Avoid Injuries from Overuse

Whether you’re new to chiropractic or not, you probably already know how important upper body and core strength is to proper posture. With a strong core, you will be well on your way to a healthy spine! In order to maintain that strength, you have to be on the lookout for overuse injuries. Here are our tips to avoid those injuries.

The Basics of Overuse Injuries

You might be thinking that you don’t partake in extreme sports or high-impact exercises, so you don't have to worry about overuse injuries. But it’s not just those activities that cause those injuries. You can get them from just sitting at your desk, typing on your computer. When you perform the same activity or movement repeatedly, you are at risk for an overuse injury.

To prevent injuries from overuse, we suggest:

• Identifying the root of the problem – In order to properly treat your injury, we have to first identify what activity is causing it. Fortunately, we are experts at this!

• Cross-training – Just like everything else in life, your workouts need to be balanced. If you are a cross-training pro, give yoga a try to increase flexibility and reduce muscle tension.

• Create balance – If you are experiencing muscle tightness, stretch them out! If your muscles are weak, work towards strengthening them. That balance is vital to avoiding overuse injuries.

• Rest – You might be thinking that you have to exercise every single day to achieve a strong core, but that’s not the case at all. Your body requires at least one day of rest per week to recuperate.

• Manage inflammation – Regular chiropractic adjustments are a great way to find relief from overuse injuries, but learning how to manage your pain with good, old-fashioned heat and ice therapy is also an excellent tool. 

See Your Chiropractor!

Injuries from overuse aren’t always apparent. A number of small, unhealed injuries can accumulate over time, leaving you feeling like a wreck. Those small traumas eventually weaken you and impact how efficiently you move.

If you want to learn more about preventing overuse injuries, just ask during your next consultation. Have some tips of your own? Leave them in the comments section!