What is an overuse injury? Have you had one or know someone who has? It turns out that this is a common problem and one that your sports medicine doctor can help with.
What Are Overuse Injuries and Who Is at Risk for Them?
Overuse injuries are a type of injury that occurs when a person repetitively performs the same motion, placing undue stress on the affected area. Common examples of overuse injuries include tennis elbow, swimmer’s shoulder, and runner’s knee. These injuries often occur in athletes, but anyone who performs the same motion regularly can be at risk.
Overuse injuries can be difficult to treat because they often involve small tears in the tissue that do not show up on traditional diagnostic tests, such as X-rays. As a result, overuse injuries are often diagnosed based on symptoms and a history of repetitive motion.
How Sports Medicine Doctors Can Help
Sports medicine doctors are specially trained to treat injuries that occur from overuse. These injuries are common among athletes but can also occur in people who don’t participate in sports. Treatment for overuse injuries typically focuses on rest and recovery. This means you will need to take some time off from the activity responsible for the injury.
Sports medicine doctors can help by creating a treatment plan that includes rest, physical therapy, and other treatments as needed. These medical specialists can also provide guidance on when it is safe to return to activity and how to help prevent re-injury.
Common Treatments for Overuse Injuries
Common treatments for overuse injuries include rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). The goal of RICE is to reduce swelling and pain and to speed up the healing process. In some cases, physical therapy may also be recommended. Sports medicine doctors may also prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help reduce pain and inflammation. With proper treatment, most patients are able to recover from overuse injuries and return to their previous level of activity.
Is It Possible to Prevent Overuse Injuries?
While there is no surefire way to prevent an overuse injury from occurring, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk. For example, it is important to warm up before engaging in any strenuous physical activity, as this helps to loosen the muscles and reduce the likelihood of strain. It is also important to use proper techniques when performing repetitive motions, as this can help to avoid undue stress on the muscles. Finally, it is important to listen to your body and take breaks when fatigue sets in. By taking these precautions, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of developing an overuse injury.
Sports Medicine Doctors in Farmington Hills, MI
The human body is an incredible machine, but it’s not immune to overuse injuries. If you’re experiencing pain in your joints, muscles, or bones, it may be a sign that you’ve overdone it and need to take some time off for healing.
The sports medicine specialists at Tri County Orthopedics in Farmington Hills, Michigan, can help. We specialize in diagnosing and treating overuse injuries and can help get you back on your feet (and running, biking, swimming, etc.) in no time.
Call Tri County Orthopedics at (248) 474-5575 to learn more about our medical services or schedule an appointment online today.
