Here in the United States we love sports. In fact, it is estimated that every year, nearly two-thirds of Americans watch sporting events in general on TV and an even higher percentage watch football. Through our love of sports and competition, we see many sports related injuries each year as well. Though some are cringe-worthy, there are plenty of less severe injuries that play out on fields across the country, and the globe, each year. Sports injury is not just limited to professional sports either. An estimated 1.35 million children suffer sports injuries each year according to Safe Kids Worldwide. And many more weekend warriors and casual sports enthusiasts, fitness buffs and runners succumb to injury as well.
There are literally hundreds of different kinds of sports injuries but some parts of the body are more prone to injury than others. The top three categories of sports injury: ankle sprains, shoulder injuries and knee injuries account for 80% of overall injury. Last week we took a closer look at tennis elbow, which makes the top 10 sports injury list at number 4. Today we will look closer at the third most common kind of sports injury, ankle sprains, and how to prevent and treat them.
Baseball fans watching the Minnesota Twins last week got a first hand look at the results of an ankle sprain when Jason Bartlett was sidelined after a play and placed on the DL list. Not just common, but practically inevitable in any sport where there is jumping, running and turning quickly such as baseball, soccer, hockey and volleyball, ankle sprains are the result of a torn tendon or ligament from twisting the ankle. Preventative measures such as strengthening the ankle with weight bearing exercise, taping or wearing a brace on the ankle can help but unfortunately do not guarantee that a sprain will not occur. If an ankle sprain does occur, the traditional methods of treatment have been anti-inflammatory drugs and RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). Today, there are more options for faster acting and better treatments available than ever before and Chiropractic Neurology offers just such a treatment plan.
Treating sports injuries nearly every day, Dr. Marc Ellis and his team at the Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center understand the intricate workings of the brain and body and the connective tissues that make the ankles, knees, shoulders, joints and complete body function optimally. Combining sports therapies with neurological applications that address the individual underlying needs of the patient restores function, improves flexibility and quickly returns patients to the proper form and best possible state of well being. Using advanced treatments and proven methods that strengthen and rehabilitate the body, the healing process is sped up and the body is stabilized. Dr. Ellis’ expertise in injury rehab has helped many athletes, from beginner to professional, and everywhere in between, as well as the everyday pains and injuries that are non-sports related, placing emphasis not only on correcting injury, but also preventing future injury.