Sports Medicine

Sports medicine is a field of practice encompassing a wide range of musculoskeletal needs. The team at Northwest Wellness in Federal Way, Washington, have extensive experience in sport medicine techniques and offer several services to help you get back on your feet and into the swing of your normal routines. Call or click today to get started. 

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine is an area of medical practice focused on addressing health issues related to exercise, athletics, and movement in general. Much of sports medicine centers on the musculoskeletal system, including your bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and connective tissues. These are the areas that frequently sustain damage due to physical activity.

Another aspect of sports medicine is ensuring your body is fully prepared for your intended activity. Your practitioner helps you determine the right level of intensity for training or exercise and teaches you how to reduce your risk of injury. Performance enhancement is also an important focus within sports medicine. 

You don’t have to be a professional or collegiate athlete to benefit from sports medicine. Fitness enthusiasts, people with physically intense professions, and people who simply enjoy staying active can all encounter a need for sports medicine.  

What are some common sports medicine injuries?

Many different injuries fall under the umbrella of sports injury. Some of the concerns that bring people in to Northwest Wellness for care include:

• Strains
• Sprains
• Fractures
• Joint dislocation
• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Joint impingement
• Joint instability

This is far from a comprehensive list. Virtually any injury that affects your joints, bones, or  muscle tissue could be a sports injury. 

What role does chiropractic care play in sports medicine?

Chiropractic care offers the chance to resolve many types of sports injuries without medication or invasive surgical procedures. One of the core concepts of chiropractic care is that your body is designed to heal itself, and given the proper support, it can resolve many different injuries. 

One of the most common treatments used in chiropractic care is known as Graston® Technique. This patented therapy uses handheld instruments to help break down scar tissue and areas of tightened fascial tissue. 

Graston Technique helps your practitioner determine areas affected by chronic inflammation or soft tissue fibrosis. Treatments usually occur over a period of several months and are painless. You won’t need to limit your activity levels as you move closer to full recovery, and you should begin experiencing pain relief shortly after beginning therapy. 

If you have additional questions about how chiropractic care can support your sports medicine needs, booking a visit is as simple as a phone call or a few moments online.