Chiropractor Chandler AZ

Lacrosse Injuries - Prevention and Recovery

Lacrosse, a sport people once associated with leafy New England prep schools, is surging in popularity across the United States. By some accounts, it is now the fastest growing high school sport in the country. Some states have seen growth rates topping 70 percent in the sport, truly amazing. And if you have ever played lacrosse, it is easy to understand why the sport is finally having its day. Fast paced, dynamic and gender neutral, it is the perfect game for the 21st century team athlete. However, while Americans are playing more and more lacrosse, there is one downside to the sport's growing popularity: injuries.

Lacrosse players, especially growing teenagers or people who play the sport intensely, can be susceptible to injury. A recent study indicated that high school lacrosse players averaged 6.2 injuries to every thousand hours of exposure to the sport, whether in games or during practice. The types of injury vary, but soft tissue issues, like rotator cuff damage, shin splints or patellar tendonitis (knee pain) are extremely common in lacrosse. Fortunately, recurring pain does not have to keep you out of the game forever. There are new and innovative techniques to treat soft tissue lacrosse injuries and get players back on the field sooner rather than later.

The Graston Technique for Lacrosse Players

One of the newer treatments to help lacrosse players recover from a painful soft tissue injury is the Graston Technique (GT). GT is a form of soft tissue mobilization, and involves a trained practitioner using a specially designed set of stainless steel instruments to manipulate afflicted soft tissue. The GT instruments allow clinicians to identify injured tissue, and then are used to break down scar tissue and other restrictors. The technique facilitates increased blood flow to problem areas, alleviates pain, and can speed up the recovery process. While still a relatively new medical innovation, several clinical trials have affirmed the Graston Technique's effectiveness at addressing soft tissue injuries.

GT therapy is great news for lacrosse players suffering from knee or shoulder pain. Typical soft tissue injuries like this, often called adhesions, can keep muscles painfully tight and limit range of motion. GT is particularly effective at addressing these conditions. Additionally, GT can immediately address the buildup of scar tissue, alleviate lingering pain, and promote soft tissue healing for other lacrosse injuries as well. The Graston technique can be especially effective at addressing injuries before they become serious and debilitating, so it is worth checking with your physical therapist to get treatment as soon as your aches and pains start adding up.

Active Release Therapy (ART) for Lacrosse Players

Active Release Therapy, or ART, is another relatively new non-invasive technique to treat injuries commonly seen in lacrosse. ART is a patented technique that involves hand manipulation of soft tissue by a trained practitioner. ART's 500-move treatment protocol is exceptionally effective at identifying damaged soft tissue, and then treating it. These carefully designed, precision movements, like GT, can help increase blood flow, alleviate pain, and restore range of motion. All of this, again, is great news for sidelined lacrosse players everywhere.

Specially trained ART practitioners are adept at identifying the source of soft tissue injury or pain, then breaking down the scar tissue causing it. Active Release Therapy is also used as a preventative measure to keep muscles and tendons primed for workouts, thus avoiding injury altogether. ART can be great for dedicated lacrosse players, especially those who are experiencing routine or growing soft tissue pain. So if injuries are holding you back from giving it all you've got on the field, ART may be the right choice for you.

Get Back on the Field

Lacrosse is a great sport, and one that continues to grow in popularity. The fast paced game, with its lightning runs up the field and inevitable collisions, takes a toll on athletes' bodies and leaves them susceptible to a variety of injuries. The Graston Technique and Active Release Therapy offer innovative ways to keep lacrosse players' muscles and tendons in good shape, and prevent injury altogether. They are also extremely effective at treating soft tissue injuries and rapidly getting you back in action. So don't wait until it's too late. Do your homework, find a clinician who offers GT or ART, and get back on the field before anyone notices you were missing.

Our Chandler Chiropractic and Physical Therapy clinic treats patients with a variety of muscle, tendon, joint, and ligament injuries. The clinic provides treatment for runners, tri-athletes, and weekend warriors in addition to common headache, neck, and back patients traditionally seen in Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy clinics. We work with all ages and abilities of the residents in Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler AZ.