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Common CrossFit Injuries and How Chiropractic Can Help

CrossFit Injury Treatments in Chicago

Burpees, wall balls, deadlifts, plyometrics—sound familiar? While these are all common exercises performed in CrossFit regimens, they’re also responsible for the common injuries that occur during CrossFit when not executed properly.

As CrossFit has gained popularity in recent years, so has its list of critics. But at Advanced Spine & Sports Care, our goal isn’t to dissuade anyone from CrossFit, or any other type of physical activity that you enjoy doing for that matter. Rest assured, CrossFitters can still enjoy their WOD (workout of day).

We do, however, want to help CrossFitters understand potential injuries involved in the sport and how to prevent them, just as we would educate athletes involved in any activity, such as volleyball or soccer.

Below, we’ve shared some of the most common CrossFit injuries, ways to avoid them, and why chiropractic care deserves just as significant of a part as your WOD in your healthy fitness regimen.

Common CrossFit Injuries

Sports Care & Treatments in Chicago

Lower Back Pain and Strain

CrossFit offers a multi-modal exercise approach, which translates into a lot of compound and complex movements. Athletes who are new to CrossFit and jump headfirst into the sport without proper training about form and technique are at risk here, especially when it comes to lower back pain and strain. It takes time to learn and practice proper alignment, as well as develop those supporting muscles. When complex movements are mixed with heavy weight, which is often the case in CrossFit, it can be a recipe for disaster if too much is attempted too soon.

If athletes experience lower back pain, they should immediately halt their training and seek help from a qualified physician who specializes in back pain and care.

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

A significant part of many CrossFit regimens includes lifting heavy weights over your head. If you don’t warm up properly or have good technique when lifting, this can put you at risk for a rotator cuff injury or tear. Even lighter activities (think wall-ball shots) can cause pain and strain when not executed correctly.

As with any type of tendonitis, it is essential to rest the affected area as much as possible by avoiding putting strain on it until the pain has stopped as well as performing stretches to keep it limber. In between stretching, icing is recommended until the pain is sufficiently healed.

Anterior Knee Pain

Significant attention should be paid to proper knee alignment when executing movements during CrossFit, as knees are particularly vulnerable in this program. This is especially important if you’re an athlete who has had any previous knee injuries, as those injuries can be aggravated by CrossFit and perhaps cause lasting damage.

Sometimes anterior knee pain can be associated with overuse or strain, and can usually be handled by icing, lowering impact, and doing stretches. If pain is more intense and prolonged swelling, you should seek medical help as a dislocation or misalignment may be present.

Tennis Elbow

With all of the heavy lifting, bending, and stretching found in CrossFit, a person’s elbows are also at risk for injury. Tennis elbow refers to a strain of this joint as a result of overuse of tendons and ligaments. Beginners should exercise caution by not adding weight to workouts without first understanding proper lifting mechanics.

If pain is felt in the elbow, the elbow should be iced until the pain and swelling goes down.

How to Avoid Common CrossFit Injuries:

With the increase in popularity, many CrossFit locations are popping up, but that doesn’t mean they are all created equal. Do your research when it comes to a gym, including asking questions such as:

How are your trainers trained?

There are multiple levels of certification within CrossFit, so it is more than reasonable to ask who you are working with, how they have trained, and their level of experience. These certifications range from entry-level courses (Level 1 and Level 2 Certificate Course) to advanced credentials achieved via examination such as the Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer and the Certified CrossFit Level 4 Coach.

How will you introduce me to CrossFit?

Like any physical activity from running to swimming to weightlifting, proper introduction and instruction into the correct form during CrossFit activities are key components of keeping you injury-free. Choose a gym that emphasizes your learning. Keep asking questions and looking for guidance until you feel confident in your performance.

In addition to these questions, you should:

Take note of the questions you are being asked.

A good gym not only recognizes your personal fitness goals, but they should also be interested in any past injuries you might have. This knowledge is critical in keeping you safe during future workouts, as well as providing room for modifications and teaching opportunities should you need them.

If you do become injured, seek professional care.

It may be tempting to train through the pain to make progress, but chances are, if something continues to hurt, something is wrong. Continuing to work out when something is amiss can certainly make the problem worse and delay the healing process.

At Advanced Spine and Sports Care, we have a team of dedicated sports specialists and have developed a great understanding of CrossFit injuries over our years of experience. This includes treating injuries, as well as optimizing the body for the demanding CrossFit regimen.

How Chiropractic Can Help with CrossFit

Before you even begin CrossFit, chiropractors can help to unlock your body’s flexibility, most notably in your back. This flexibility will better your resilience to injury as well as allow you to approach lifting exercises properly. After all, the best injury is the one that never occurs.

In the result of injury, though, chiropractors can effectively make adjustments to the back in order to reduce inflammation and direct blood flow to the area of injury to promote healing. But chiropractic care isn’t isolated to just backs—chiropractors are adept at solving a multitude of musculoskeletal complaints including but not limited to knee, shoulder, neck, and elbow pain.

If you’re considering joining the ever-growing world of CrossFit, or if you are simply interested in living a healthier, more active lifestyle, book an appointment Advanced Spine & Sports Care. We can help get you in the best possible shape and keep you injury-free, so you can continue doing the activities you love.

 

Benefits of Spinal Care for the Whole Body

 

Spinal-Care-treatment-in-chicago

Spinal Care for the Whole Body

Although visiting a chiropractor for spinal care can help to reduce or eliminate back pain, it also offers a host of other benefits for your entire body. Your central nervous system is responsible for connecting the systems of your body, enabling communication between them. If your spine is misaligned or damaged, your nervous system suffers too.

Your body will no longer be able to facilitate its own healing effectively, and this increases the chances of injuries, illnesses and pain. Good chiropractic spinal care can determine the underlying causes of the issues that you experience and treat those problems so you can find relief.

The Anatomy Of The Spine

The spine’s anatomy can be divided into three sections – the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spinal regions. Each of those sections is composed of vertebrae, with 7 in the cervical region, 12 in the thoracic region and 5 in the lumbar region.

Each individual vertebra is also composed of a number of parts. The vertebra’s body is the key area for weight bearing. It also supplies a place for the discs that separate the vertebrae from each other to rest on. The spinal canal is a hole in the vertebra’s center and the spinal nerves run through this hole. It is covered by the lamina. 

Spinal Vertebra, Joints & Disks

The bone you’re able to feel when you run your hand down your back is the spinous process while you’ll find the paired transverse processes oriented at a 90-degree angle to it. This is where the back muscles are attached. Each vertebra also has 4 facet joints – one pair facing upwards and another pair facing downwards – which give the spine extra stability.

Between each vertebra, there is a disc. This acts as a cushion between the bones and is composed of two separate parts – the annulus or outer hard layer and the nucleus which is the moist center.

Spinal Cord Nerve Connections

The spinal cord contains millions of nerve fibers running through the spinal canal. Extending from the brain down to the lumbar vertebrae, it branches out in groups of fibers which form the nerves which go through to your body’s lower half.

  1. Nerves of the cervical spine area connect to the arms and upper chest.
  2. Nerves of the thoracic spine area connect with the abdomen and chest.
  3. Nerves of the lumbar spine area connect with the bladder, bowel and legs.

The nerve fibers branch off, forming pairs of nerve roots which travel through small openings between the vertebrae. The nerves of every part of the spinal cord are connected to different body parts. This explains why spinal cord damage causes paralysis to certain areas but not others.

Pinched Nerve Treatment Options

The nerves carry impulses from the brain to the body and back again. This enables us to move and to experience sensations. However, nerves may become compressed. This means they cannot function properly. The result can be pain, numbness, tingling or altered sensations.

There are several causes of pinched nerves. Bulging discs are one common cause along with compression by bones or tight muscles. There are several forms of treatment for pinched nerves. Pain relief or anti-inflammatory medications may be helpful as may physiotherapy, massage or osteopathy chiropractic treatment is often the best solution.


Vertebral Subluxation Chiropractic Treatment

If the spine is misaligned, physiological functions and movement integrity are compromised. This is known as vertebral subluxation. There are a number of causes for this condition from car accidents and improper lifting to living a sedentary lifestyle and poor posture.

When the vertebrae lose their healthy position or motion, a number of health issues can arise. A skilled chiropractor can detect vertebral subluxation and address it. By offering spinal decompression and chiropractic adjustments we can help to relieve pain and symptoms.

Spinal Treatments for Peak Athletic Performance & Overall Health

Both professional and amateur athletes can benefit greatly from regular chiropractic care. As chiropractic treatment is effective, safe and non-evasive, it represents an excellent way for athletes at all levels to continue playing sports at their peak level of performance. In fact, having regular chiropractic treatments can maximize your musculoskeletal performance and prevent injuries, while also helping to better manage any existing injuries.

By having consistent chiropractic adjustments before a sporting event or an important game, athletes can be confident they will enjoy a complete range of movement in all their joints with no resistance. This can help give them an edge over their competitors in the competitive sporting arena.

Those who participate in a diverse range of sports can benefit from chiropractic. From tennis and racing to biking and soccer, chiropractic care can keep athletes playing and prevent a minor injury from getting out of hand.

For those who have already suffered from a sports injury, having a chiropractic checkup is especially important to detect any damage in the spine and to minimize any further complications.

Here at Advanced Spine & Sports Care, we provide a comprehensive range of sports chiropractic treatment services & corrective exercise plans to suit the needs of all types of athlete. We can also treat an extensive range of sports injuries, from those caused by contact sports such as football, hockey and mixed martial arts to those caused as a result of overexertion at the gym from excess weightlifting.

Advanced Spine & Sports Care – Sports Injuries We Treat

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