Sports Injuries

For individuals into sports, fitness enthusiasts, and those that engage in physical activities, musculoskeletal injuries are common. Can using ice tape help during the initial or acute phase of injury decrease inflammation and swelling to expedite recovery and return to activities sooner?

Ice Tape

After a musculoskeletal injury, individuals are recommended to follow the R.I.C.E. method to help reduce swelling and inflammation.  R.I.C.E. is the acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. (Michigan Medicine. University of Michigan. 2023) The cold helps to decrease pain, lower tissue temperature, and decrease swelling around the site of the injury. By controlling the inflammation with ice and compression early after injury, individuals can maintain the appropriate range of motion and mobility around the injured body part. (Jon E. Block. 2010) There are different ways to apply ice to an injury.

• Store-bought ice bags and cold packs.
• Soaking the injured body part in a cold whirlpool or tub.
• Making reusable ice packs.
• A compression bandage can be used together with the ice.

Ice Tape is a compression bandage that provides cold therapy all at once. After an injury, applying it can help decrease the pain and swelling during the acute inflammatory phase of healing. (Matthew J. Kraeutler et al., 2015)

How The Tape Works

The tape is a flexible bandage that is infused with therapeutic cooling gel. When applied to an injured body part and exposed to air, the gel activates, generating a cold sensation around the area. The therapeutic medicinal effect can last five to six hours. Combined with a flexible bandage, it provides ice therapy and compression. The ice tape can be used straight out of the package but can also be stored in the refrigerator to increase the cold effect. Depending on the maker's instructions, the tape should not be stored in the freezer as this can make it too hard to wrap around the injured area.

Advantages

The benefits include the following:

Easy to Use

• The product is easy to use.
• Take out the tape, and start wrapping it around the injured body part.

Fasteners Not Required

• The wrap sticks to itself, so the tape stays in place without using clips or fasteners.

Easy to Cut

• The standard roll is 48 inches long by 2 inches wide.
• Most injuries require enough to wrap around the injured area.
• Scissors cut the exact amount needed, and store the rest in the resealable bag.

Reusable

• After 15 to 20 minutes of application, the product can be easily removed, rolled up, stored in the bag, and used again.
• The tape can be used multiple times.
• The tape begins to lose its cooling quality after several uses.

Portable

• The tape does not need to be placed in a cooler when traveling.
• It is easily portable and perfect for a quick ice and compression application immediately after an injury.
• It can decrease pain and inflammation and kept at the workplace.

Disadvantages

A few disadvantages include the following:

Chemical Odor

• The gel on the flexible wrap can have a medicine odor.
• It is not quite as powerful smelling as pain creams, but the chemical odor could bother some individuals.

Might Not Be Cold Enough

• The tape works for immediate pain relief and inflammation, but it may not get cold enough for the user when applied right from the package at room temperature.
• However, it can be placed in a refrigerator to increase the coldness and may provide a more therapeutic cooling effect, especially for those dealing with tendinitis or bursitis.

Stickiness Could Be Distracting

• The tape could be a bit sticky for some.
• This sticky factor can be a minor annoyance.
• However, it just feels sticky when being applied.
• A couple of flecks of the gel may get left behind when removed.
• The ice tape can also stick to clothing.

For individuals looking for a quick, on-the-go cooling therapy for injured or aching body parts, ice tape may be an option. It could be good to have on hand to provide cooling compression if a minor injury occurs while participating in athletics or physical activities and relief for overuse or repetitive strain injuries.

Treating Ankle Sprains

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research studies or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please contact Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Michigan Medicine. University of Michigan. Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE).

Block J. E. (2010). Cold and compression in the management of musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic operative procedures: a narrative review. Open access journal of sports medicine, 1, 105–113. https://doi.org/10.2147/oajsm.s11102

Kraeutler, M. J., Reynolds, K. A., Long, C., & McCarty, E. C. (2015). Compressive cryotherapy versus ice-a prospective, randomized study on postoperative pain in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair or subacromial decompression. Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery, 24(6), 854–859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2015.02.004

Acute and chronic sports injuries. Individuals that participate in sports or physical activities have an increased risk of experiencing an injury. These types of damages range from minor to severe and could require medical attention. Acute sports injuries happen suddenly and are usually the result of trauma to the area. A specific, identifiable incident is what causes an acute injury. Chronic sports injuries, also known as repetitive/overuse injuries, happen with time and are not caused by a single incident.

Acute and Chronic Sports Injuries Identification

Acute injuries can be identified by their cause. This could be a falling down during a run, sharp pain that presents in the shoulder after a throw, or a sprained ankle. The ability to focus on one cause usually means it’s acute. Acute injuries are characterized by:

• Sudden pain in an area where there was none.
• Swelling
• Redness
• Tenderness
• Limited range of motion.
• The inability of the injured area to support its weight.
• A broken bone.
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Chronic injuries are different but are usually easy to identify. The pain begins gradually, usually over weeks or months. Repetitive activities like running, throwing, swinging can exacerbate the pain. However, it is difficult to point to a specific issue that first caused the discomfort or pain. Chronic sports injuries are characterized by:

• Pain and tenderness in the area, especially during and immediately after activity.
• Minor swelling and limited range of motion.
• Dull pain when resting.

These two types of injuries have different causes - trauma for acute and wear-and-tear for chronic - they can both result in similar issues. For example, shoulder rotator cuff injuries are common, especially those that repeatedly use their shoulder to swing, throw, swim, etc. The individual needs to undergo a rotator cuff injury test to diagnose the injury correctly, whether the damage is acute or chronic. Chronic injuries can cause acute injuries, and acute injuries can lead to chronic injuries if left untreated.

Examples of Acute and Chronic Sports Injuries

Chronic and acute injuries are common in every type of sport. There’s an opportunity for both types of injuries. The most common include:

Acute Injuries:

• Sprain and Strains
• Burners and Stingers
• A.C.L. Tears
• Rotator Cuff Tear
• Dislocated Shoulder
• Broken Bones or Fractures
• Concussion
• Whiplash

Chronic Injuries:

• Runner’s Knee
• Achilles Tendon Issues
• Shin Splints
• Swimmer’s Shoulder
• Lateral epicondylitis tennis elbow
• Stress Fractures

Other injuries from trauma, overuse, or both include:

• Nonspecific Back Pain
• Herniated Disc/s
• Spondylolysis

Treatment

Minor acute injuries can be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation, aka R.I.C.E. Overuse injuries, are different as the injury has been gradually increasing in its severity, possibly causing scar tissue and ganglion cysts to develop. To prevent the injury from worsening, it’s recommended to see a sports injury chiropractor or physical therapist. These professionals can help heal the body and educate the individual on self-care and prevention.

Chiropractic

The musculoskeletal system takes a beating. Chronic injuries usually affect the bones, joints, muscles, or a combination. Chiropractic helps keep the musculoskeletal system limber and in proper alignment. Adjustments include:

• Neck adjustments
• Arm and hand adjustments
• Shoulder adjustments
• Knee adjustments
• Hip adjustments
• Foot adjustments

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy for a chronic injury can help prevent future injuries. A physical therapist helps:

• Improve range of motion
• Reduces pain and swelling
• Increases strength

Whether an athlete or are just staying active and having some fun with sports, acute and chronic injuries can sneak up and worsen if they are not treated properly. Healing with the help of a professional can quicken recovery time and prevent future injuries.

Body Composition

Maintain Muscle Mass While Losing Fat

Individuals that want to lose weight should focus on losing excess fat tissue, not muscle mass. Studies have shown that diet and exercise are crucial to preserving Skeletal Muscle Mass while losing weight. Losing weight healthily includes:

• A healthy balance of cardio and resistance training to burn calories and build muscle.
• A caloric deficit diet to burn through extra fat stores.
• Get enough protein to support and maintain healthy muscle mass.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Cava, Edda et al. “Preserving Healthy Muscle during Weight Loss.” Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) vol. 8,3 511-519. 15 May. 2017, doi:10.3945/an.116.014506

https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sports-injuries

https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00007256-199418030-00004

https://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/FullText/2010/09000/An_Overview_of_Strength_Training_Injuries__Acute.14.aspx?casa_token=8sCDJWxhcOMAAAAA:CDEFNkTlCxFkl-77MtALBQAkttW0PqWwCj4masQzEcYOJNuwFKyZgHZ9npQoHhWgMKOPSbnkLyfcQACYGpuu7gg

Wörtler, K, and C Schäffeler. “Akute Sportverletzungen und chronische Überlastungsschäden an Vor- und Mittelfuß” [Acute sports injuries and chronic overuse stress damage to the forefoot and midfoot]. Der Radiologe vol. 55,5 (2015): 417-32. doi:10.1007/s00117-015-2855-3

Yang, Jingzhen et al. “Epidemiology of overuse and acute injuries among competitive collegiate athletes.” Journal of athletic training vol. 47,2 (2012): 198-204. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-47.2.198

Fraser, a promising young Australian Rules football player who had sustained an inversion sprain of the ankle. I saw him soon after the episode and it seemed like the rehabilitation process would be short and straightforward. I was confident enough about this to inform the coaching team that Fraser would shortly return to the training paddock, ready for the upcoming final series. As it turned out, I was wrong. Injury specialist, Dr. Alexander Jimenez assesses the case further.

A couple of weeks passed; Fraser's ankle selection of motion returned and he managed to finish stationary balance exercises and strengthening exercises. However he couldn't hop on the bad leg or operate without ankle pain. I began to think that this rehabilitation cycle might become a little extended.

He was then sent to see a sports doctor to seek further explanation as to why the injury was taking so long to heal. The sports doctor thought that the young footballer should adopt a "wait and see strategy," sitting outside the rest of the season and starting to train again in the brief off-season. This advice did not go down well either with the athlete himself, or the coaching team.

Six weeks after, when I next saw Fraser, he still could not jump on the leg pain-free, so was still unable to do any running. He had rehabilitated his ankle as far as he could, but just could not get past this step. He still had swelling over the ATFL, but had full range of motion with no laxity in any of the supporting ligaments.

It was then that I tried a different treatment technique, a posterior glide of the fibula in the lateral malleolus. I recorded the fibula in a posterior direction, and Fraser managed to jump pain-free for the very first time in 19 weeks. It was a miracle.

Or maybe not: Brian Mulligan, the mythical New Zealand physio, has provided the physiotherapy profession with numerous guide techniques to help fix joint immobilities and subluxations. This is but one of the invaluable therapy methods he prescribes (1).

I saw Fraser again 10 days later and he had been up to conducting 1.5km without pain; he was also positive that he would complete his rehabilitation before pre-season training.

The fascinating thing about all this is that I'd already attempted Mulligan's posterior glide two months earlier, with no effect -- no decrease in pain nor increase in function. Why did tape and the manual gliding of the fibula belatedly help, and why had it not assisted at a previous stage?

The answer can be found in the anatomy of the anterior ankle. Irritation in the lower edge of the inferior tibio-fibular ligament and the very front of the anterior talo-fibular fascia can thicken these ligaments, setting up a series of knock-on effects. The irritated and thickened tissue becomes vulnerable to getting pinched between the tibia and talus as the foot is dorsiflexed. The ligaments may also begin to rub on the joint capsule of the ankle, which can inflame the synovial lining of the capsule, causing synovitis. Finally, the inflamed ligaments can form too much scar tissue along the front and side of the ankle joint, creating a small mass of tissue called a meniscoid lesion. Dorsiflexing the ankle can trap the tissue between the edge of the ankle joint, causing pain, popping, and a feeling that the ankle will give way and not support body weight.

However, my first effort at this therapy, had, I think, been too early, once the area was probably still overly inflamed to reply positively. Only when the structures had all calmed down was it possible to proceed in the rehabilitation.

When treating acute ankle sprains, caregivers are educated to encourage the client to regain ankle dorsiflexion as soon as possible, because study shows that the earlier the person regains this motion, the earlier they will be back to normal function. In years past I have awakened many customers pain by making them do repeated dorsiflexion exercises, or simply by mobilizing the anterior ankle joints.

Now I'm being much more competitive about pushing my clients to recover this dorsiflexion, as sometimes this can clearly result in more irritation -- slowing rather than speeding recovery. There was not anything unusual about Fraser's ankle injury concerning the origin -- it was only a great deal of damage to a very sensitive portion of the ankle joint.

I feel the moral of this brief story is that the therapist needs to add up all the information offered by the patient and treat them without using a pre-determined recipe. Think anatomically, picture what has happened to the tissues and don't be afraid to revise your strategy as you proceed; this will direct you to better treatment choices and the patient will recover quicker.

References
1. Brian Mulligan. Manual therapy –”NAGS”, “SNAGS”, ”MWMS” etc. (5th ed) 1995. Wellington. Plane View Press.

Gymnastics is a demanding and challenging sport. Gymnasts train to be powerful and graceful. Today's moves have become increasingly technical acrobatic moves with a much higher degree of risk and difficulty. All the stretching, bending, twisting, jumping, flipping, etc., increases the risk of neuromusculoskeletal injuries. Gymnastics injuries are inevitable. Bruises, cuts, and scrapes are common, as are overuse strains and sprains, but severe and traumatic injuries can occur. 

Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Team can treat and rehabilitate injuries and help to strengthen and prevent injuries. The therapy team will thoroughly evaluate the individual to determine the injury/s severity, identify any weaknesses or limitations, and develop a personalized plan for optimal recovery, stability, and strength.

Gymnastic Injuries

One of the main reasons injuries are more prevalent is because today's athletes start earlier, spend more time practicing, perform more complex skill sets, and have higher levels of competition. Gymnasts learn to perfect a skill and then train to make their bodies look elegant while executing the routine. These moves require precision, timing, and hours of practice. 

Injury Types 

Sports injuries are classified as:

• Chronic Overuse injuries: These cumulative aches and pains occur over time.
• They can be treated with chiropractic and physical therapy and prevented with targeted training and recovery.
• Acute Traumatic injuries: These are typically accidents that happen suddenly without warning.
• These require immediate first aid.

Most Common Injuries

Gymnasts are taught how to fall and land to lessen the impact on the spine, head, neck, knees, ankles, and wrists. 

Back

• Common back injuries include muscle strains and spondylolysis.

Bruises and Contusions

• Tumbling, twisting, and flipping can result in various bruises and contusions.

Muscle Soreness

• This is the sort of muscle soreness experienced 12 to 48 hours after a workout or competition.
• Proper rest is necessary for the body to recover fully.

Overtraining Syndrome

• Overtraining syndrome happens when individuals train beyond the body's ability to recover.

Sprains and Strains

• Sprains and strains.
• The R.I.C.E. method is recommended. 

Ankle Sprains

• Ankle sprains are the most common.
• When there is a stretching and tearing of ligaments surrounding the ankle joint.

Wrist Sprains

• A sprained wrist happens when stretching or tearing the ligaments of the wrist.
• Falling or landing hard on the hands during handsprings is a common cause.

Stress Fractures

• Leg stress fractures result from overuse and repeated impact from tumbling and landings.

The most common include:

• Shoulder instability.
• Ankle sprains.
• Achilles tendon strains or tears.
• Gymnasts wrist.
• Colles' fracture.
• Hand and Finger injuries.
• Cartilage damage.
• Knee discomfort and pain symptoms.
• A.C.L. tears - anterior cruciate ligament.
• Burners and stingers.
• Low back discomfort and pain symptoms.
• Herniated discs.
• Spinal fractures.

Causes

• Insufficient flexibility.
• Decreased strength in the arms, legs, and core.
• Balance issues.
• Strength and/or flexibility imbalances - one side is stronger.

Chiropractic Care

Our therapists will start with an evaluation and a biomechanical assessment to identify all the factors contributing to the injury. This will consist of a thorough medical history to understand overall health status, training schedule, and the physical demands on the body. The chiropractor will develop a comprehensive program that includes manual and tool-assisted pain relief techniques, mobilization work, MET, core strengthening, targeted exercises, and injury prevention strategies.

Facet Syndrome Chiropractic Treatment

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, don't hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Armstrong, Ross, and Nicola Relph. "Screening Tools as a Predictor of Injury in Gymnastics: Systematic Literature Review." Sports medicine - open vol. 7,1 73. 11 Oct. 2021, doi:10.1186/s40798-021-00361-3

Farì, Giacomo, et al. "Musculoskeletal Pain in Gymnasts: A Retrospective Analysis on a Cohort of Professional Athletes." International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 18,10 5460. 20 May. 2021, doi:10.3390/ijerph18105460

Kreher, Jeffrey B, and Jennifer B Schwartz. "Overtraining syndrome: a practical guide." Sports Health vol. 4,2 (2012): 128-38. doi:10.1177/1941738111434406

Meeusen, R, and J Borms. "Gymnastic injuries." Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) vol. 13,5 (1992): 337-56. doi:10.2165/00007256-199213050-00004

Sweeney, Emily A et al. "Returning to Sport After Gymnastics Injuries." Current sports medicine reports vol. 17,11 (2018): 376-390. doi:10.1249/JSR.0000000000000533

Westermann, Robert W et al. "Evaluation of Men's and Women's Gymnastics Injuries: A 10-Year Observational Study." Sports Health vol. 7,2 (2015): 161-5. doi:10.1177/1941738114559705

Although many soccer injuries involve the legs and lower extremities, other body areas are susceptible to injury/s. Acute or cumulative is how soccer injuries are generally described. Acute injuries are traumatic. They are usually caused by a slip, trip, and fall, getting hit, and crashing into other players. Cumulative injuries involve repetitive stress on a muscle, joint, or connective tissue. This triggers progressive aches, pain, and physical impairment that gets worse with time. Understanding how and why they happen is the first step in injury prevention. The more common injuries experienced among soccer athletes include.

Concussion

This is a form of mild traumatic brain injury mTBI caused by a sudden hit/impact to the head. Players are trained to head the ball; however, concussions can happen if not ready for impact or heading at an awkward position.

Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains are when there is stretching and tearing of ligament/s that surround the ankle joint.

• Lateral ankle sprains or outside of the ankle can happen when a player kicks the ball with the top of the foot.
• A medial ankle sprain or inside of the ankle can happen when the toes are turned out when the foot is flexed up.

Achilles Tendonitis

This is a chronic injury that occurs from overuse with pain in the back of the ankle. Players are constantly performing repetitive and sudden movements that, over time, can cause this type of injury.

Achilles Tendon Rupture

A rupture involves a partial or complete tear of the Achilles tendon. Often players say with a popping sound. This happens when players perform fast, explosive movements. Rapid stopping, starting, shifting, jumping can all contribute.

Groin Pull/Strain

This is a type of strain that happens when the inner thigh muscles are stretched beyond their limit. As a result, a player can pull the groin when kicking and/or resistance from an opponent trying to take the ball or kick in the opposite direction.

Hamstring Injury

These injuries involve the three back muscles of the thigh and can vary from minor strains to complete ruptures/tears. This comes from running, sprinting, jumping, and stopping, leading to these types of injuries.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

This is an overuse/repetitive injury that involves a tendon known as the IT band. This is the connective tissue that runs along the outside of the thigh. Constant running can create friction as the band gets pulled along the outside of the knee, which can cause tendonitis.

Plantar Fasciitis

This causes foot pain caused by inflammation of the tissue bands that run from the heel to the toes. Several factors can cause the condition. This could be players using inappropriate or not correctly fitting shoes, shoes that do not provide proper arch support or playing on a hard surface.

Calf Muscle Pull

This is when one of the muscles of the lower leg gets pulled from the Achilles tendon. Again, quick and spontaneous sprinting, running, or jumping is usually the cause.

Knee Injuries

The most common soccer injuries are those that involve the knee. This is because of the stopping and shifting directions quickly and suddenly. The explosive, spontaneous movements place extreme stress on the knees and the supporting ligaments. When the stress goes beyond the ligament's limits, it can cause a sprain or tear in the joint. When there is an injury to the knee/s, it is diagnosed using a grading scale. 

• Grade 1 Mild sprain
• Grade 2 Partial tear
• Grade 3 Complete tear

Runner's Knee

Patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as runner's knee, is a condition where the cartilage under the kneecap gets damaged from an injury or overuse. This happens when there is a misalignment in the knee and/or strained tendons.

ACL Injury

The anterior cruciate ligament or ACL is at the front of the knee. These are the most common knee injuries. This is because the ligaments are less retractable than muscles or tendons. And those in the knees are highly vulnerable to damage.

Cruciate Ligament Injury

This type of injury does not always cause pain but often causes a popping sound when it happens. Pain and swelling develop within 24 hours. This is followed by the loss of range of motion and tenderness around and along the joint.

Meniscus Injury

The Meniscus involves a C-shaped piece of cartilage that cushions the space between the femur and the shin bone. These tears are painful and are often the result of twisting, pivoting, decelerating, or quick/rapid impact.

Shin Splints

The term describes a variety of painful symptoms that develop in the front of the lower leg. This often happens from over/intense training, or the training gets changed. Players can also develop shin splints from training while not using appropriate shoes.

Stress Fractures

These types of fractures are usually the result of overuse or repeated impact on a bone. The result is severe bruising or a slight crack in the bone.

Tendonitis

When tendons get inflamed, it is referred to as tendonitis. This comes with repetitive overuse but can also develop from a traumatic injury that causes micro-tears in the muscle fibers.

Soccer Injuries Prevention

These injuries result from overuse, overtraining, improper conditioning, and/or not warming up properly. Here are few tips to help reduce the risk.

Warm-up for at least 30 minutes before playing

Pay special attention to stretching the:

• Groin
• Hips
• Hamstrings
• Achilles' tendons
• Quadriceps

Wear protective gear

This includes:

• Mouthguards
• Shin guards
• Kinesio tape
• Ankle supports
• Eye protection
• Ensure they are correctly sized and maintained.

Check the field

Check for anything that could cause injury/s. This includes:

• Holes
• Puddles
• Broken glass
• Stones
• Debris

Avoid playing in bad weather

Or immediately after heavy rain when the field is especially slick and muddy.

Allow enough time to heal after an injury.

This also goes for minor soccer injuries. Trying too fast to get back increases the risk of worsening the injury, re-injury, and/or creating new injuries.

Body Composition

Athletes and Carb Loading

Carb loading is a strategy that athletes use.

Endurance athletes

Utilize carb-loading to help them increase energy storage for long runs, bike rides, swims, etc. When timed effectively, carb-loading has been shown to increase muscle glycogen, leading to improved performance.

Bodybuilders and fitness athletes

Use carbo-loading to build size and mass before competitions. The timing and efficacy of carb-loading vary from person to person. Make sure to experiment before the next big competition.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Fairchild, Timothy J et al. “Rapid carbohydrate loading after a short bout of near maximal-intensity exercise.” Medicine and science in sports and exercise vol. 34,6 (2002): 980-6. doi:10.1097/00005768-200206000-00012

Kilic O, Kemler E, Gouttebarge V. The "sequence of prevention" for musculoskeletal injuries among adult recreational footballers: A systematic review of the scientific literature. Phys Ther Sport. 2018;32:308-322. doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2018.01.007

Lingsma H, Maas A. Heading in soccer: More than a subconcussive event?. Neurology. 2017;88(9):822-823. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000003679

Pfirrmann D, Herbst M, Ingelfinger P, Simon P, Tug S. Analysis of Injury Incidences in Male Professional Adult and Elite Youth Soccer Players: A Systematic Review. J Athl Train. 2016;51(5):410–424. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-51.6.03