Taking part in sport or keeping fit can be rewarding, improve your health and reduce the risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke or cancer. It can also help with maintaining a healthy lifestyle and weight.
Adults are now encouraged to do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise each week and to perform exercises to strengthen all the main muscle groups in the arms, legs and core. Minimising time sitting and engaging in higher impact, load bearing exercise is beneficial in improving bone density and reducing the risk of osteoporosis in later life.
Many people take up exercise or sport from a base of relative inactivity (such as couch to 5k) and it is essential to plan a progressive increase in intensity week by week. It is often during this time that sports injuries occur with pulled muscles, shin splints, tendonitis and joint inflammation common.
Participating in sport or exercise for too long or too often without adequate rest periods, failing to warm up beforehand or cool down and stretch effectively after exercise amy all result in strains. Using inappropriate equipment or wearing the wrong footwear may also affect performance.
Many soft tissue injuries can take 8-12 weeks to heal and continuing to exercise with an injury can lead to compensation problems elsewhere in the body and the problem may fail to resolve and may become a chronic condition eventually preventing the individual from participating in their sport.
Osteopathic treatment of sports injuries is based on the individual needs of the patient and will vary according to age, fitness levels, the particular sport and your performance goals. As well as treating your injuries, your Osteopath may also offer advice about your training programme, the use of supports, strapping or taping and other rehabilitation aids, nad your nutrition and hydration.
Elite athletes with competitive goals may be referred to movement and balance specialists specific to their sport for rehabilitation, strength & conditioning.
Sports injuries are common but those who are fit & active and are used to following exercise routines will normally recover quickly and easily from their injuries.