An injury while exercising, playing a game or during a standard physical activity can be annoying. Most believe that they will rest a bit and slowly come back to what they love. However, pain doesn’t always subside. Rather, the same feelings of pain, stiffness, or weakness are present when moving.
Today we will be going over what to do if a sports injury is not healing and how Sports Medicine San Diego can assist. Knowing when to go to a professional for help can make it easier to deal with the injury before it starts to become a problem with daily tasks.
Why Some Sports Injuries Take Longer to Heal
All injuries don’t heal at the same rate. Depending on the severity of the injury, a minor injury can heal with rest, whereas a major injury may take a long time. What this means is that if a person goes back to workouts too soon, they may also be putting a strain on an area that hasn’t recovered yet.
Sometimes, there’s more to it than the original injury. These can also help to cause discomfort if you have weakness, lack of mobility or poor movement patterns, and if you are straining the same muscle repeatedly. A professional assessment will be done to determine what may be delaying recovery.
When Should You See a Sports Medicine Provider?
Some soreness following exercise is normal. But chronic pain should not be just ignored, particularly when it begins to interfere with daily activities or function.
If the pain persists, if it returns after resuming activity, or if swelling, weakness, reduced range of motion and/or instability are present, see a professional. A Sports Medicine San Diego provider will be able to assess the injury and suggest a suitable treatment course of action.
What Happens During an Evaluation?
Typically, a sports medicine evaluation starts with a discussion of the injury. The provider might ask about the cause, onset, and aggravating factors for the symptoms and if previous treatments were helpful.
Physical examination may also be conducted to evaluate strength, flexibility, range of motion and movement. Further tests or imaging may be suggested based on the injury. This can aid in developing a plan to treat the individual’s condition, not every injury, based on the information provided.
How Can Sports Medicine Support Recovery?
In the field of sports medicine, recovery from injury is the primary focus, as well as preventing injury and improving the ability to move safely. Depending on the injury, treatment can involve manual techniques, strengthening exercises, stretching, physical rehabilitation, or other non-surgical methods.
The aim is not just to alleviate pain temporarily. A carefully designed recovery program may also focus on issues that might have been a contributing factor to the injury, and help the person slowly resume normal activities.
What About Chiropractic Care?
When an appropriate sports injury treatment plan is in place, chiropractic treatment could be part of it. A chiropractor in San Diego specializes in sports medicine can evaluate movement and musculoskeletal function and can apply manual therapy techniques to enhance motion.
These may be beneficial, especially if stiffness or mobility limitations are causing discomfort. But always, treatment should be based on the injury sustained and the person’s health.
Returning to Activity Safely
The biggest error made by athletes and active adults is to return to their routine too soon. You may feel better, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the injured area has recovered.
Slowly moving back into activity will help strength and mobility improve over time. Carefully following the recommendations of a provider and gradually moving exercises can help to minimize unnecessary stress on the recovering area.
Preventing Future Injuries
There’s also an opportunity to learn, during recovery, how the same type of injury can be avoided again. Strength training, a good warm-up, mobility exercises, technique and good rest can all contribute to safer physical activity.
A sports medicine specialist can also detect movement patterns or muscle imbalances that need to be corrected before returning to more challenging activities.
Final Thoughts
If the sports injury does not seem to be healing, then it should be addressed, not pushed through. Appropriate evaluation at an early stage can help to determine why recovery may be stalled and offer a more viable route forward.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any treatment or wellness program.
