What is Sports Medicine?
Sports injuries are caused by chronic muscle, joint, or ligament wear and tear, muscle overuse and the application of more force than the body can withstand.
Some common sports injuries include bruises, dislocations, rotator cuff injuries, and fractures. Athletes who play contact sports are more prone to sports injuries than others.
Ignoring a sports injury can prove to be a dangerous mistake, as an untreated injury can impact the affected body part’s ability to stay stable when performing certain actions. A serious injury can lead to complications that can overall not only affect a person’s physical but also mental health.
Sports medicine is an area of practice that focuses on treating and preventing injuries resulting from sports and exercise. Some goals of sports medicine include helping athletes and non-athletes who regularly participate in sports:
➢ Take measures to prevent injuries
➢ Achieve, maintain, sustain and regain peak physical fitness
➢ Speed up recovery from sports injuries and improve athletic performance
At Root & Stem Integrative Chinese Medicine, we take a holistic approach to wellness and sports injury prevention. Our sports medicine practitioner Michelle Binzak is trained to make accurate diagnoses and develop treatment plans that address the underlying causes (for example, balance problems or structural problems of the upper or lower body) of sports injuries.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to preventing or treating sports injuries. No one understands this better than our sports medicine practitioner. To learn more about Michelle's services, reach out to our Oakland office by calling (510) 519-3413.
Sports Injury Prevention
Whether you are a professional athlete or an amateur who participates in sports for enjoyment and exercise, you are at risk of sports injuries. Sports can be physically demanding. Repetitive motions in some sports can put a lot of pressure on your upper or lower body, causing overuse injuries. They say prevention is better than cure. Instead of waiting for sports injuries to occur and then treating them, why not prevent them in the first place?
We help athletes and non-athletes develop a better understanding of their bodies so they can take steps to assess and reduce injury risk. If you have a weak core, our sports medicine practitioners can recommend exercises to strengthen it. A strong core improves balance and stability, helping prevent injuries. Studies show that athletes with tight muscles are more susceptible to muscle strains and other injuries. We help our clients identify and perform the most effective dynamic stretches to improve flexibility.
Poor technique is a common cause of sports injuries. Knowing how to play a sport is essential to playing it well and preventing injuries. We educate athletes and amateurs on the right techniques such as:
➢ Using proper footwork to avoid injuries to the Achilles tendon and the ankle
➢ Balancing their body weight without over-extending their legs, arms, or backs, and
➢ Choosing the right equipment according to their size and ability
Playing any sport for too long without a break is an injury risk factor. We teach our clients to recognize signs of fatigue, so they can take a rest day or rest week to maximize recovery. If you were injured, and believe that your injury has healed, we recommend that you consult one of our sports injury practitioners before starting to play your favorite sports again.
If you are prone to sports injuries, we can develop a customized injury treatment plan for you. Our sports medicine practitioners can help you exercise safely and effectively to prevent injuries and improve athletic performance.
Sports Injury Treatment
We specialize in treating different types of sports injuries including hip injuries, hand and wrist injuries, knee injuries, foot injuries, and shoulder injuries. Our practitioners use physical examinations and imaging tests such as CT scans, X-rays, or MRIs to accurately diagnose sports injuries.
If you are recovering from an injury, we can design a sports injury recovery program. Our sports medicine practitioners can recommend gentle exercises to get the injured part moving and improve your range of motion.
Fast-Tracking Injury Recovery
We aim to help injured athletes and non-athletes better understand their sports injuries. When injured person acquires a better understanding of their injuries, they are mentally prepared to deal with injury rehabilitation challenges. Our rehabilitative strategies enable faster recovery and reduce the risk of complications.
Pain from a sports injury can affect one’s posture, resulting in an abnormal walking pattern which puts more pressure on the joints and muscles. This prolongs recovery. We help our clients train their muscles properly (without risking injury) to improve endurance, reflex control, and balance so they can maintain good walking posture without overexerting their muscles.
Nutrition plays an important role in injury recovery. High-protein foods such as different types of meat and foods rich in Omega-3 fats, calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin D can help the body produce collagen, a protein that rebuilds tissues and reduces inflammation. We can prepare a customized diet chart and recommend beneficial foods for sports injury recovery.
Looking for a sports medicine practitioner in the Oakland area? Call our team at Root & Stem. Let our team help you get back to the activities you love and schedule an appointment today. To learn more about our services and speak with one of our sports injury practitioners, click here to fill out our online form or call our Oakland office at (510) 519-3413.