Even if you never wore a letter jacket in high school you may deal with chronic pain from an old sports injury. Maybe you injured yourself playing a pick-up game of basketball at the park, you popped out of your bindings on a ski trip, years of tennis have wrecked your elbow, or perhaps you hurt yourself lifting weights at the gym.
Accidents and injuries are fairly common in sports, exercise, and physical activity. Sometimes these sports injuries result in chronic pain that you must deal with years after the event. A sports medicine doctor can help you manage, treat, and prevent injuries from physical activity. Here’s some information on managing old sports injuries and ways to prevent sports injuries.
Managing chronic injury
Acute pain typically goes within a few months. Chronic pain, however, can last for years, and often gets worse over time. Sports injuries can be a source of chronic pain.
There are a number of options when it comes to treating or managing chronic pain from sports injuries.
- chiropractic care
- stretching
- physical activity
- range of motion exercises
- movement limitation
- medication
- surgery
- physical therapy
- exercise that doesn’t put strain on your joints, such as swimming
- heat and cold treatments
- electrical stimulation
The type of treatment you need depends on the nature of your injury. If you suffer from chronic pain you should consult a sports medicine doctor. A doctor who specializes in sports medicine can help you determine which treatment options are right for your specific needs.
Treat your injuries properly
Treat sports injuries properly when they first occur. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) are generally effective for immediate treatment of strains, sprains, or other similar injuries. However, not all sports injuries can be effectively treated on your own.
Even something as seemingly minor as a sprained ankle can lead to chronic pain that will last for the rest of your life. It’s wise to visit a sports medicine doctor even if you don’t consider your sports related injury to be a serious injury. A doctor can help ensure that you heal properly, and help prevent chronic pain.
Sports medicine doctors in Northwest Arkansas
Don’t just grit your teeth and put up with the pain from old sports injuries.
Doctors who specialize in sports medicine are trained to help restore function and mobility to injured patients, help patients prevent injuries, and help promote good physical health. A sports medicine doctor can help advise treatment for injuries sustained during physical activity.
Dr. Clinton Turner is a MANA physician who specializes in sports medicine.
Millennium Chiropractic Sports Medicine and Rehab offers sports medicine and chiropractic care.
There are also several physical therapists within the MANA network who are licensed healthcare professionals dedicated to helping patients improve their quality of life.