ATLANTA, June 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Warmer summer weather is increasing the risk for sports injuries, including injuries from running, golfing and tennis. Atlanta chiropractor Dr. Jared Simon urges prompt care for any pain, including pain associated with repetitive motion injuries. The chiropractor warns that pain management medication can offer only limited relief and that physiotherapy treatments are essential to helping the body safely heal following injury.
The summer is peak time for shoulder injuries, ankle sprains and knee pain, warns chiropractor Dr. Jared Simon. The chiropractor urges prompt treatment for these injuries in order to avoid chronic pain and additional health problems.
"While following the R.I.C.E. injury treatment protocol is beneficial for addressing minor strains and sprains, it's not a permanent treatment solution for all patients," said Dr. Simon. "Over my decades as a sports injury chiropractor to Olympic athletes and professional athletes, I consistently have found that a combination of chiropractic care and physiotherapy treatments is most effective for treating these injuries. Sports injury chiropractic care reduces healing time and lowers the risk for re-injury."
R.I.C.E. stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Dr. Simon recommends R.I.C.E. for immediate injury treatment, but says a full chiropractic evaluation is important for identifying the root cause of the injury.
"Many repetitive motion injuries are due to misalignments in the spine," said Dr. Simon. "For example, a slight misalignment in the spine can affect how someone swings a golf club or tennis racket, aggravating the tendons and ligaments in the shoulder and elbows. This is one reason that rotator cuff injuries, sprains and strains are so common during the summer months. As we get outside to play more golf and tennis, we repeat the same motion over and over, further aggravating the injury."
Shoulder injuries are common from swimming and playing tennis and golf. Most shoulder injuries are due to overuse, says the Atlanta chiropractor. Dr. Simon recommends a combination of chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy to reduce inflammation and promote internal healing.
In addition to treating shoulder injuries, the chiropractor also says he sees an increase in knee-related pain in the summer.
"Knee injuries are common amongst casual runners who start training for a race," said Dr. Simon. "Sometimes runners do not have the correct shoe for proper arch support, which then leads to strain in the knee. In other cases, over-training is aggravating the kneecap's support muscles, which leads to injury. Patients are surprised to discover that training for a 5K can lead to just as many running-related injuries as training for a marathon can. Regardless of the end race goal, runners need to be smart about their training programs and take time for rest days."
Atlanta chiropractor Dr. Simon provides comprehensive pain management and injury rehabilitation services at his practice, Century Center Chiropractic.
For more information on these treatment options, visit http://centurycenterchiro.com/.