While it is in the best interests of our overall health and recreation that we engage in exercise and sports — whether it be running marathons, rough-housing at rugby, showing off brawn at weightlifting or simply hitting the gym regularly — it is imperative that we pay attention to the signs of the body’s wear and tear caused by physical activities.
Injuries sustained while playing sports or working out can be painful and, sometimes, life-altering. Effective and timely treatment can make the difference between bouncing back to fitness and enduring physical restrictions for years to come.
A Crack in the Right Place – Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and their effects on the function of the nervous system and general health. It’s a non-invasive, drug-free treatment method used frequently to release tension in muscles and restore joint function and mobility.
Dr Amy Bowzaylo, clinical director and CEO of InTouch Integrated Chiropractic Spine Centre, observes that more than 50 per cent of her clinic’s cases are sports injury related.
In her long career, she has treated athletes competing on international platforms in rugby, triathlons, gymnastics, hockey and professional bull riding. She says: “Here in Bahrain, I have treated the national team’s footballers, fencing athletes, body builders, boxers and Olympic weightlifters, as well as those who play handball and cricket.”
She believes that the main cause of injury (besides direct trauma) is increasing the intensity of training too fast. “People want to run faster, jump higher, tackle harder, lift heavier — all too fast. Performance improvements are a result of forced adaptation. In other words, your muscles will only adapt if you force them to work through sufficient load — 60 to 70 per cent of sports injuries where running is a major component are due to inappropriate training load. It is important to remember that pain is a warning sign from the brain and to distinguish which characteristics of pain are OK to work through, and which ones must get assessed and treated accordingly,” she says.
The second most common injuries are ones related to poor posture: impingement syndromes, lumbar and cervical strains amongst others.
Dr Amy says: “Chiropractors can help undo the toll the body takes while competing in sports. Many high-level athletes swear by chiropractic treatment; Barry Bonds and Arnold Schwarzenegger are two examples. NFL quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots is known to have said that one session of chiropractic makes him feel about three inches taller and one step ahead
of the game.”
Chiropractic plays a large role in injury prevention and performance improvement. Both high-impact and low-impact athletes can benefit from maintenance spinal adjustments. For high-impact athletes (playing rugby, Gaelic football, netball, football), it increases performance and flexibility, which in turn lowers the risk of injury. For low-impact athletes (golf, tennis, triathlon), maintenance adjustments can help relieve the strain that is placed on the body. “Imagine trying to ride your bike when the brake is rubbing on one side. You would stop to adjust the brake, improving the function of the bike to make the ride easier. Your body is no different. Maintaining alignment and function of your musculoskeletal system allows your body to perform at its best, not only in sport but in your daily activities as well,” says Dr Amy.
Just Chill – Cryotherapy
Yara Salman, of Hospitalia by Yara, is well versed in the science of Cryotherapy, and its benefits for sportsmen and women. “Cryotherapy uses low temperatures, negative 110º C and below, for treating tissue damage, reducing pain, decreasing inflammation, increasing cell rejuvenation, improving skin tone, reducing signs of ageing, weight loss and curing jet lag,” she says. These days, this alternative therapy is a proven, much-sought-after modality in sports medicine and rehabilitation. It rapidly alleviates soreness and inflammation from intense training and workouts that cause muscles to be totally worn out.
Approximately three minutes in the Cryotherapy chamber, which is cooled with liquid nitrogen, has a lasting, beneficial effect.
Yara explains: “As an automatic reaction to the intense cold, blood reaches your core, and in turn will release anti-inflammatory molecules and endorphins which send signals to the different systems of your body. After the three-minute session, the patient is made to step out of the chamber to warm up, where blood re-circulation is supposed to rid the body of toxins. The procedure can help reduce pain and inflammation.”
With international superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo attributing an increase in strength and fitness to freezing in his personal ‘icebox’ for a few minutes every week, others have got onto the chilled bandwagon as well, including some Welsh rugby players, according to the Daily Mail. The idea here is to jumpstart the process of muscle regeneration and immune-system stimulation.
It’s not only the injured who resort to this treatment. “Cryotherapy also helps fit athletes or sportspeople, by helping them rapidly recover from inflammation and sore muscles. It is a proven method to recover from strenuous workouts,” says Yara.
She advocates the treatment be taken for strengthening the immune system, improving blood circulation, reducing stress, anxiety and depression and better sleep as well.
