By John M. Neidecker, DO, ATC, Cooper Bone & Joint Institute
As high school athletic departments kick off their seasons this month, sports medicine offices will start to get busier. This is because of the inherent risk of injury associated with sports. When most people think of injuries in sports, dislocations, fractures, and sprains come to mind. These injuries are known as acute injuries. However, there is another group of injuries known as overuse injuries. These occur when there is repetitive micro trauma to a part of the body over time. Overuse injuries usually involve bone and tendons, which result in stress fractures and tendinitis.
The body has an amazing ability to adapt to the physical demands that are placed on it, but if a person trains too hard and too often, breakdown occurs more rapidly than buildup, resulting in an overuse injury.
Causes of Overuse Injuries
Errors in training are the most common cause of overuse injuries. These errors include rapidly increasing training intensity, duration, or frequency. Another cause is poor form and technique in training. This places parts of the body in undue stress, accelerating breakdown.
Other causes of overuse injuries are a person’s body alignment and biomechanics. For instance, having flat- or high-arched feet or having unequal leg lengths can place one at risk. Muscle imbalances in strength and flexibility also can create risk. Environmental factors such as equipment and training surface also can have an impact on overuse injuries.
Treatments for Overuse Injuries
Treating overuse injuries is a two-step process. First, we need to treat the injury itself. This is done by a combination of medications, a period of immobilization and activity modification. The second step is to modify the risk factors that could have led to the overuse injury.
When it comes to training, it is recommended to not increase intensity of work outs by more than 10 percent a week. Athletes also can cross train with different types of activities. Sometimes orthotics or over-the-counter shoe inserts are indicated. We also correct muscle imbalances through physical therapy and/or stretching routines.
When it comes to running shoes, they should be changed every 350 to 500 miles, depending on a person’s running style and weight. We also recommend staying off the pavement and training on a soft surface if possible.
If you Suspect Overuse Injuries
If an athlete experiences pain with exercise, he/she should suspect an overuse injury. Athletes should not try to play through pain because doing so can potentially make the problem worse. Don’t ignore pain. Use common sense and listen to your body. If you have pain, consult a physician.
Dr. John M. Neidecker specializes in Sports Medicine with a special interest in non-surgical sports and medical orthopaedics, including sports-concussion management, plasma-rich platelet therapy and ringside medicine. He is board-certified in Family Practice and Sports Medicine, and is a credentialed concussion specialist. He sees patients in Camden, Voorhees, and Cherry Hill. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Neidecker, call 856.342.3159.
This article first appeared in the Courier-Post.