective Treatment for Sports Injuries in Bellevue, WA

If you’re interested in learning about how Chiropractic and Active Release Technique can help your sports injury, please consider scheduling a consultation with Dr. Keith McGahey.  His Chiropractic clinic, Eastside Chiropractic Group, is located in Bellevue, WA near Overlake Hospital.  Open Saturdays, same day appointments are available, and consultations are ALWAYS FREE!  Call:  (425) 455-2711.