HEALTH & WELLNESS The Newsletter About Your Health and Caring for Your Body
INSIDE: • DON’T LET PAIN SIDELINE YOU! • BACKPACK SAFETY • TIPS FOR AVOIDING SPORTS INJURIES
GET READY FOR BACK TO SCHOOL! “DON’T LET A SPORTS INJURY HOLD YOU BACK THIS SEASON”
• KNEE INJURIES: The knee is the most commonly injured joint, which can include runner’s knee (pain or tenderness close to the knee cap at the front side of the knee), tendonitis and iliotibial band syndrome (pain on the outer side of the knee). Severe knee injuries often include bone bruises or damage to the cartilage or ligaments. • SHIN SPLINTS: Shin splints occur when there is a pain along the large bone in the front of the lower leg, known as the tibia or shin bone. Shin splints most commonly occur in runners, especially those who are just starting a running program. This is usually due to poor alignment of the body, or weakness in the leg muscles. The team at Ottawa Health Group can treat many orthopedic and repetitive motion injuries without the need for invasive surgeries or medications. In fact, most doctors have their patients try physiotherapy first before recommending any other procedures. The licensed professionals at Ottawa Health Group can customize a program that addresses the weakness of your particular musculoskeletal system, allowing you to recover quickly and remain active. Even if you have an old injury, it is important to have it evaluated by our healthcare professionals to prevent long-term damage.
You don’t have to be a professional or even an amateur athlete to suffer a sports injury. In fact, many times, those most susceptible to sports injuries are people who have just started exercising or participate on a recreational level. Sports injuries in this article will be defined as injuries to the musculoskeletal system, including muscles, bones and tissues such as cartilage. The most common sports injuries include: • SPRAINS: A sprain occurs when the connective tissue that joins one end of the bone with another is stretched or torn. Those connective tissues are known as ligaments. Sprains are caused by trauma such as a fall or blow to the body that knocks a joint out of position. Ankles, knees and wrists are most vulnerable to sprains. However, back, neck and shoulder sprains are very common too. • STRAINS: A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is pulled, torn or twisted. Strains are non-contact injuries, such as those that occur from overstretching. A common example of a strain is a muscle spasm. A back or neck strain is a very common injury treated in physiotherapy, chiro, and massage.
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