What is that funny colored tape on David Beckham?

April 30, 2011

You may have seen pictures of David Beckham, Serena Williams or Lance Armstrong with pink, blue or black tape on during a sporting activity and wondered what that tape is for?  Well, this tape is widely used because it helps heal while providing support and stability to muscles and joints.  Sometimes we hurt ourselves and think we can not continue working out or playing the sport we love.  Sometimes that is the case, but there are many times that taping can allow us to continue what we love without hurting ourselves further.  Taping can also elevate our performance so some athletes keep it on during their sport to run faster or move quicker.

Kinesio Taping® is a rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to accelerate your body’s natural healing process.  It does all of this without restricting your body’s movement.  Kinesio® Tex Tape is safe for everyone from kids to grandparents.  It successfully treats a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and other medical conditions.

The Kinesio® Taping Method not only provides your muscles and bones with the support you are looking for, but at the same time rehabilitates your condition as well.  It does this by targeting different receptors within your somatosensory system.  Kinesio® Tex Tape alleviates pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin.  This lifting affect decreases inflammation allowing a quick recovery from your injury.   Kinesio® Tex Tape can be applied to any area of the body and has the ability to reduce pain and inflammation, enhance performance, prevent injury and promote good circulation and healing.

At our facility, we want you to get the desired benefits from a Kinesio Tex Tape.  We will provide a full assessment to find out what areas need help and in some cases, the treatment of a condition may require treating other underlying conditions as well.  Kinesio Tex Tape has been proven to have positive physiological effects on the skin, lymphatic and circulatory system, fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints.   It is safe, effective and pain free!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in Chiropractor Redwood City, General Health, Redwood City Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Adolescent Sports Injuries

January 15, 2011

Athletic injuries occur in two different ways.

  1. Macrotrauma: an injury from a major force. Falls, collisions, sudden twisting. Examples are fractures, sprains and strains, bruises or cuts.
  2. Microtrauma is normally due to repetitive actions over a long period of time causing injury. Examples stress fractures, little league elbow, golfer’s elbow and shoulder impingement syndrome.

In high school, football accounts for the most injuries in boys, while soccer accounts for most injuries in girls.

Sprains of ligaments, muscle strains and bruises account for most of the acute injuries. However, repetitive and overuse during sports are more common in adolescents than acute injuries. Research studies have shown that up to 48 percent of high school athletes sustained one injury during their playing season.

Why are adolescents at risk for injury?

While they are still growing, the skeleton takes on the increased weight and load put forth during an athletic activity. They are not fully formed and as a result, there is increased risk for a severe injury in teens. During growth and development, agility, power, speed and motor coordination improve.

During their growth spurt, lengthening of the bones occurs before growth in the connective tissues. As a result, there may be a relative decrease in flexibility during this period. Girls tend to be more flexible than boys and peak in their flexibility around age fifteen years compared to boys who develop increased flexibility later in adolescence. Decreased flexibility may cause an increased risk for overuse injuries in both boys and girls.

There are other factors that may contribute to a teenager sustaining an athletic injury. These include the following:

  • Hazardous playing fields
  • Poor conditioning
  • Competing while injured or fatigued
  • Poor nutrition
  • Poor physical fitness
  • Inadequate supervision
  • Stress
  • Weather conditions
  • Inadequate, poorly fitted, improper safety equipment
  • Teams set by age rather than size

How are athletic injuries treated?

For acute injuries, always remember the mnemonic PRICE. Sprains and strain may be treated with Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.  Fractures may require casting.  Allowing the body to heal and alleviating the swelling can allow rehabilitation process to start. After the swelling is eliminated, appropriate adjustments can be administered, scar tissue can be properly addressed and exercises can be given.

How can we prevent these athletic injuries?

The following are some of the strategies that may help teens prevent athletic injuries:

  • Get a sports physical examination before allowing participation
  • Before each training or sports event, warm up and then cool down afterward
  • Do flexibility exercises
  • Play within safe ranges for one’s age and size
  • Use proper and well fitted equipment
  • Stay physically fit
  • Begin training one to two months before the season of the sport to prevent trauma to the body
  • Gradually increase training time but not more than ten percent each week

Parents should recall the following strategies to help prevent athletic injuries in adolescents:

  • Encourage teens to participate in several different sports
  • Be sure that coaches adhere to appropriate training principles
  • Modify rules for adult games so they are appropriate for adolescents
  • Ensure contests are supervised carefully and rules strictly enforced
  • Safety is more important than winning

-MassGeneral Hospital for children

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in General Health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

How can I prevent spraining my ankle?

March 28, 2010

Ankle sprains are becoming common.  Sprains occur when the ligaments of the ankle are stretched and pulled beyond their capacity.  This sometimes leads to partial tears or complete tears in the foot.  In 85% of ankle sprains, the Anterior Talofibular ligament is damaged by someone planting their foot, then rolling over the outside of their foot.  This inside of the foot is only sprained about 15% of the time.

In a total tear, stabilization of the foot is necessary along with R.I.C.E (rest, Ice, compression, elevation) for regrowth and restoration of the tissues.  The foot can still be checked for proper movement and can be manipulated safely but with caution.  Partial tears require R.I.C.E and stabilization is not normally necessary.  Exercises after the inflammation is gone along with getting the foot and ankle in their proper position helps and gets patients back walking normally quickly.

People with chronic sprains sometimes think it is normal to keep spraining their ankle.  This in NOT true!  The reason why someone sprains their ankle many times can be because of balance issues, pathological gait patterns and improper foot position.  Learning balance exercises, proper gait and getting the foot in the proper position can prevent future sprains and keep patients healthy and active for a lifetime.

We are extremity experts at Precise Moves Chiropractic.  We can help with any sports injury or extremity problem.  Please call us today to make an appointment for an exam and consultation!

Precise Moves Chiropractic has been serving the San Carlos, CA area since 2007!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in General Health, San Carlos California, San Carlos Chiropractor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)