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Common Sports Injuries and How Action Chiropractic Can Help

With the fall sports season in full swing, we think it’s important for you to be aware of some of the most common sports injuries, and how treatment at Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center can play a pivotal role in recovery and prevention. Whether you’re a high school athlete or a recreational sports enthusiast, injuries can happen at any time, and can hold you back on the field and at home. While some injuries may require surgical intervention or extensive rehabilitation, many sports-related injuries can be effectively managed with chiropractic care. Let’s explore some common sports injuries and how Action Chiropractic can help.
1. Sprains and Strains: Sprains involve the stretching or tearing of ligaments, tendons or connective tissue, while strains refer to injuries in muscles. These injuries are often the result of sudden movements or overexertion.
Ankle sprains are the most common sports injury and happen when you quickly turn the ankle in and tear the anterior talo-fibular ligament. Chronic ankle sprains can lead to ankle instability, which can lead to hip stability issues and possible ACL tears.
At Action Chiropractic, we use chiropractic adjustments to make sure that there is minimal stress on the joints and bones and use our soft tissue techniques like ART and dry needling to make sure that the muscles and tissue can move without restriction. We then provide you with corrective exercises and continue to monitor your progress, so you are less likely to get re-injured.
2. Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow: Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) are repetitive strain injuries caused by overuse of the forearm muscles. These injuries are common in sports that involve repetitive gripping and wrist movements, such as tennis, golf, and weightlifting. Injuries to the elbow can make it painful and difficult to not only perform in sports, but also do everyday activities like typing on the computer, using your phone, or really anything that involves gripping. At Action Chiropractic we use both spinal and extremity (wrist, elbow, and shoulder) adjustments, myofascial release, and various other modalities to reduce the inflammation at the elbow, and help you regain full, pain-free range of motion.
3. Shin Splints: Shin splints result from inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue surrounding the shinbone. They are frequent among athletes that experience repetitive impact on the lower leg.
Shin splints make it painful to walk, run, and be on your feet. When this occurs, it can change your gait and lead to more serious injuries to the ankles, knees, and hips due to compensation patterns. When dealing with an issue like shin splints, we make sure to address the whole lower extremity to help prevent further injury from occurring. Combining adjustments to the ankle, knee, and hip with ART helps to improve function and mobility while decreasing pain and inflammation.
4. IT band Syndrome: IT Band Syndrome, is a common injury that affects runners, cyclists, and other athletes who engage in repetitive knee-bending activities. The iliotibial band (IT band) is a thick band of connective tissue that runs along the outside of the thigh, from the hip to the shin. ITBS occurs when the IT band becomes irritated and inflamed as it rubs against the outside of the knee joint.
The IT band runs from the hip to the knee and can cause problems in both joints. Treatment for IT band issues involves working the entire length of the band, as well as surrounding structures in order to decrease pain and inflammation and avoid compensation patterns leading to further injury.
5. Shoulder Injuries: Shoulder injuries are common in sports due to the complex nature of the shoulder joint and the demands placed on it during various athletic activities. The shoulder joint is highly mobile, allowing for a wide range of motion, but this also makes it susceptible to injuries. Some common shoulder injuries in sports include: tears, impingement, and tendinitis.
The shoulder is vitally important in virtually all sports and most aspects of everyday life. Treatment at Action Chiropractic is aimed at regaining full, pain-free range of motion and also providing you with exercises to maintain strength and stability. The shoulder is a complex joint that is responsible for a lot of motion. At Action Chiropractic, you can expect an accurate diagnosis, and a treatment plan that will get you back, and keep you back, on the field.
6. Back Pain: Back pain is a common issue in sports that can affect athletes of all levels and ages. Back pain can be caused by many different things including repetitive motion, impact/trauma, muscular imbalances, lack of mobility, etc.
At Action Chiropractic, we identify and treat the root cause of your back pain. We use adjustments and ART to help increase range of motion and decrease pain and inflammation. We also provide you with stretches and preventative exercises to keep you on the field, and out of the office.
Sports injuries are a common occurrence, but they don’t have to be a roadblock in your athletic journey. Chiropractic care offers a safe and effective approach to treating and preventing sports injuries, allowing athletes to recover faster, perform better, and stay on top of their game. By addressing the root causes of injuries, Action Chiropractic can become an invaluable ally for athletes at all levels. If you’re an athlete dealing with an injury or seeking ways to enhance your athletic performance, click here, and see what we can do to help keep you on the field and off the training table.
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Dr. Norgaard’s first exposure to chiropractic was when he was a high school football player at Neuqua Valley in Naperville, Illinois. Nagging injuries led him to Action Chiropractic and Dr. Durnas. He was amazed with the results he got and knew that the treatments provided at Action Chiropractic were the best way to address his ailments.
After high school, Dr. Norgaard left Naperville and attended Central College in Pella, Iowa. While at Central, he majored in biology and played football, further piquing his interest in sports injuries and how to treat them. When he wasn’t in the classroom or on the football field, Dr. Norgaard spent his time volunteering at hospitals, and at various clinics. This is when he really developed a passion for helping people get better.
His experiences as an athlete, chiropractic patient, and volunteer shaped his decision to become a chiropractor.
After graduating from Central, Dr. Norgaard continued his education at Palmer College of Chiropractic.
While at Palmer, Dr. Norgaard took several extracurricular courses focusing on spinal diagnosis and therapy, soft tissue care, and diagnosis and treatment of the extremities. He completed a 4-month internship with Dr. Durnas at Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center and further developed his skills as a physician.
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Palmer in October of 2021 and received the Academic Excellence Award.
After graduation, Dr. Norgaard joined the team at Action Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center. He currently resides in the Naperville area with his wife, Shannon, son, Parker, and dog, Alby.
“I chose to become a chiropractor because I was helped by chiropractic. I was in such discomfort it took me over 3 minutes to put on my socks. After seeing a chiropractor, and regaining the ability to tie my shoes, I realized that taking loads of NSAIDs did not address the fact that there was something causing the pain. The more I learned about it, I found that Chiropractic doesn’t just hide symptoms, like I was trying to do with pills, it fixes the origin of the problem.”
Dr. Durnas graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Biology and Bachelors of Arts degree in Chemistry. After graduation he worked in research and development for 3 years and dabbled in powerlifting and professional wrestling. That’s what lead him to chiropractic school. While at Palmer College of Chiropractic, he focused on learning how to best help the athlete. He took several extracurricular courses on how to address soft tissue injuries, how to adjust extremities, and how to better manage sports injuries. He graduated in June of 2012, where we were the Palmer Clinical Excellence Award winner and a keynote speaker at commencement.
In 2019, Dr. Durnas earned his Diplomate from the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP)®. He is only the 427th chiropractor in history to earn this designation, and only the 6th recipient in the history of Illinois. He completed over 300 hours of classroom and online courses focusing on in depth on the diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries, concussions, and emergency procedures, and had over 100 on the field hours with athletes that ranged from cross fitters, professional and high school football players, professional BMX and Motocross riders, triathletes, and runners. Dr. Durnas passed a 6-part practical exam and a 250 question Board exam and contributed a case study involving nerve damage in a professional athlete following a hit to the shoulder.