Sports Injuries

Athletes are rough on their bodies. They not only endure regular, everyday wear and tear, but they ask their bodies to take on much more stress than the average body takes on. They ask their muscles to overwork and rework themselves continuously, and athletes are more inclined to injuries such as falls and hits.

All of these issues will throw a body out of balance and alignment– fast. When your body’s balance and alignment aren’t working at their peak, the body is unable to fulfill its potential. This is especially hard on an athlete because they need their bodies to perform at their best at all times- whether preparing for an event, during an event, or recovering from an event.

Patients who visit our St. Louis chiropractic office for pain due to a sports injury, usually complain of one or more of the following:

- Loss of range of motion
- Sore muscles or joints
- Hip and leg pain
- Shin splints
- Sleepless nights
- Hamstring sprains
- Tennis elbow

Sports injuries can be caused by any number of events, including:

- Repetitive activity
- Muscle overuse and fatigue
- Forceful impacts
- Over-training
- Improper warm-ups/not warming up
- And, much more

When should I see a chiropractor for my sports injury?

If you’re suffering from a sports injury, visiting a chiropractor who specializes in sports injury is just plain smart. Chiropractors use safe, noninvasive treatments to get athletic bodies to perform at their optimum levels.

Dr. Donahue is a sports injury specialist. Being an athlete himself, he understands the difficulty and stresses an athlete’s body is put through. Working primarily with runners and triathlon athletes, he structures proactive treatment plans that not only alleviate muscle pain and soreness, but also keep the body in full balance, working smoothly and properly at high-functioning speeds.

Dr. Donahue educates his sports injury patients about the importance of maintaining a healthy body before, during, and after a sporting event. Preventing a sports injury from occurring, or reoccurring is at the top of our list.

While training for an event, the patient may be seen on several occasions to ensure their speedy recovery after difficult training practices, while promoting better performance and body wellness as a whole.

Should you already have a sports injury, seeing a chiropractor will help your pain subside quickly and allow your body to heal faster.

Dr. Donahue provides care for high school athletes regularly and teaches them the importance of ongoing body wellness, care, and treatment. Young bodies can work themselves much harder than middle-aged and older bodies, so truly knowing the benefits of self-care through natural chiropractic techniques can be the difference between a successful athletic career and debilitating, chronic pain.

Sports injury-related conditions we treat regularly are:

- Tennis elbow
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Knee pain
- Ankle pain
- Shoulder pain
- Plantar Fasciitis
- IT Band Syndrome
- Headaches

Treatments for your sports injury

Donahue Chiropractic offers a diversity of specific treatments for our athletic patients. Our techniques keep our athletes’ safety at the forefront at all times. We never recommend the use of medications that tend to mask pain and can cause further damage.

Active Release Technique (ART) to treat sports injuries

Dr. Donahue uses ART on his athletes to help keep them aligned and their muscles and joints working at their absolute best. ART is a very specific and targeted form of pressure applied to the body that works the entire structure instead of one particular section. When this active motion is applied to a patient, adhesions causing pain are removed.

Electrical muscle stimulation to treat sports injuries

This safe and pain-free therapy, sometimes called e-stim or electric stim, works by applying a very mild electrical current to the muscles through electrodes placed on and around the area of the body that needs it. In most cases, pain is alleviated immediately. Strength and balance are restored efficiently, allowing our athletes to get back in the game.

Traction table to treat sports injuries

Traction tables mobilize the spinal column as ligaments and muscles are stretched. Doing this allows for an increase in oxygen and blood flow to the spinal discs, ligaments, and muscles which is great for healing a misaligned spine and improving a patient’s balance, strength, and mobility.

Adjustments to treat sports injuries

Sports injuries come in many shapes and sizes, so adjustments aren’t an all-for-one. Spinal manipulation reduces pain effectively and quickly. Chiropractors use this method to improve upon the athlete’s joint mobility, aligning muscles, which provides a better range of motion, flexibility, spasm reduction, and pain management.

Exercises and stretches to treat sports injuries

When done correctly, exercises and stretches are a remarkable, effective way to reduce discomfort and keep the body working at its best. St. Louis’s Donahue Chiropractic educates their athletes on the proper exercises to relieve pain, as well as how to perform the exercises. Dr. Donahue believes strongly that the healing process is a team effort and provides advice and guidance throughout the athlete’s training and after an event is completed.

Getting help for your sports injury

Whether you’re a weekend-warrior or a sponsored, professional sportsperson, whether you’re competing for first place or crossing your fingers you make it to the finish line, having a well-balanced body is a must when you’re an athlete.

Chiropractic care offers techniques that never get in the way of your performance but always enhance it. This is done through safe, tried-and-true practices that athletes have been utilizing for years.

When you receive sports injury treatment in St. Louis provided by Dr. Donahue, you’re getting unique and qualified chiropractic care. You deserve a drug-free, noninvasive treatment program that will keep your athletic body and mind void of the restrictions of surgery and medication. Our office provides maximized healing, injury prevention, highly efficient body functioning, and a natural increase in performance.

When you visit us, you will be asked a series of questions regarding your medical history, sport involvement, pain, and current injury or concerns. Afterward, Dr. Donahue will have you perform several tests that will allow him to understand the inner workings of your body. He will be able to advise you on how to get your performance levels up while keeping your body balanced and working as it should.

A structural exam of your posture and spine will detail balance issues, your back and extremities will be examined, inclusive of tendons, ligaments, and joints. A video assessment of your body and gait will also be performed. If necessary, X-rays may also be taken during your first visit.

Once your analysis is complete, you will receive a wellness plan geared toward your athletic achievement goals. Dr. Donahue will ensure you’re comfortable with the plan and that you understand it completely.

If you’re wondering if chiropractic care will benefit your active lifestyle and overall quality of life, contact us for an appointment and let’s get started.