Sports Injury Chiropractor Toronto
Sports Injuries can range from mild and minimally limiting to severe and debilitating. The first step to staying ahead of an injury is proper diagnosis and education on what's happening and what the best path is back to unrestricted movement. While past recommendations for sports injuries may still be promoted by health care providers and movement professionals, it's important to consider more updated and evidence-based advice for managing a new injury. See below for newer, more evidence-based guidelines.
Those who have ever hurt themselves before or taken a first-aid course would be familiar with the popular R.I.C.E. Protocol for managing an acute injury. This acronym stands for:
R- Rest
I- Ice
C- Compress
E-Elevate
While there are elements to this protocol that can still be relevant, a better guide can be found in the acronyms P.E.A.C.E. & L.O.V.E (as popularized by physical therapist, Dr. Kelly Starrett):
P- Protect (briefly)
E- Elevate
A- Avoid anti-inflammatories
C- Compress
E- Educate on active recovery
L- Load early
O- Optimism
V- Vascularization (promote blood flow)
E- Exercise for strength/mobility
Questions about these new points? Let's hop and a discovery call and I can help de-mystify things.
FAQ:
What's the difference between a strain and sprain?
A strain refers to an injury to the muscle. A sprain refers to an injury to the ligaments or tissue surrounding a joint.
Should I stop exercising with a sports injury?
It really depends. Once the injury is assessed, a health care provider can provide better guidance on what would be an appropriate level of exercise. Usually, an injury may prevent you from directly the load that region for a bit of time and gradually progressive load in a strategic manner.
Do I need imaging?
Again, depending on the nature and severity of the injury, imaging may be recommended to the grade the injury and determine which structures are involved to better direct rehab and treatment protocols.
What types of sports injuries do you treat?
We commonly see muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendon pain, shoulder injuries, knee pain, low back pain, hip pain, running injuries, lifting-related pain, and overuse injuries.
Can chiropractic treatment help sports injuries?
Absolutely. Treatment may include hands-on therapy, soft tissue treatment, joint mobilization/manipulation when appropriate, rehabilitation exercises, and movement assessment to help reduce pain and improve recovery.
Do you only treat athletes?
No — you don’t need to be a competitive athlete to benefit from sports injury care. We treat active individuals of all levels, from gym-goers and runners to recreational sports participants.
My name is Ryan and I've been treating people with sports injuries for almost a decade now. The one thing I see most commonly in practice, is people are not given a full understanding of their injury. This can create fear and avoidance which can delay healing and recovery.
I'm here to be a fresh set of eyes on the problem. Please reach out when you feel ready to take the next step.
Now servicing Toronto, specifically West-end Toronto, College West, Trinity-Bellwoods, Dovercourt Village, Little Italy, Dufferin Grove and surrounding areas.