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Facet joint syndrome and pain

Facet Joint Syndrome and Pain

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Facet Joint Syndrome Overview

Facet joint syndrome can be a significant source of back and neck pain. It is caused by irritation of the joints between the vertebrae on the back side of the spine. The facet joint can become inflamed from a variety of causes such as a bad night’s sleep, prolonged poor posture, awkward lifting and others.  When the joint gets irritated it triggers pain signals in nearby nerve endings.

Anatomy of the Facet Joints

The spine is made of a column of moveable bones called vertebrae that connect to one another. Each vertebra functions as a three-joint complex with a large disc in the front and two facet joints in the back. This tripod design is strong, keeping the bones linked together while allowing our spine to bend and twist. Facets are synovial joints that are lined with cartilage, lubricated in synovial fluid and covered by a joint capsule. Healthy facet joints glide and slide as the back moves, but prevent over-twisting.

Facet Joint syndrome can be a source of pain anywhere in the spine. Facet joint syndrome is due to poor posture, awkward sleeping positions, and trauma.

Figure 1. Side view of the spine shows a normal disc and facet joint (top). Irritation to the disc and facet joint syndrome can cause arthritic pain, swelling and stiffness (bottom).

In Facet joint syndrome, the facets get inflamed which causes pain and loss of motion in the joint. In turn, the muscles in the area can stiffen and spasm leading to further pain and decreased motion.

The irritated facet joint (facet syndrome) sends pain signals to the brain via small nerves in the capsule called medial branch sensory nerves

Figure 2. The irritated joint sends pain signals to the brain via small nerves in the capsule called medial branch sensory nerves

What are the Symptoms of Facet Syndrome?

There are several symptoms that indicate a person’s pain is coming from the facet joints. The pain is often a diffuse, dull ache in the neck or in the shoulder blade area. Often people describe the pain as a sharp, pinching, catching or a “crick” in their neck.

Movements such as looking up or turning your head side to side especially towards the affected joint will often cause pain. Facet joint symptoms may also mimic the pain of a disc herniation. If the inflammation irritates the spinal nerves, pain may be felt down the extremity. The pain may be chronic, or come in periodic flare-ups.

How is a Diagnosis of Made?

Different movements through the injured area and pointing to the painful area help with the working diagnosis. The doctor may manipulate your joints or feel for tenderness over the spine. In some cases, imaging studies, such as X-ray, CT, or MRI, may be ordered to help in the diagnosis. Imaging can help rule out other pathology of the spine, shoulders, hip, etc. which may be causing the symptoms.

What Treatments are Available?

Chiropractic adjustments are effective in relieving the pain from facet joint syndrome. In fact, the sound of that is made when your spine is adjusted is actually gas escaping from the facet joints which leads to decreased pressure and improved movement. Traction of the head and neck is also effective for the same reason as adjustments in that it helps to open the facet joints and decrease the pressure that is creating pain.

Active Release techniques (ART) are deep tissue muscular treatments that help relieve tightness and spasm surrounding the irritated facet joint. By decreasing muscle tension around the facet joints, adjustments are much more easily performed.

Home Exercise Therapy

After treatment, targeted stretches and exercises are important to perform daily while recovering.  Towel neck mobilization exercises are one of the best types of exercises for facet syndrome. This exercise (as shown below) uses a towel to create a fulcrum for the spine to bend over. This allows the facet joint to remain open as you move; we often see people that can barely look up without pain quickly gain pain free motion by performing this exercise.

Stretching encouraging flexion of the neck as shown in the video below is helpful. Rotational mobilization may be helpful as well. In acute injury, this is often too aggressive but as the neck heals, the neck rotational exercise can be very beneficial.

Cervical Spine Devices

At home traction devices are a great at home treatment option. Inflatable neck traction devices are easy to use and you can take them anywhere with you. The Neck Hammock is an easy to use system that only requires a door handle to use. The absolute best neck traction device is the Saunders Pneumatic Traction device. It is bulky but is ale to deliver substantial traction to the neck joints.

Lumbar Spine Devices

For lumbar spine traction, there are two devices that we find most useful. The first and most commonly known is an inversion table. The Teeter Inversion Table is one of the best and most reliable inversion tables. As with all inversion tables, they take up quite a bit of space and are not easily moveable. The second device is the Back Bubble. This is a convenient alternative to an inversion table. You need a place to hang it from, a doorway pull-up bar is the easiest. Not only does this device work well, you can put it away when you are done using it! You do not need permanent space in your home like the inversion table.

Day to Day Self Care

Self care is an important component of care for facet pain in the neck. Using correct posture and keeping your spine in alignment are important things you can do to prevent painful episodes. You may need to make adjustments to your daily standing, sitting, and sleeping habits.  Light cardiovascular exercise like walking or riding a bike is very helpful for a painful facet joint, and it can help you heal faster.  Facet joint pain usually resolves after 4-6 treatments over the course of 1-3 weeks. 

Recovery and Prevention

Regular stretching, strengthening, postural awareness, and cardiovascular exercise reduces stress to the facet joints.  Facet pain can be recurrent and in some cases lead to chronic neck pain if not treated effectively and cared for by making long term preventative changes.

Dr. Kevin and Travis Rose DC are chiropractors trained in treating overuse and sport related injury. Peak Form Health Center is located in Mission Valley, San Diego near the neighborhoods of La Jolla, Mission Hills, Kensington, and Carmel Valley. Schedule an appointment with use by using “Schedule Now” tab at the top of this page, or call 619-818-4306.

Hip pain running doctor San Diego

Sciatica- Conservative Management San Diego

Sciatica is a term that encompasses any condition that that can effect the sciatic nerve. Low back and hip injuries are the most common types of injuries that produce sciatica or sciatic symptoms. Less commonly, peripheral entrapment of the nerve around the hamstrings, and lower leg muscles cause sciatica symptoms in the back of the leg. Our San Diego chiropractor at Peak Form Health Center has treated countless conditions that cause sciatica symptoms.

Piriformis Syndrome Sciatica

What causes Sciatic Symptoms?

The sciatic nerve is made up of many different nerve roots from the low back and sacrum (tail bone). The nerve roots are extensions from the spinal cord that exit the spine to form peripheral nerves (ex: sciatic nerve is a peripheral nerve). If you have a back injury like a disc bulge, the disc bulge can press on the exiting nerve root which causes nerve irritation. Nerve irritation symptoms can cause numbness, tingling, hot/cold sensations, shooting pain, loss of sensation, and/or loss of function to the muscles that nerve innervates. Those same symptoms are what are described as “sciatica” but typically patients refer to sharp shooting pain as sciatica. Other conditions that can cause sciatica are:

  • Low back injury- See our post on types of low back pain here: Different Types of Low Back Pain
  • Disc bulge
  • Disc herniation
  • Piriformis syndrome– see our thorough blog post on piriformis syndrome here: Piriformis Syndrome: Overview and Causes Piriformis Syndrome Part II- Evaluation Piriformis Syndrome Part III- Treatment
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Degenerative Joint Disease
  • Foraminal stenosis of the lumbar spine (Bone Spurring)
  • Central canal stenosis
  • Sciatic nerve entrapment
  • Spondylolisthesis 

In rare but serious cases, sciatic symptoms may be due to: tumors, infection, tethered spinal cord, and other neurological conditions.

Conservative Management for Sciatica

First and foremost, a proper diagnosis is required to treat your symptoms effectively. Depending on what the cause is and how long it has been going on, usually a combination of manual therapy, specific exercise protocols, and home education can help resolve sciatica. Let’s take piriformis syndrome as an example. In piriformis syndrome, the piriformis muscles compresses the sciatic nerve. To treat this, targeted Active Release Techique and other myofascial release techniques often results in drastic improvement of symptoms. If however, the sciatica is due to a low back condition, manual therapy to the piriformis muscle will likely not result in significant relief of symptoms.

To reiterate the first point, it is important to see a sports chiropractor or sports medicine professional who will accurately diagnose what is causing the sciatica. Many times we see patients who have been dealing with sciatic symptoms for months and have been doing self treatments that are actually perpetuating their symptoms. Be very wary of a “do this one thing for your sciatica.” type blog post as it may be causing more harm than good.

Our San Diego based chiropractic group treats many different causes of sciatic symptoms. If there is ever concern of a more serious condition causing sciatica, or further investigation is required, we will make an appropriate referral to get the best care for you. Schedule today to get a thorough evaluation. Our office is conveniently located in Mission Valley, San Diego.

IT Band Syndrome treatment San Diego

New Methods in Treating IT Band Syndrome

IT  band syndrome remains a stubborn condition that our chiropractors treat at our office in Mission Valley, San Diego. Runners, triathletes, and cyclists are the main groups of people who we treat for this condition. We previously posted treatment recommendations for IT band syndrome (found Iliotibial Band Syndrome) but wanted to update the information regarding treatment. The previous post still highlights relevant treatment advice in terms of research based treatment. Continue below to see the most recent types of treatment our San Diego chiropractors utilizes to best treat IT band syndrome.

Do you truly have IT band syndrome?

Many patients self diagnose their knee pain as IT band syndrome. They may be correct but true IT band syndrome is characterized by outside (lateral) knee pain right at the bony attachment of the IT band. It is often worse with repetitive movements such as running, walking, hiking, and cycling.

There are many cases that we have seen where the patient is experiencing general knee pain and were diagnosed with IT band syndrome. After our chiropractor evaluates the knee pain, it is often found that the person is experiencing knee pain due to muscle imbalances between the front of the thigh and back of the thigh. The pain and discomfort is often due to very tight and sore quadricep muscles. IT band syndrome is diagnosed because the IT band itself is found superficial to the outside quadricep muscle.

These patients are categorized as “quad dominant” and our San Diego Chiropractor works on the tight/sore quadricep muscles while strengthening the back thigh muscles, namely the gluteus maximus and hamstrings. Along with general strengthening and stretching, the patient must be taught how to use the glute muscles and hamstrings more during their activity.

New Treatment Approaches

We have had a lot of success using various types of myofascial release. Our San Diego Chiropractors have been trained in Active Release Technique and Graston Technique. Cupping is another therapy that has been used to help increase mobility between muscle fibers. Using motion with different types of myofascial techniques is especially helpful for treating IT band syndrome in runners, cyclists, and triathletes. The movement with myofascial work helps create mobility between layers of muscle/fascial tissue that often gets “bound up” with the constant repetitive stress from the sports mentioned previously. Take a look at the videos demonstrating IT band syndrome treatment:

Cupping used during athletic movements to decrease tissue compression and increase blood flow

Active Release Techique applied to the quadricep and IT Band

Strengthening the Hips for IT Band Syndrome

The previous article (found Here Iliotibial Band Syndrome) we wrote discussed several exercises that are still beneficial for IT band syndrome. We are finding even more success with more aggressive glute and hamstring exercises to help stabilize the hip and knee. Below is one of our favorite hip extension exercises. You can perform it one side at a time to make sure you are getting the most out of each hip. Our San Diego chiropractor treats many running injuries and will also assess different muscles groups to help establish proper running form. 

If you are experiencing IT band syndrome, it is important to get evaluated by a sports chiropractor. Our San Diego Chiropractors work with all types of athletes. Each treatment is unique to the individual but likely includes some form of myofascial release, stretching, and strength training. Our office is conveniently located in Mission Valley, San Diego.

Outer hip pain running clinic San Diego

Outer Hip Pain in Runners

Outer hip pain is a very common complaint we see with out runners at our Mission Valley office. The outer hip musculature is designed to provide hip, and lower back stabilization during running. When there is pain or tightness at the outer hip, the stability at the hip and lower back is compromised. This in turn can create abnormal stress into the hip, outer hip muscles, lower back, the knee, and even the lower leg/foot. The following conditions cause outer hip pain and dysfunction:

Causes of Outer Hip Pain

  • Glute Medius Muscle Strain
  • Tensor Fascia Latae Strain
  • Gluteus Medius Tendinopathy
  • Trochanteric Bursitis
  • Iliotibial Tract Syndrome (IT Band Syndrome)
  • Sciatic Nerve Entrapment

As mentioned above, the out hip plays a role in lower back and hip stability. If the outer hip is painful or dysfunctional the following conditions may also be present:

  • Low Back Pain
  • Facet Joint (Lower Back Joint) Irritation
  • Hip Impingement
  • Knee Tracking Issues
  • Outer Knee Pain (IT Band Syndrome)
  • Shin Splints
  • Plantar Fasciitis

Evaluation

It is important to be evaluated by a running doctor and sports chiropractor. We will help diagnose your outer hip pain and any potential compensatory injuries that may be occurring simultaneously.  A combination of range of motion, orthopedic, functional movements, and strength/endurance tests will be used to pinpoint the exact cause of your pain.

Gait Analysis

We currently offer at home gait analysis for current patients. After being evaluated in our office, if it is deemed necessary, we have our patients video tape themselves running on a treadmill and send it back to us for evaluation. For outer hip pain, many runners with outer hip pain run with what is known as a cross over gait. Check out our previous blog posts here on what a cross-over gait consists of.

Hip pain Running San Diego

Potential sites for injury with cross over gait

Treatment for Outer Hip Pain

Active Release Technique is an excellent tool for helping runners with outer hip pain get out of pain quickly. A targeted home rehab approach is then prescribed b our running doctor as a way to prevent the injury from coming back again. Schedule with us today at our Mission Valley, San Diego running injury clinic today!

The Running Clinic Certification

Congratulations to Dr. Travis Rose, DC CCSP for successfully completing the course in “New Trends in the Prevention of Running Injuries”! This course, taught by The Running Clinic, teaches health care providers about the latest methods to treat and manage running injuries. Dr. Rose is currently the only healthcare provider with this certification in Mission Valley, San Diego.

Running Clinic Running Doctor San Diego

The following is a quick Q and A with Doctor Rose regarding running injuries.

Q: Having taken this latest course, put on by The Running Clinic, what were the main takeaways to prevent running injuries?

Dr. Rose: The main takeaways for injury prevention and increasing running efficiency were the following: 1. Run with a cadence between 170-180 steps per minute, 2. Limit the up and down motion while running (decrease vertical loading associated with injury), and 3) Use as little of a shoe as possible as this allows you to run more naturally.

Q:  Was there information that surprised you or went against conventional running information?

Dr. Rose: The biggest “eye opener” was the fact that there is zero research to support prescription of specific shoes for specific types of feet. Many people put their trust in companies to tell them which shoe to buy based on treadmill analysis. Unfortunately there is research that shows that shoes don’t limit pronation like they claim to do. So why give somebody a big bulky shoe when it doesn’t do what it is designed to do? Instead, work on the items listed above and become a better runner!

Q: What is the biggest cause of injury in runners?

Dr. Rose: It is when a runner changes something. For example, a runner runs 25 miles per week, same distances for each run. But then decides to run an extra 10 miles one week. That change in volume is what will likely cause an injury to pop up. Another example is always running on concrete or hard trails, then deciding to run 10 miles on soft sand. The body was not ready to support a long soft sand run and an injury occurs.

Q: There is a lot of information for exercises online to help improve running technique, can a runner do home exercises and fix their running flaws?

Dr. Rose: Unfortunately no. I used to be under that assumption when I was an injured runner. I would get frustrated when I would do a ton of strength exercises and core work to then run 2 miles and have that all too familiar pain come back. Running gait needs to be corrected to take strain off the injured area. Using myself as an example, I suffered from repeated shin splints due to cross over gait. It did not matter how much glute or calf strengthening I did because once I ran incorrectly again, the tendon would get overloaded and I would be back to square one. Once I learned to run with a wider step width and have a faster turn over (faster cadence), my injury went away almost immediately and I was able to slowly build back up.

Q: Any other advice on running injuries that you learned?

Dr. Rose: When in doubt, get it checked out. Running should be fun and injury free. I hear too many stories from patients about how tight and sore they are after every run. Or that pain is something “you deal with as a runner”. Not true! Get evaluated by a running doctor who can get your gait back on track. If there is not a running doctor in your area, there are a few pieces of wearable technology that can help. One being Lumo Run which gives feedback on cadence, vertical bounce, hip drop, hip rotation, and braking force. If you already run with a running watch, usually they have features that you can use (like cadence) to start really emphasizing proper technique.

Dr. Travis Rose DC CCSP and Dr. Kevin Rose DC DACBSP are Chiropractors trained to treat a wide variety of sport related injuries. Schedule a visit at our Mission Valley, San Diego office!

San Diego Sports Chiropratic

Benefits of Sports Chiropractic

Sports Chiropractic Mission Valley San Diego

Sports Chiropractic Benefits

In general, chiropractic care is excellent for treating many different muskuloskeletal conditions. Many people also seek sports chiropractic care to recover from sport related injury, improve sport performance and avoid potential re-injury through regular maintenance visits. Unfortunately, not all chiropractors are trained to specifically diagnose and treat sport related injuries. If you are seeking care for a sports injury, it is important to know how to find a chiropractor who specializes in treating sport injuries.

Sports Chiropractic Board CertificationDACBSP Certfified

There are two main sport chiropractic certification courses that chiropractors can take after graduating chiropractic college. Both certifications are governed by the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (ACBSP). The first certification is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician® (CCSP®) which is a 100 hour post graduate program designed to educate chiropractors in the most common sports injuries and best practices to treat them.  Successful completion of the program requires a passing score of 250 question multiple-choice questions. The second certification is a Diplomate American Chiropractic Board Sports Physicians® (DACBSP®) is a continuation of the CCSP® program with an additional 100 hours of field training with a research project, and requires successful completion of both a written and practical examination. A sports chiropractor will have either the CCSP® or DACBSP designation behind their name.

Treatment Types

A sports chiropractor is trained in many manual and passive therapies to help an athlete recover from injury and prevent future injury. Our Sports Chiropractors at our office in Mission Valley offer the following therapies and modalities:

  1. Joint manipulation/mobilization– Restores proper range of motion and function to an injured joint.
  2. Muscle Stimulation– Electricity is transmitted via pads to the muscles surrounding the injured area. This helps loosen muscles, and increase blood flow to the area.
  3. Active Release Technique– Active Release technique is the “gold standard” in soft tissue treatment. It helps break down scar tissue that developed from acute trauma or chronic micro trauma to a structure.
  4. Graston Technique– Graston utilizes a set of stainless steel instruments to break down scar tissue in the muscles and the fascia that surrounds the muscles.
  5. Therapeutic taping– RockTape is used in our office to promote body awareness in a dysfunctional area and to support injured tissues during athletic competition
  6. Therapeutic exercise– Flexibility, mobility, strength, endurance, etc. exercises are given to each patient for specific goals in the treatment.
  7. Training advice– A progressive return of the athlete to their sport is vital for the full recovery from injury.

Sports Chiropractic at Peak Form Health Center Mission Valley

Our sports chiropractors at our Mission Valley office are board certified to treat sport related injuries. We treat athletes of all abilities, from the weekend warrior to the professional athlete. We are also athletes ourselves, and understand the importance of feeling your best for optimal performance. Our office is conveniently located off the Texas Street exit in Mission Valley. Please schedule today to get your training back on track and perform at your highest level!

Sports Chiropractor Ironman

Sports Chiropractic Baseball

Dr. Travis Rose, DC CCSP (Left) is an accomplished Ironman Triathlete. Dr. Rose successfuly completed the Ironman World Championship in Kona Hawaii 2017.

Dr. Kevin Rose, DC DACBSP (Right) is a former professional baseball player. Dr. Rose pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

 

 

 

What is Chiropractic Care?

What is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractors are trained to evaluate, diagnose and treat neuromuscular and musckuloskeletal conditions. It is a common misconception that chiropractors only treat spinal conditions with spinal manipulative therapy, or adjusting techniques. In fact, chiropractors treat a wide array of muskuloskeletal conditions which include neck pain, back pain, and headaches but also tendon disorders, muscle strains, and ligament sprains which commonly affect our upper/lower extremities. In our Mission Valley, San Diego office, we commonly treat soft tissue injuries with a combination of joint manipulation, Active Release Technique, Graston Technique, and rehabilitative exercise.

What to Expect for your First Visit?

History

There are a few forms to be filled out that answer questions regarding your current injury (or reason seeking care) and past health issues. One of our chiropractors will then go over this information with you and ask a series of questions regarding your current and past injuries; this helps give us information that leads to a working diagnosis.

Exam

Pain Fighting Exercises

After the history is complete, a physical exam is performed. This normally includes: active/passive range of motion, orthopedic testing, neurological testing, and functional tests such as squats/lunges. All these tests give us further information to accurately diagnose the condition that you are presenting with. This in turn will develop an appropriate treatment plan moving forward. In some cases, the history and exam may reveal a condition that is in need of further testing (X-ray, MRI) before treatment can begin. In rare cases, a referral to a specialized health care provider is warranted.

Many of our patients at our Mission Valley office seek out our care for sport performance and are not currently injured. In these cases, we focus on evaluating musculoskeletal imbalances that may be limiting sport performance.

Treatment

As mentioned above we utilize the latest therapies and treatment protocols for each injury we see in our office. Treatment may include some or all of the following:

                                          Active Release Technique Mission Valley

  1. Joint manipulation/mobilization- If it is determined that there is loss in range of motion at a joint, joint manipulation or mobilization can be performed to restore proper range of motion and joint function   
  2. Active Release Technique– Active Release Technique or (A.R.T) is considered the “Gold Standard” for treating soft tissue injury. The practitioner identifies the injured structure, applies pressure, and has the patient perform active movements. This helps break down scar tissue and restore proper function to the soft tissue. Treatments usually last 5-15 minutes and can be painful in areas where the injury is.
  3. Graston Technique– Graston is another technique we use in our Mission Valley office that helps break down scar tissue in the superficial layers of muscle and fascia in our body. Graston is also excellent for treating chronic injuries due to its ability to increase blood flow to the injured area. After treatment, you may notice red marks and feel warm in the area due to this increase in blood flow.
  4. Rehabilitative Exercise– An individual exercise plan is prescribed for each patient. Exercises may include flexibility, mobility, strength, stability, etc.depending on your injury and or goals with care. Our goal is to always keep the exercises progressive to avoid plateaus in care.

 graston technique in san diego Active Release Technique Mission Valley

 

Our goal is return patients to their sport, activity, job as quickly as possible, pain free. We often see significant results between 4-8 visits, depending on the severity of the condition. Once a patient has reached maximal improvement for the condition we recommend periodic check ups to re-evaluate the area. This allows us the opportunity to offer further advice, change exercises, etc. to avoid future re-injury. 

Please do not hesitate to contact our Mission Valley office at 619-818-4306 if you have any questions. You may call our office or visit our website to schedule today! We accept most major insurances, offer affordable cash rates, and offer a military discount for treatments.

rock climbing injury

Rock Climbing and Pulley Injuries

Finger pulley tears are one of the most common injuries in rock climbing, but many climbers may not know how to identify or treat this type of injury. What is a pulley, anyways? A pulley could best be described as a group of fibers that help secure tendons to the bone. For those who may be experiencing a finger pulley injury, be on the lookout for the following:

  • Grade I (sprain):

    Symptoms may include some pain when squeezing or climbing. Treatment may include taping the injured finger to relieve stress and massaging the finger at the injury site. Squeezing a putty such as TheraPutty a few times each day is also a very good tool to aid in recovery. Climbing is okay, but should be done at a reduced level of difficulty. Soft tissue treatment such as Graston and Active Release Technique (ART) can be effective for in the initial phases for Grade I.

  • Grade II (partial rupture of pulley tendon):

    Symptoms include pain with squeezing or climbing and possibly when extending the finger. Treatment can include massage and putty, as with Grade I, but no climbing should be done for the first 1-2 weeks. When it is time to return to climbing, start back slowly and tape the fingers.

  • Grade III (complete rupture of pulley):

    Symptoms can include sharp pain at the pulley, you may hear a “pop” sound, possible bruising and swelling, pain when squeezing/climbing. Treatment may include taking ibuprofen and the regular use of a cold compress for the first couple of days. No climbing! A splint may be used to immobilize the injured tendons. After 4-8 weeks, putty can start to be used to help strengthening, along with the Grade II treatment.

As with any injury, your first step should be to seek care from a medical professional to determine the correct treatment plan, but these descriptions are intended to serve as a general guideline of what to expect from a pulley injury. If you’re in pain, make sure you don’t ignore it!

strength training tips mission valley

Strength Training Tips

Strength training is an important part of an overall fitness program. Traditionally, it’s been encouraged to participate in aerobic activities such as swimming and bicycling, however, strength training can also be safe and effective for youth and adults, provided that appropriate guidelines are followed. Strength training is a method of conditioning that involves a wide range of equipment and activities, with dumbbells, medicine balls, weight machines, and body weight exercises that are specifically intended to improve or maintain muscular fitness. Furthermore, a routine strength training program can reduce the risk of sports-related injuries in athletes. Despite its reputation as a “guy” thing, strength training is an important part of overall health and fitness for everyone of any gender or age.

Strength training helps develop strong bones by increasing bone density and reducing the risk of osteoporosis. It can help control your weight as well, because as you gain muscle, your body starts to burn calories more efficiently. Strength training also aids in boosting your stamina and sharpening your focus. It can also help reduce the symptoms of chronic conditions, like arthritis, back pain, obesity and many other ailments.

Although every combination is different depending on your desired results, a safe and effective strength training program should follow these important guidelines:

  • A warm up and cool down of about 5 -10 minutes is ideal. Walking is an excellent way to warm up and stretching is an good way to cool down.
  • Remember to focus on form, not weight. Use correct body alignment and smooth movements through each exercise. Poor form can increase injuries. Also, when learning a strength training routine, many professionals advise starting with no weight, or very minimal weight. Try to concentrate on gradual, smooth lifts.
  • Keeping a consistent, moderate tempo helps you stay in control. For instance, you can count to three while lowering a weight, then hold, then count to three while raising it back to the starting position.
  • Pay close attention to your breathing during workouts. It’s best to exhale as you work against resistance (whether by lifting, pushing, or pulling) and inhale as you release resistance.
  • By slowly increasing weight or resistance used, you can keep challenging your muscles. The appropriate weight you should use differs depending on the exercise. Choose a weight that wears out the targeted muscle or muscles by your final two repetitions, but still allows you to keep good form. If you choose to add weight, remember that you should be able to continue to do all the repetitions with proper form and the targeted muscles should feel drained by the last two.
  • Stick with your routine. Working all the major muscles of your body two or three times a week is best.
  • Keep in mind, it’s good practice to give your muscles some time off. Always give your muscles at least 48 hours to recover before your next strength training session.

Participation in routine strength training has the potential to offer great value to the overall health and fitness of athletes and those participating at any age, provided age-appropriate training guidelines are followed.

Preventing Soccer Injuries

Preventing Soccer Injuries

Soccer is an excellent way to build endurance, improve speed and stay in shape, all while enjoying being a part of a team. Nevertheless, soccer does involve quick start-and-stop motions and physical contact, which can lead to injury. The risk of injury is no reason not to play soccer however. Players simply need to be aware of the risks and know what steps they can take to play as safely as possible.

Sprains and strains are very common injuries in soccer, with varying forms of severity. Other injuries could include stress fractures and muscle strains from repeated overuse and direct blows to the body. Soccer players are also prone to shin splints, patellar tendinitis, and Achilles tendinitis. These injuries occur in the lower extremities, whereas neck sprains and concussions are common in the upper extremities. Injuries to the head, neck face are sometimes unavoidable. Just like wrist sprains, fractures and shoulder dislocations are unfortunately common due to falls and player-to-player contact.

The best place to start in prevention of these injuries is to have a pre-season physical examination and follow your doctor’s recommendations during the season. Using well-fitting cleats and shin guards is important in prevention. Molded and multi-studded cleats may be safer than screw-in cleats. Stay hydrated when out on the field and maintain proper fitness throughout the sport’s season. Injury rates are known to be higher in athletes who have not adequately prepared physically and remember to stretch adequately before and after your time on the field. After being inactive in the sport, progress gradually back to full-contact soccer through activities such as aerobic conditioning, agility training, and strength training.

Some of the greatest advice in preventing soccer injuries is to avoid overuse injuries. When it comes to the health of your body, more is not always better. Many sports medicine experts believe that it is helpful to take at least one season off each year. Although it’s hard, try to avoid the pressure that is now forced on many young athletes to over-train. Always listen to your body and decrease training time and intensity if pain or discomfort continues to increase. It will reduce the risk of injury and help avoid “burn-out.” Most injuries can be prevented to an extent. The last thing anyone wants to do is put an early end to his/her soccer career because they didn’t listen to their body and take care of themselves. As always, speak with a sports medicine professional if you have any concerns about injuries or soccer injury prevention strategies.

In order to keep kids and adults out on the field long-term and enjoy the sport of soccer, injury prevention, early detection, and treatment are significantly important.