Sports injury rehab involves a combination of methods that include chiropractic care, massage therapy, stretches, and self-treatment plans. Our goal is to not only repair damaged muscles and joints but to reduce the chance of the injury happening again in the future.

Working through the pain of an injury can cause overuse injuries, which leads to reduced mobility and potentially permanent injuries.

Common Sports Injuries

• Disc herniation
• Whiplash
• Muscle tears
• Ligament tears (ACL tear or meniscal tear)
• Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow (tendonitis)
• Chronic joint pain
• Foot pain (plantar fasciitis)
• Sprained ankle
• Pulled muscles
• Lower back pain
• Neck pain
• Rotator cuff injury
• Back pain

Can Chiropractic Help With Sports Injury Rehabilitation?

Contact sports such as football and lacrosse are the most likely to cause injuries that would require a chiropractor. These can include spinal misalignment, disc herniation, pinched nerves, and whiplash – among others. Injuries to the leg, groin or even the shoulder can cause people to change their gait or posture, causing back and hip pain.

Chiropractors are experts at diagnosing and managing sports-related injuries. Many times, their quick understanding of the human frame can identify not only the cause of pain but also aid them in developing an appropriate treatment plan.

Chiropractic treatment after a sports injury can:

• Reduce pain
• Relax tired muscles
• Proactively reduce the chance of injury recurrence

How Can Seeing a Massage Therapist Assist Sports Injury Rehabilitation?

The body naturally removes toxins through exercise. Sometimes, though, poor hydration or a lack of stretching can cause the toxins to get stuck in the body. When these toxins rest over muscles, this can cause them to be sore and tight. It can also cause injuries.

A massage therapist at The Rejuvenation Center may use some of these therapies for your injury, to relieve pain and increase the range of motion. Each person is different, so therapy may include a combination of these methods as well as others.

Trigger point therapy

Trigger points are tiny nodules that form within muscle tissue and can refer pain to many different areas of the body. Rather than working on the areas where pain is felt, trigger point therapy seeks to identify and release the trigger point itself thereby eliminating all referred pain. Treatment involves consultation, frequent feedback, and a series of pressure and release cycles.

Swedish massage

A light to medium pressure flowing massage that allows for deep relaxation. This modality may be used to treat body issues resulting from stress and anxiety.

Deep tissue massage

A targeted deep pressure massage that focuses on the deeper layers and on tissue surrounding muscles. Treatment aims to relieve chronic muscle tension and acute pain and may involve slow static pressure and deep breath techniques.

Sports massage

Living here in the mountains affords all kinds of opportunities to pursue a sport you love. From mountain-specific sports such as trail running, rock climbing, and mountain biking, to more widely accessible sports like swimming, weight training, and basketball. The truth is that repeatedly participating in the same sport can cause imbalance in the body. Overuse injuries, unevenly developed muscles, and range of motion issues can creep in, hindering performance and enjoyment of your sport. Sports massage targets injured, shortened, or overused muscles. Treatment is based on the specific issues common to your sport and is aimed at enhancing performance, relieving pain, and re-balancing the body. Treatment may involve stretching, kneading, and re-balancing exercises. Your therapist may recommend exercises or stretches to do at home to complement your sport and reduce tightness and injury.  

Craniosacral therapy

Intended to treat headaches, migraine, and nerve tissue damage, craniosacral is subtle work that produces powerful results. This modality aims to unwind and release stuck facia, the tissue surrounding and connecting all muscles. This can stimulate the nervous system and allow healing to take place. Treatment is relaxing and focuses on the spinal column including the neck, the head, and the sacrum.

Regular Sports Massage Can Reduce the Risk of Injury

A massage doesn’t have to be a luxury item or something that happens after an injury. An athlete that lives an active lifestyle would benefit from regular sports massage. The purpose of the massage is to increase the range of motion, mobility, and relieve muscle tension. Sports massage is a common and accepted integrated medical practice for athletes.

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching, when done after exercise has been found to improve performance in sports such as jogging, with some studies showing a “significant increase in both stride rate and stride length after a five-week PNF stretching protocol.”  Another study showed PNF stretching had similar effectiveness to weight training and increased vertical jump and throwing distances.  PNF also works to keep the muscles open so that they perform optimally. Therapy times can vary from 10 minutes to an hour, based on the person and the type of activity performed.

An entire treatment plan is not necessary in order to incorporate a sports massage into your regular workout routine. It is particularly helpful if you find yourself struggling with certain issues such as shin splints, muscle cramping, or decreased range of motion. Integrating massage is an excellent way to boost your workout, and help your body transition easier.

Frequently Asked Questions