Injury

With regard to injuries, we can generally classify them into 3 broad categories based on the overall nature and scope of the injuries:

  • Accident-related Injuries
  • Sports-related Injuries
  • Work-related Injuries

And for each category, we shall be looking only at those injuries that can be treated using alternative treatments and therapies.

ACCIDENT-RELATED INJURIES

WHIPLASH

Whiplash occurs when a person’s head is forcefully thrown backwards and then forwards rapidly, injuring the muscles and other soft tissues of the neck. When a person is in a car accident, his/her body often moves suddenly and rapidly at a much faster speed than normal, thereby causing whiplash.

Signs and symptoms of whiplash usually develop within 24 hours after the accident and may include neck pain and stiffness, limited range of motion with the neck, headaches (most often starting at the base of the skull), tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms, tingling sensations in the arms and dizziness.

HERNIATED DISC

A herniated disc refers to a problem with one of the spinal discs between the individual bones that make up the spine. A spinal disc is a little like a jelly donut, with a softer center encased within a tougher exterior. A herniated disc occurs when some of the softer "jelly" pushes out through a tear in the tougher exterior.

A herniated disc can irritate nearby nerves and result in pain, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg. However in some cases, the person might experience no symptoms at all.

The most common signs and symptoms of a herniated disc are pain in the arms or legs, numbness or tingling in the affected body part and weakness of the muscles that are served by the affected nerves.

SPORTS-RELATED INJURIES

ARCHILLES TENDON INJURIES

The Achilles tendon is the thick, corded tissue that connects the calf muscle (in the back of the lower leg) to the heel. It is the largest tendon in the body and is used to help a person walk. During sports, this tendon can break or rupture and when it does, the person may experience sudden and severe pain and find difficulty walking.

DISLOCATIONS

Sports injuries may dislocate bones in your body and when that happens, a bone is forced out of its socket. This can be painful and lead to pain, swelling and an inability to move the affected area. It commonly occurs in contact sports such as football, soccer, and basketball.

JUMPER’S KNEE

Jumper’s knee is also known as Patellar Tendinitis and it occurs when there is an injury or inflammation to the tissue connecting the kneecap to the shin bone. Sports with repetitive jumping such as basketball and volleyball are common triggers for this injury. At the same time,  people who are overweight or play sports on a hard surface are also more likely to get jumper’s knee.

Symptoms include knee pain (usually just below the kneecap) as well as weakness or stiffness in the knee while jumping, kneeling, or climbing stairs.

ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that help stabilize the shoulder, which also aid in movement. Injuries to this area are common when the same repetitive actions are done numerous times over and over again, such as in swimming, tennis and baseball.

Symptoms include swelling in the shoulder, pain when lifting the arm and pain when the person tried to reach behind his/her back.

RUNNER’S KNEE

Runner’s knee is also another repetitive-motion injury similar to Jumper’s Knee and is common to runners and anyone who does a lot of walking or biking.

Common symptoms include pain behind the kneecap (especially if the knee is bent), swelling and a grinding sensation when the knee is bent.

SHIN SPLITS

Your shin is the area at the front of the lower leg just below the knee and shin splints occur when the muscles and tendons around the shin become inflamed. This injury often impacts runners and basketball players, with the main symptom being pain at the front of the lower leg.

SPRAINS

A sprain is a stretch or tear of ligaments (which are pieces of tissue that connect two bones to one another) and it usually occurs at a joint such as a knee, ankle, or wrist. Sprains are often caused by falling or twisting motions and can be mild or severe, depending on whether the ligaments are stretched or torn.

Common symptoms of sprains include pain, swelling and bruising and the person might also be unable to apply weight to the affected joint.

STRAINS

A strain occurs when a person stretches or tears muscles or tendons (which are thick, fibrous cords of tissue that connect bone to muscle). Strains are most likely to occur when a person runs, jumps or lifts heavy objects, or when a person quickly change direction.

Symptoms of strains include sudden pain followed by a limited range of motions of the affected area. And in severe cases, bruising and swelling might occur as well.

TENNIS ELBOW

Tennis Elbow commonly affects tennis players and it occurs when tendons on the outside of the elbow are overused by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm.

Symptoms include pain, swelling, redness and weakness, especially when a person tries to grip objects with the affected elbow.

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