The Journal of Athletic Training recently released a report indicating that close to 30 percent of all college athlete injuries were due to some kind of overuse. Occurring gradually, overuse injuries are caused by the continual stress and use on a specific area of the body. While overuse injuries can come in a variety of forms, the following are the most common types of overuse injuries:
- Shin Splints
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Bursitis
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
- Wrist Tendonitis
- Golfers Elbow
- Tennis Elbow
- Stress Fracture
When an overuse injury is pinpointed early on it is much easier to treat. Physicians will often advise the injured party to spend a few days resting the injured area. Sadly, however the majority of overuse injuries arise one a great deal of pain and discomfort is felt. In these situations, it is advantageous to seek professional care from a chiropractor.
The following techniques are most commonly used to treat overuse injuries via soft tissue mobilization:
- Active Release Technique (ART)
- Graston Technique
These are the most popular and effective methods of reducing the amount of scar tissue that surrounds the injury site. Both athletes and non-athletes benefit greatly from these treatments, as the overused area of the body is able to recover properly.