Sports activities are a regular way of life for many of us now, and involve people from across all age groups from those who have an avid interest to those who just wish to keep fit; from the elite professional to the casual participant.
Many of the injuries are the result of overuse i.e. playing too hard and too often e.g. tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and biceps tendinitis, or from not warming up properly beforehand or not cooling down after exercise.
Sometimes incorrect equipment can lead to injury - ill-fitting footwear can cause hip, knee and foot injury (e.g. Achilles injuries).
Reduced joint flexibility will affect the degree of performance and may result in injury if the player is unaware that they cannot perform to the same level as they used to, for example golfers who cannot turn at the waist as well as they used to, and the enthusiastic older footballer whose knees do not bend as well as they once did.
Young people are especially vulnerable in sport as their growing bodies are often expected to perform to high standards and they put themselves under exceptional physical demands.
The good news is that although sports injuries are common, those who are fit tend to recover more quickly and easily from their injuries.
Here at Usk Osteopathy we can help improve performance as well as treat the injuries being suffered.
By using our knowledge of diagnosis and highly developed palpatory skills we can help to restore structural balance, improve joint mobility and reduce adhesions and soft–tissue restrictions so that ease of movement is restored and performance enhanced.
For those of you wishing to keep fit, a regular Sports Massage can help you keep supple and improve muscle tone, so reducing the risk of injury to soft-tissues unaccustomed to the extra work they are being asked to do.