When you hear about sports and activity related injuries, most people assume that these have to be caused by an accident or mistake. However, sometimes your body just isn't ready for the level of activity you're asking for. Sometimes just going for a long walk after a period of inactivity can lead to a surprising amount of pain and loss of function in one or both legs. In fact, this can happen to anyone upping the stress they put on their legs whether it's going from inactivity to walking, walking to running, or even just running on grass to running on asphalt at your normal pace and intensity.

Wrist braces are one of the most commonly used pieces of medical equipment in the modern world. Why? Because they are so incredibly useful. In truth, 'wrist brace' is an incredibly general term meaning any specially designed wearable used to support, protect, or restrict the movement of a wrist. They can be made to fit the right or left hand and some braces are universal, meaning they can be used on either wrist based on how you configure them. Wrist braces can be used to keep your wrist safe after an injury or prevent an injury you know is a risk. They are often used to relieve long-term wrist pain conditions and are frequently recommended or even prescribed by doctors for specific recovery plans.

If you're not sure whether you should be wearing a wrist brace for recovery or relief, here's a quick run-down of the most common reasons (but by no means all the reasons) to wear a wrist brace.

Getting injured is never a fun experience and it's always necessary to seek medical attention afterward but some injuries are more dangerous than others. Elbow injuries are particularly touchy because of the number of things that could potentially go wrong. Elbows can be damaged over time by stressful repetitive motion or all at once through an impact and/or fall. When this happens, it's vital that you know how to respond and seek treatment immediately in order to both assess the level of damage and get you on the path toward healing and recovery as quickly as possible.

For professional or casual athletes who enjoy active physical exertion every day, time spent in recovery is often incredibly difficult. The first few days and possibly even weeks of 'downtime' after an injury mean leaving behind your normal workout routine, staying off the field or track and out of the gym. When the doctor has sent you home to recuperate, it's important to actually rest the injury or you'll only take longer to heal. But how do you fully relax when all you can think about is how much you want to get back in the game? We have ten useful tips to help you make the most of your recovery time without getting 'out of shape' in the meantime.

Just like with machines, any time you do something that involves moving parts, there's a certain risk of damage. The amount you move and how much effort you put into each motion also contributes to this potential risk. Taking a sedate walk around the neighborhood may have minimal consequences but when you're running your hardest trying to beat your best time or get to the finish line before your competitors, a single mismanaged movement could result in a serious injury.

You will undoubtedly want to avoid a sports injury whenever possible. It is common for a player to hurt themselves when regularly participating in a sport; however, an accident can be avoidable if you know the common mistakes players and athletes can make.

Thousands of athletes and other working professionals every year experience something commonly known as "Tennis Elbow". This distinctly named condition is, in fact, a kind of injury that can be contracted during any repetitive and stressful movements of the forearm, as is very common in the game of tennis. Of course, you don't have to be a tennis player to get tennis elbow. Anyone who uses their arms regularly at work, from playing golf to moving boxes, even stirring large batches of food in a cafeteria kitchen, can cause this kind of elbow strain, and it is often caused by doing the same forceful motion too many times with imperfect form that puts strain on the tendons of your elbow and forearm.

When you're at home healing a wrist injury rather than out doing your favorite physical activities, the waiting is often the most frustrating part. Sure, you know you're supposed to ice, compress, and rest it for several days but you want to do things that involve using both hands and it's tough to sit around watching movies instead. Even if you're completely familiar with the usual R.I.C.E. procedures of rest, ice, compression, and elevation, these don't actually take up much of your day. After all, resting is what's causing the problem, icing only takes twenty minutes out of every two hours, and compression takes maybe fifteen total minutes out of the day getting it in and out of the elastic bandage or wrist brace. The rest of the day that you're not at work on light duty, it's just waiting.

If you have ever suffered from aching knees, then you know the misery that comes with this condition. People may experience two conditions that result in knee pain — Acute or Chronic.

Martial arts competitions are an increasingly popular sport for all ages. And it’s something that people perform, often with injuries. There’s no doubt it’s an injury-prone sport, however, if it’s a sport that you enjoy, there are things you can do to ensure you minimize injuries beforehand and treat them well after they occur in order to maximize recovery times.

Almost every athlete suffers some sort of knee injury at least once in their career. Your knees are important in everything from running to lifting heavy equipment. The more active you are, the more likely they're going to experience knee pain. When this happens, more often than not you'll find yourself wearing at least one type of knee brace during and after the recovery process. Of course, you don't have to have a sports injury to need and wear a knee brace. Many people do it just for prevention or to alleviate pain from a non-injury-related cause. Knee braces allow you to get back on your feet quickly even if you won't be heading back onto the field for a few days or weeks. Here are five great reasons why you might find yourself wearing a knee brace.

When you live an active lifestyle of professional or casual sports, it's not uncommon to deal with the occasional minor knee injury. Sometimes it will be based on an event that occurred during training or on the field while other times knee pain can be a result of stress, tension, or imperfect form over time.

Glute injuries are something that you should pay attention to because they can really affect your quality of life in addition to your prospects for returning to your sport as quickly as possible. Here are a few things that you can and should do after a glute injury in order to minimize the potential of further injury, the amount of pain you feel, and the amount of time it’s going to take to get you back in the saddle of your chosen sport.

A groin muscle injury is often serious in nature because of what a central role it plays in your body’s musculature system. Here are some options for what you should do after a groin injury in order to maximize health and work through the issue so you can get back to your sport.

Beyond being thirsty!

Getting a restful night's sleep revives your body and mind. But it seems almost impossible these days. You're constantly on the go with work, kids, and everything else. By the time you climb into bed, you're already thinking about tomorrow. Wondering what to wear, packing lunches, that appointment, on and on. 

Lower back pain is one of the annoying inevitables in life for almost everybody. In many cases, lower back pain plagues the corporate professional sitting at a desk or athletes from repeatative movements. The good news is that majority of cases are relatively mild and can be managed at home. Pilates is an example of a beneficial exercise that'll help alleviate some, if not all, of your pain. 

You know that anyone who participates in a certain sport on a professional level is exponentially more at risk for suffering from a sports injury. In fact, it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest that every professional athlete will suffer from an injury at some point, whether that is a relatively minor injury from overexercising or something more serious like a fracture. If you too are an athlete (just not at a professional level) you understand that the risk of potential injury also exists for you. If you are currently suffering from a sports injury, it is worth looking at how the pros deal with their injuries and taking notes. In this post, we will take a look at a few recovery tips from the pros to help you come back strong and fully heal as quickly as possible.

Although tennis players to the south enjoy their passion outdoors throughout much of the year, those in the northern tier of states are confined to indoor courts until the warm summer breezes finally arrive. To maximize the competitive pleasures of those precious fair weather months, it's important for players to minimize the impact of common injuries like tennis elbow.  

What is Tennis Elbow?

You smell with your body, not just your nose.

As an athletic trainer, sports fans only notice you when their favorite player gets hurt. Then all their eyes are on you. In that moment, when fans are holding their collective breath, the field is your stage and it's your turn to shine. We want to hear those stories.

Experiencing an injury to any part of the body is a challenge. Actually, it can put quite a hamper to your lifestyle. Not only are you dealing with the potential for ongoing pain, but you will likely have limited movement as well. For active individuals, injuries may happen more frequently and they can be more detrimental to your lifestyle because it puts you out of commission temporarily. Sprains, strains, and broken bones occur regularly with those who engage in sports and active lifestyles. An ankle injury is one injury that sports enthusiasts and active individuals commonly see. When an ankle injury occurs, it can be frustrating waiting for it to heal so you can get back to doing what you love most. However, there are techniques to aid in the healing process and strengthen your ankle so you can get on with life. First, let's take a look at more details about ankle sprains.

   The heel is prone to many types of injuries. The Mayo Clinic, for instance, lists several. This is a shame, because, despite frequently being overlooked, they are essential for performing most sports. When they hurt, your practice routine is overthrown. Getting back to that routine means finding the source of the heel pain and how to treat it. 

    Here are 5 types of injuries a heel can sustain and some ways to treat those injuries.

You don't have to be a yogi to reap the benefits of regular yoga. Long-term studies have revealed the vast number of ways yoga has been able to help people improve their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. But today, we are going to focus solely on the physical benefits of yoga; more specifically, how certain yoga poses can help reduce the pain and irritation caused by plantar fasciitis. If you are dealing with plantar fasciitis at this time and are looking for one extra way to lessen some of your pain, check out these four yoga poses.

When it comes to athletic training, the focus is always on striving for one step closer to perfection. Athletes are driven by the desire to shave half a second off their last running time, achieve five extra reps per set, and becoming more accurate with each throw. With this constant forward momentum, it's no surprise that almost no one on the field or in the gym is considering the possibilities of serious injury. Sure, everyone tries to maintain good form to avoid a strain, but a life changing accident is the last thing anyone wants to think about. However, every team and facility has at least one concerned individual who is ready for anything, and we call them first responders. These brave men and women are always ready to lend a hand and are usually excellently equipped with a medical bag prepared for almost anything.

Attention Athletic Trainers! It's time to consider your athletic training kit options.

With all that training, however, you need an athletic training kit that's going to handle all your needs when you're at the gym, working out with your teammates, or simply hitting the trails to run. From injury prevention to dealing with sprains, strains, and other issues that could prevent you from meeting your goals, you want an athletic training kit that will provide you with everything you need to handle whatever your workout throws at you. This year, be prepared for anything with an athletic training kit that's already been put together for you. Choosing the one that's best for you is simple: it starts with knowing what your individual needs are and what injuries you're likely to face in your sport of choice.

If you are suffering from knee joint pain, one reason could be a condition called chondromalacia patellae, or better known as runner's knee. Sometimes referred to as runner's knee or patellofemoral syndrome, it can make even the slightest movements very painful. What is chondromalacia patellae and how is it treated? Here is some information you need to know.

Treatment for knee pain takes many different forms. For some people, they'll simply need to rest their knee, make some lifestyle adjustments, or try new exercises that don't put too much stress on their joints. In more severe cases of chronic knee pain or in the case of a bad sports injury, surgery may be required. However, for anyone experiencing relatively mild yet incredibly annoying knee pain, there are a few things you can try. One thing that many people find very beneficial for their knee pain is yoga. If you are looking for something that will not only relieve some of your knee pain, but make your knee joints stronger over the long run, take a look at a few useful yoga poses that will help. At the end, we will also discuss a couple of yoga poses that are not good for your knees and that should be avoided.

There’s one in each and every household, that family member who can’t miss a game, spends their weekends in their favorite team sweater and even cried when their favorite player was taken off the court – a sports fan! It can be difficult buying a gift that truly means something for the sport’s fan in your life, especially if they already have an impressive merchandise collection. However, this year, why not give them a holiday gift with a difference. So, if you are stuck and stressed for ideas, then keep these ideas in mind when shopping for the much-loved sports fanatic in your life.

Knee pain is absolutely something that you should take seriously, and this means examining all possible ways of treating the injury. This includes both “all natural” and more traditional types of treatment within the medical field. Herbs, dietary supplements, exercises and just about everything else that you can think of have been prescribed before. Anything that could potentially help you relieve pain is worth checking out.

Knee joint pain is an extremely common ailment that can affect everyone, young and old alike. While it is important that you get expert medical advice regarding the best treatment for a knee injury, once you have recovered, you can begin to explore the different exercises that are hugely beneficial for regaining and maintaining strength in and around your knee. In this post, we will uncover five of the best exercises you can use to help alleviate your knee pain and three of the worst exercises that you should avoid after a recent knee injury.

It’s something people say over and over again – exercise is one of the only surefire ways of keeping fit and healthy. No miracle pill or quick trick is going to do the same amount of good as a workout that suits your specific needs and body type. However, what some people can forget is that exercise in any form also poses a degree of risk to your physical wellbeing. Anything from occasional yoga to extreme weight-lifting requires preparation and understanding before throwing your body into something it might not be able to cope with straight away. Here are some ways you can prevent injuring yourself while exercising.

The steps that you should take during and after surgery on your knee will obviously depend on the type of surgery you’re getting specifically. Here’s some information about preparing for knee surgery both generally and specific information related to specific surgeries.

Whether your knee joint pain has progressively gotten worse or the pain started suddenly, if you are experiencing serious pain around your knee, you might be wondering what is wrong and what you can do to treat your pain. While there are many causes of knee pain, a meniscus tear and an ACL tear are among the most common types of knee pain for athletes.  

Week 14 Fantasy Football Injuries presented by Mueller Sports Medicine.

Popular culture has long relied on the stereotype of the person who predicts bad weather when his knee is "acting up". This stereotype is far from entertaining to people who suffer knee injuries when they pursue more active lifestyles, and to an aging population that may be in the beginning stages of knee osteoarthritis. Rather than relegating knee pain to a method of predicting the weather, people who experience knee injuries are looking for effective treatments for knee injuries that not only reduce and eliminate knee pain, but that also help them regain mobility and get back to their chosen activities as quickly as is possible.

Cheerleading is a fun and athletic sport, one that your daughter loves. Unfortunately, she has been suffering from a “locked” knee or one that suddenly refused to bend for a period of time.

When you are looking for advice related to treating mild back pain, it is pretty easy to come across copious amounts of information on the web offering you advice on what to do to expedite your recovery. However, it is equally as important to focus on things you should not do when you are trying to completely heal an injured back. In this post, we are going to take a look at six things ranging from seemingly minor, subconscious habits to potentially risky activities that you should avoid doing when you are in the process of recovering from a back injury. 

Ankle sprains are a fact of life for many basketball and football players. In fact, almost anyone involved in a team sport is vulnerable to sprains that either limit performance or temporarily prevent participation.

In America, back pain and sciatica are among the most common complaints of pain. Millions of people each year, up to almost 80% of people, experience back pain in some form. Whether it is acute or chronic, most people at some point in their lives will struggle with back pain.

Whether you are suffering from a sore neck, prolonged stiffness, or a case of whiplash, living through the discomfort of your neck injury doesn't have to be your reality. There are plenty of ways that you can safely soothe and heal your neck (with the approval of your general physician or pain specialist, of course). In this post, we will uncover the top eight things that you can do to help make your neck injury less painful and get you on the road to recovery.

From overlooked remedies to uncommon therapeutic activities, there are many types of treatment for back injuries and back pain that most people have yet to try. If you have gone down your list of treatment options and thus far nothing has worked for you, it may be time to try something a little less conventional in order to experience lasting results. In this post, you will discover ten unique treatments for back injuries and back pain.

Fantasy Football Injuries presented by Mueller Sports Medicine

Anyone who has ever had to deal with back pain knows that it's no fun. Whether it is minor, acute pain or a chronic problem, back injuries never fail to get in the way of a person's day and well-being. Whatever the reason for your back pain, it is, of course, very important that you take the proper precautions to prevent further injury and get treated by a specialized medical professional. If you are finding yourself in great discomfort in between doctor's appointments and medical treatment for your back pain or injury, there are some things you can do at home on your own. And they're not just effective ways to alleviate some of the pain and discomfort, they are incredibly luxurious too. In this post, we will uncover six ultra luxurious ways to sooth your back pain.

Many individuals with spinal stenosis have a similar story. At some point they began to have pain, numbness or tingling--usually in their legs and feet, but occasionally in their shoulders and arms. If they laid down or stretched their back, the symptoms would go away. They attributed it to aging or stress or bad genetics. But then the pain and numbness and tingling got worse. It hindered them from sleeping at night. It was difficult for them to sit for long periods. The feeling in their legs would disappear and they would collapse. At this point, they decided a visit to the doctor might be a good idea. 

Fantasy Football Injury Report presented by Mueller Sports Medicine

Suffering from an aching, annoying case of back pain? You're not alone. Back pain, particularly lower back pain, is one of the most common injuries out there that plagues everyone from young, agile athletes who have strained themselves working out a little too hard to elderly adults who have been living with chronic, lower back pain for years. The good news is that you don't have to suffer as there are plenty of ways to treat the problem and alleviate some, if not all, of the pain without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on physical rehabilitation, medicine, or surgery. In this post, we will take a look at six easy yoga poses that will do wonders for your back pain.

Back pain can be debilitating, which is why finding a treatment for your back injuries and pain is crucial. Especially when you live with the daily aches and pain of spinal stenosis, it's important to try to find ways to help.

Pain, stiffness, or weakness in your wrists can make everyday activities difficult and agonizing to do. Unfortunately, most individuals believe the nagging discomfort they feel is incurable, and choose to bear through the pain instead of looking for ways to alleviate their suffering. However, this isn't true, and relief is possible by strengthening your wrists with some simple exercises. Before performing any of the stretches listed below, be sure to consult a doctor about the proper treatment for your wrist injury. An accurate diagnoses is your first true step towards recovery. While these exercises are useful after an injury, you can also perform them to prevent wrist strain from ever occurring.

Toe injuries may not be life threatening in most cases, but they can definitely slow down any athletic endeavor. Here are some tips to make sure that you’re doing everything you can in order to expedite healing while the injury is happening, as well as both directly after and in the long term.

We're halfway through the NFL season and we hope your team haven't been sidelined with fantasy football injuries.

You don't have to be a division one athlete to potentially get hurt on the field or in the gym. Whether you are newly working out on a regular basis or are a highly trained professional athlete, anyone who takes part in any kind of physical activity can suffer from a sports injury. Should the time ever come when you are injured during workouts or a game, it is important to be prepared and know what to do in order to fully recover and prevent further damage to the injured part of your body. In this post, we will uncover eight of the most common sports injuries and the best treatments for those common injuries.

The world of sports is changing. Football is on the decline because of the revelations that repeated concussions create a lifetime of problems, and sports like boxing are being replaced by even more brutal disciplines such as mixed martial arts. As a result, the demand for sports medicine professionals is on the rise. Here are 5 booming sports medicine career paths to consider.

No athlete or sportsman in the world can escape injuries and that’s a part of their lives which every athlete must accept. However, there are certain injuries which can be so devastating and long term that they can potentially end careers, or at least shorten them significantly if not treated in time. It doesn’t matter if you are a professional or an amateur, if you have reason to suspect or you know for a fact that you have any of the following four injuries, consult a doctor and the St George Physical Therapy Center as soon as possible.

The most common type of football injury is going to depend mightily on what your position is. It is true, however, that some injuries are going to be common to just about everyone. Here are some examples of some specific position injuries as well as some injuries coming from more general football situations, including how you can work through them on your own when possible.

Mueller ProStrips® are made up of an easy to use pressure-sensitive adhesive mesh tape that helps protect against abrasions, turf burns, scrapes, blisters and calluses. Recommended for sporting activities where abrasions are caused by equipment or apparel.

Facilities follow design trends, whether commercial, residential, educational or industrial. Biomedical design has its own trends, too, though they are constrained by the utilitarian requirements of lab workers. Let’s explore some of the latest trends in biomedical lab design and the reasons behind them.

Common volleyball injuries tend to hit areas like fingers, ankles, and knees. Let's cover a few of these injuries so you can quickly identify them if they happen to you or your teammates. 

Now that the NFL season is in full swing, Fantasy Football injuries and bye-weeks are primed to disrupt your team. Here's what you're dealing with after week 4.

Now that the NFL season is in full swing, Fantasy Football injuries and bye-weeks are primed to disrupt your team. Here's what you're dealing with after week 3.

Between the smooth gliding surfaces and the shapes of the articulating joints there is very little inherent stability in the knee. As a result, there should be no surprise when, after an activity that you’ve no doubt performed hundreds of times before without incident, you sit staring in utter agony at your knee wondering what in the world happened. In such situations, however, it may be useful to know some of the most common knee injuries; or, just what the heck should you do now?!

The field of health administration is very vast and offers plenty of positions in a variety of fields. It also offers a chance for those who love sports to combine their passion with a healthcare vocation. In this article, we’re going to showcase some of the positions that combine sports and health administration.

A back pain is never an enjoyable experience for anyone, regardless of age or level of athleticism. Whether you injured your back by picking something up that was too heavy or from a devastating blow during a sporting event such as football, there are certain things you should try in order to recover properly. Let's cover some ways to get back pain relief and a few things you shouldn't do.

Professional football is violent, and that means your fantasy players are going to get hurt. Week 2 was a rough one. So hopefully, you don’t have these players on on your team.

There are plenty of causes of foot pain — many of which can make it difficult for you to stay on your feet no matter how hard you try to work past it. If you're an athlete, you may find yourself wondering what's causing your foot pain. Most critically, is it plantar fasciitis? And if it is, how are you supposed to treat it? 

Your Fantasy Football league is set, teams are matched up, and the 2017 NFL season is roaring to go. And just like that, your stud players are injured. 

When you wake up in the morning, do you hesitate to step out of bed? Are your first few steps especially painful, punctuated by more pain when you stand up from a chair or stand in one place then start walking again?

Coming back from a sports injury or a chronic pain condition isn't always easy. There is plenty of recovery that goes into it. But if you keep up with preventative measures to protect your body, you'll be able to live with less pain and dramatically decrease the chances of enduring another similar injury. Whether you suffer from neck, back, knee, or any other kind of pain, take a look at a few of these effective stretches that will help alleviate much of your pain.

While ankle injuries of varying levels of severity are incredibly common, there is no lack of questions that people have about what they can do to heal correctly and swiftly and be able to better tolerate the arduous process. Whether you are suffering from a sprain, fracture, or an even more serious ankle injury, there are several practical things you can and should do as well as things to do for your overall well-being. In this post, you will discover what to do during and after your ankle injury.

Even if you have spent the winter at an indoor climbing wall, if you are a serious rock climber, you are likely antsy to get out and start rock climbing. Whether the weather in your area allows for great rock climbing now or you still have a few weeks until it is warm enough to start climbing, now is a great time to begin preparing. One of the top ways you can prepare is to focus on injury prevention.

In November 2015, Luke Schemm of Wallace County, Kansas became the eighth high school player to die in that football season. According to his father, he died of a traumatic brain injury. At least three other high school players' deaths earlier in the year were due to heat stroke or cardiac arrest.

Rafael Nadal is back on top entering the 2017 US Open Tennis Championships. And to celebrate Rafa's #1 ranking, we're giving you a chance to win some great prizes, including an autographed books, Mueller Prostrips®, Quench Gum, Water Bottles, and Kold® Towels.

From professional athlete to stay at home mom, anyone can suffer from plantar fasciitis. This condition can be very painful, and make even the most simplest of tasks difficult.

Rafael Nadal returns to No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings almost nine years to the day since he first reached the summit.

Plantar Fasciitis is a common but painful foot condition that affects many people. It involves the inflammation of the tissues on the bottom of your foot and heel. If you're an athlete, runner, hiker, or any type of person who's very active, you have a greater than average chance of developing this problem. The most obvious symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain as the condition targets the arch of the foot. Since this is a repetitive motion type of injury, it often gets worse when you continue to stress the affected area. Unfortunately, it's hard to stay off your feet so many people end up living with chronic pain. There are ways to treat and prevent plantar fasciitis.

The use of kinesiology tape to treat injuries is often a hotly disputed and vastly misunderstood topic of conversation in the sports medicine world.  You've probably heard conflicting arguments and might be wondering what the truth is about kinesiology tape.  Let's set the record straight and tackle 4 common myths about kinesiology tape.

Whether you are looking for at-home natural remedies or specialized medical attention, there are plenty of ways to effectively and safely treat a knee that was recently injured or is just experiencing some mysterious pain. The easiest and quickest way to treat knee pain is by properly diagnosing the cause of the pain and sometimes this will require professional medical attention. Whatever the cause of your knee pain is, it is wise to review the different treatments available to you and consult with a medical professional about the best option for your unique case. In this post, discover 11 of the most effective knee pain treatments, some of which you can try on your own and others that require some medical assistance.

Swimming is one of the more popular sports in the world, and there are certainly plenty of injuries associated with it, although many of them are different than other sports. Swimming injuries tend to be of a different caliber since the water’s buoyancy often helps to prevent injuries common with other sports that lead to joint damage from feet hitting the ground. Here are some common injuries in swimming, including what you can do to prevent or mitigate them.

Some people are sun lovers, that is their nature, and that is how they have always been. For some of us, the idea of sitting on a beach with a book toasting our skin sounds nightmarish, and the prospect of doing sports in extremely hot weather is more a chore than refreshing. If you are a cold blooded, lover of all things winter based, you are not alone. Studies have indicated that fall is the favorite season for a third of Americans, but what about those who like it cold? Here is a list of all the activities to do when the temperature drops.

Staying fit doesn’t require a gym membership or getting hot and sweaty in a room with a load of other strangers, no matter what your gym wants you to think. There are ways to keep your body in tip-top condition without spending hours on a machine that looks better placed to execute somebody than tone their buttocks. Whatever your physical capabilities or preferences, there is an exercise that will work for you. And you might even enjoy yourself as you go.

The foot is one of the most complicated parts on the body. It is frequently used and subjected to a lifetime of wear and tear. When foot pain occurs, the cause can be any number of different injuries, but when it comes to pain underneath the foot, there are two common ailments that are responsible - plantar fasciitis or heel spurs. Although occasionally used interchangeably to describe under foot or heel pain, plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are two very different conditions.

Here's a quick and easy way to understand Plantar Fasciitis. 

The infographic below details the Tour de France’s popularity, and how keeping track of a person’s time and technique can mean the difference between first and second place – a mere eight seconds separated Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon in the 1989 Tour de France. The Watch Gallery understand why it’s important for cyclists (and sports enthusiasts) to keep track of their stats and how they can better their timekeeping skills and performance through appropriate and reliable timekeeping equipment and cycling gear.

The common wisdom regarding the immediate icing of acute injuries may be true, although research suggests that it is only appropriate to a degree, with important modifications. Cold therapy is one of the four components of R.I.C.E. - rest, ice, compression and elevation.

Tennis is one of the more popular sports on Earth, but it can definitely put stress on particular parts of your body. Here are some ways of working through your common tennis injuries so that you can get back to your “A” game as soon as possible.

Coming off his historic 10th French Open Championship, Rafael Nadal looks to tackle the grass courts of Wimbledon.

Summer is the perfect time of year for engaging in sports that you don't get to enjoy the rest of the year. You can spend every weekend out on the lake, swimming and boating; you can hike through the mountains; you can even take a vacation dedicated to camping, rock climbing, biking, and more. There's just one problem: with all of those activities that your body isn't used to, you can significantly increase your chances of injury. While you don't want to curtail your fun, you'll find that following a few simple tips can help decrease your odds of many common summer injuries and make your vacation happier, less stressful, and more fun.

If you’re big on getting through injuries on your own and you incur some while playing baseball, there’s actually often some effective ways to get through it. You really can do it on your own in most cases, depending on the situation. Here are a few ways to treat common baseball injuries without spending more time taking it easy then you have to absolutely.

If you have suffered an ankle injury, you have likely heard an assortment of things you should and should not do. While some of the advice might be perfectly harmless or even beneficial, other advice could actually be harmful. Overall, the key to treating ankle injuries is making sure you are able separate ankle injury treatment facts from fiction. Here are five things you may have heard about ankle injuries and their treatment.

Whether you are 15 or 50, injuring your rotator cuff can prevent you from partaking in your favorite activities, not to mention just basic daily chores, for anywhere from six months to a year. It's a pain. And it happens to the best of us--literally. The best athletes in the world face the threat of this injury every time they hit the court, field or arena. And quite a few of them have succumbed. Here are their stories, both their downfalls and their recoveries:

Your knees take a lot of wear and tear. Whether you play sports, live an active lifestyle, or spend long periods of time on your feet, that stress tends to get transferred down your legs and into your knees. That's why it's so important to take the proper steps when you are dealing with knee joint pain.

Almost no one prepares for an injury, but immediate care is essential for getting you back in the game quickly. Whether you're putting time in at the gym or hiking in remote back country, every athlete needs a medical bag or athletic training kit. Part of a league? Your friends will thank you for coming prepared to help an injured player. Be the hero for your kid's sports team when you bring this along to the game. Maybe you're just stopping to help someone who rolled an ankle on the bike trail. Whatever your activity is, a medical bag is an important part of caring for yourself and others. 

If you're considering a medical bag or athletic training kit, use these tips to select one that's right for you. Don't risk a long recovery. Prepare for the worst so you can play at your best.

Tennis is a great activity to feed your warrior spirit and competitive instincts. After gaining basic tennis skills, notch it up and play competent matches with similarly-matched opponents and compete regularly. Even after only a few times a month, you might be experiencing tightness and/or soreness. There is an enormous amount of torque and strain on shoulder and elbow joints, with the elbow typically being the weaker of those two joints. This can lead to severe tendonitis and the painful soreness know as "tennis elbow". Fortunately for competitive tennis players, tennis elbow treatments have come a long way from the "icing and resting" recommendations.

Injuring your neck is not a problem you should take lightly. It’s important to take the proper actions to properly recover from the injury if you can.

Most runners and other athletes have a love/hate relationship with their knees. They have a deep sense of appreciation for the mechanical wonder that is a knee joint, with its ability to propel a body forward with balance, speed, and power. Yet they despair over the joint's fragility and its ability to interfere with even the simplest forward motion when it is sore or injured. The good news is that a casual runner does not need access to a professional athlete's medical staff for knee pain treatments. The better news is that a few regular stretching and strengthening exercises can prevent knee pain and injuries and speed the recovery when runner's knee injuries do happen.

Skyrocketing gym enrollments are common after the new year as people try to adhere to their resolutions to lose weight or to get in shape. Many new enrollees quickly give up on their resolutions, citing common sports injuries, such as sore hips and knees or backaches, as an excuse for not continuing with an exercise program. If you are committed to keeping your new year's resolution, you can take a few simple steps to ensure that you are not sidelined by a sports injuries.

Knee joint pain can have a major impact on your life, particularly if you're an athlete or work a job that comes with physical demands. Unfortunately, knee joint injuries are not the type that will typically just "go away" on their own. In fact, knee injuries can be among the worst in terms of healing time, with recovery times ranging anywhere from three to nine months (depending on the specific cause and extent of your injury). Furthermore, without the proper diagnosis and care, even slight knee joint pain can become exponentially worse in a very short period of time.

Have you experienced a sports injury that’s left you searching for a means of pain relief? Rather than turning to medication to soothe the pain of your injuries, consider turning to hydrotherapy as an alternative form of treatment. With the use of hydrotherapy, you’ll notice an instant relief from pain and tight muscles, in addition to help with any other ailments you may be experiencing.

Suffering from mysterious, chronic back pain that just won't go away? Or have you recently been in an accident that is creating agonizing pain and affecting the quality of your life? When you get the right treatment for back-related issues, you can put an end to the seemingly endless discomfort and pain without hurting the injured area even more. The best treatments for back injuries and back pain will depend significantly on the severity of the injury and the pain. If you broke your back in an automotive or sports injury, clearly the most appropriate treatment is immediate medical attention. If you are suffering from a sore back simply because you were standing on your feet all day, you will probably require less intensive forms of treatment such as rest and pain reliever. Whether you are suffering from a sore back caused by working out a little too hard or recovering from a serious back injury, this post will introduce 10 of the most effective treatments for back injuries and back pain. 

When you lead an athletic lifestyle, you do it knowing you risk the potential for injury. While this shouldn't deter you from continuing with sports and other physical activity, it is beneficial to be aware of the common sports injuries, understand a little bit about them, and know what to do if you ever have one. Keeping yourself educated on these injuries will help prevent you from getting them in some cases and provide you with everything you need in the event that you do experience a sports injury. In this post, we will uncover nine of the most common sports injuries and what you can do if you have one. 

Knee pain can be debilitating. For those that suffer, it often seems like there is no end to the daily soreness and pain that comes from knee joint pain. Although most never find a complete reprieve from the pain, there are some simple steps that anyone can take to improve their comfort and reduce daily knee joint pain. 

If you would like to walk more comfortably each day, consider these tips:

An ankle injury is one of the most common injuries that affects everyone from young children to adults to the elderly. Whether the injury is a roll, twist, or sprain or something more serious such as a bone break, ligament tear, or fracture, it is vital that you get the right treatment to ensure that the injury is taken care of immediately and won't lead to lifelong pain problems. If you injured your ankle in a sports activity, at the gym, or simply by falling, treating ankle injuries can be done swiftly and effectively. In this post, learn about these 15 simple tips on treating your ankle injury in order to achieve both immediate and long-term relief.

Hockey is a game where most players stay active on a constant basis while you’re in the game. There’s not really a lot of “downtime” like there might be in other games like baseball. As a result, there’s the chance for a lot of injuries. Here’s some information on both how to avoid common hockey injuries, as well as how to handle injuries as you incur them.

If you ever watch sports, you will inevitably see athletes across disciplines using kinesiology tape. You may know exactly why they've wrapped it around their body. But if you are curious why these athletes are wearing strips of tape over various parts of their body, this post is for you. Is it simply a fashion statement, or does it actually serve a medicinal purpose?

With the end of summer, many high school and college athletes and coaches are heading back to a regular training schedule for the first time. Whether it's your first season or your last, you may find yourself wondering whether or not you've managed to pack that athletic training kit with everything you could possibly need. You've examined all of your gear carefully. You've checked everything to make sure that it's in good shape. Now, what about those important extras that will take your training from ordinary to exceptional, preparing you for potential sprains, strains, and other injuries and ensuring that you're ready for whatever happens on the field?

As many boxers, mixed martial artists, and weight lifters know, it only takes a heartbeat to cause a wrist injury. One minute, you're sparring normally. The next minute, you've blocked a kick wrong, angled your hand the wrong way as you threw a punch, or simply put too much pressure on your wrist. Now, you're dealing with wrist pain. Over time, especially with repeated injuries, many athletes find themselves dealing with chronic wrist pain. Sometimes, training straight through it is the best option. Other times, managing the pain involves treating it properly. 

As students head back to school after the summer, it's time for the football team to dig in, start training, and get ready for those all-important games. Unfortunately, along with the start of the football season comes the potential for injury--and football players have a higher risk for injury than participants in any other sport. Whether you're out on the field for a game or in the middle of an intense practice, however, the last thing you want is to end up with an injury. Not only are injuries painful, they could potentially take you out of the game when you need to be there the most, making it impossible for you to be seen by college scouts and decreasing your chances of that all-important athletic scholarship. Here's the good news: some of the most common high school football injuries can be avoided with proper care and effort. 

Your body is a complicated machine, and when one part of it doesn't work, it will adversely affect the rest of you. This is especially evident when you are living with foot pain and plantar fasciitis. Activities of daily life, formerly thought to be routine, can suddenly become a struggle. By trying to find a solution, you can help to improve your life and reduce or even eliminate your pain. Understanding what is causing the pain can help you to treat it, and "get back up on your feet."

While many athletes have gauze, ointment, medical tape, and other traditional medical supplies handy when playing sports, there are other valuable items that are often missing from athletic training kits. Here is a look at six items you likely want in your athletic training kit, most of which will only take up a small space in your bag.

Gymnastics is a wonderful sport that really challenges your body and your reflexes. Unfortunately, it also challenges your joints, especially your knee and wrist joints. As a result, gymnasts often suffer from a dorsal wrist impingement. Learning how to diagnose and treat this wrist injury can help you or your gymnast children from falling victim to this injury.

Runner's knee, also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome is an unfortunate, yet common ailment that affects runners. Runner's knee is mainly caused by an irritation localized where the kneecap sets upon the thighbone. In fact, at approximately 20 percent of all running related injuries, PFPS is the most common running injury.

There's nothing worse than the moment of blind panic when you realize that you've been injured. It's not the pain itself that's so terrifying, though that's bad enough. It's the idea that you're going to be stuck on the bench for the next several weeks, the enforced idleness a punishment for not paying close enough attention to what was going on with your body. Here's the good news: you don't have to give up your training regime entirely just because you've managed to be injured. By taking a few simple principles into consideration, you can keep the rest of your body in peak condition while still allowing the injury to heal.

Knee injuries are a common and often frightening injury to everyone from sports participants to average every day people. We slip and fall and usually the first thing we experience is knee pain. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (Website) the knee is one of the most commonly injured body parts. This is not a surprise since it carries a vast portion of our body weight.

Тhе humаn knее іs а hіngе јоіnt thаt іs соmрrіsеd оf thе tіbіа (shіn) аnd thе fеmur (thіgh). Тhе раtеllа, оr knеесар, іs lосаtеd іn thе frоnt оf thе knее. Тhе knее іs suрроrtеd bу fоur lіgаmеnts. Тwо shосk аbsоrbеrs, еасh саllеd а mеnіsсus, аrе fоund wіthіn thе knее.

Knee injuries саn bе саusеd bу rереtіtіvе trаumа аnd strаіn оr bу іnјurу. Оссаsіоnаllу іt оссurs fоr nо арраrеnt rеаsоn. Whеn knее раіn оссurs, уоu mау ехреrіеnсе funсtіоnаl lіmіtаtіоns thаt іnсludе dіffісultу wаlkіng, rіsіng frоm sіttіng, оr аsсеndіng аnd dеsсеndіng stаіrs.

Dealing with a back injuries or chronic back pain can make life difficult. It can really get in the way of doing the things that you want to do, such as participate in sports and other physical activities. It can even cause you to be in constant pain when you aren't doing anything at all.

Tennis elbow is a painful nuisance that can make everyday tasks quite tricky. Contrary to its name, tennis elbow can occur in anyone, not just tennis players. How is it caused? What can you do to treat it? Do you need to rest it, or use a tennis elbow brace? When do you need to see a doctor? 

Whether you have been running for years or you are new to the world of running, if you have not already, you will likely at some point suffer a running-related injury. While some running injuries can sideline you for a while, others are less serious and may only require you to go a little easier for a time. If you are serious about running, knowing about common running injuries, injury prevention, and treatment is essential.

The popularity of soccer has exploded over the past few decades, but with it come injuries associated with playing a competitive sport. According to the US Youth Soccer Association, the membership rate of youths playing the sport has almost doubled in the past 25 years, and many of those players grow up and continue to play in some capacity. Whether playing in high school, college, or in a professional or community league, common soccer injuries can be treated and prevented with the right knowledge and supplies. 

Like any sport, tennis athletes get injured. While tennis players can suffer concussions and other injuries that are most associated with contact sports, the most commone tennis injuries are either repetitive action injuries or acute injuries, such as sprains. If you are a tennis player, it is important to recognize and properly treat any injuries before they become more serious.

Back injuries can happen from something as minuscule as lifting improperly to something severe like a traumatic accident. Regardless of how you hurt your back, the pain is debilitating or distracting. An injury from lifting can take you out for a few weeks. You might be able to get through your day but you'll have trouble focusing when your back hurts. Being in pain most of the day is no fun either!

CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program that has taken off in popularity in recent years. No longer is it reserved for hardened military types, but everyone from lanky teens with MMA dreams to spritely seniors are taking advantage of the full-body workouts. As CrossFit combines a wide range of movements, it can mean an even wider range of injuries. Don't believe the newbie trainers that spout the ridiculous mantra that "if you don't want to get hurt, CrossFit isn't for you," it is not true. With a knowledgeable trainer, injury should not be an issue if the program is done properly. However, accidents happen, muscles get tweaked the wrong way, and ligaments get pushed a little too far. For those taking on the challenge of CrossFit, be ready to address these common injuries.

There's nothing worse than time spent out of training because of an injury. Once you're healed up and your doctor has, if necessary, cleared you to return to training, you're ready to dive back in as quickly as possible! Unfortunately, diving in too fast can lead to further injury, putting you right back on the bench before you even have a chance to enjoy your freedom to train as you like. By following a few simple precautions, however, you can get back to your normal training schedule sooner and avoid further injuries in the future.

For many, the pain comes on slowly. You hobble around on a sore foot cursing yourself from collecting another bruised heel. However, unlike a bruised heel, the pain doesn't go away. In fact, it gets worse. You try to play on it, you try to run through the pain, but eventually you just stop trying. That is the world of athletes that suffer from plantar fasciitis pain.

Back pain has become one of the most common chronic injuries in America. Whether your back hurts because you are aging or you've sustained an injury, it's important to understand how to treat your back injuries and back pain. For some individuals, back pain is a result of a congenital defect; for others, it's caused by a recent event. Regardless of how you got your back injury, you shouldn't have to suffer; effective treatment is an absolute must.

Soccer is becoming more or more popular in the United States. With the sport’s increased popularity comes an increase in injuries. While injuries will happen, here are some tips for preventing and treating three common soccer injuries:

Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, is often the cause of discomfort and pain that radiates from the elbow down to the forearm and the wrist. While tennis elbow is one of the most common injuries of its namesake sport, it can affect a number of athletes in different sports as well as non-athletes who engage in repetitive elbow activities.

Heat therapy, or thermotherapy as doctors and physical therapists refer to it, is the application of either wet or dry heat to injured areas. While it can also be used to treat painful conditions like arthritis, athletes typically utilize it as a way to relieve injury pain as well as to help injuries heal quicker. As the body uses its own heat to help injuries heal, the added heat of heat therapy helps to remove joint stiffness, muscle pain and spasms, and chronic pain. The question is, when is it best to use heat therapy and not ice?

Many MMA fans and athletes are familiar with the high risk of injury that goes along with a sport that's high-impact, high-intensity, and filled with opportunities to get hurt. Even during training, when you're working with your opponent instead of trying to injure them, there's always a chance that something is going to happen. All too many mixed martial artists are familiar with the decision that arises following even a minor injury: do you keep working through it, pushing past the pain, or do you take time off? How do you treat the most common injuries without having to pay a visit to a doctor physical therapist? Most important, for many martial artists, is one simple question: when can you get back in the game?

It can be something as simple as running or even striking the ground with their foot, but the physical activity that many athletes enjoy every day also puts them at risk for injury. As the foot has to endure physical contact in every sport from golf to rugby, this part of the body is at risk every time an athlete steps onto the field. Treating foot and ankle injuries not only takes you out of the game, but they can cripple your non-sports related life as well. However, while some injuries are unavoidable, athletes can take precautions in order to decrease the risk of injury. 

If you're an athlete, you've undoubtedly heard of torn achilles tendon or ruptured achilles. You know that it is a serious injury, but aren't quite sure what it entails. Unfortunately, this lack of knowledge could help contribute to your own injury. Here's what you need to know about this common sports injury.

Soccer injuries happen at all levels of play, from new players to professionals. Here are some tips for preventing and treating three common soccer injuries:

Tennis elbow is a disease that strikes anyone who has overused a specific repetitive motion in their elbow. While common in tennis players, it can strike people who have been kayaking, hammering, or any other intense physical activity. Treating it requires a careful application of mostly heat therapy. While it won't cure the condition entirely, it can speed the healing process. This blog will help you understand why you should treat tennis elbow injuries instead of with alternating treatments of cold and heat.

When you injure your ankle, it can be a very scary and painful event. Whether you get hurt while playing a sport, on the job, or simply by accident, it's important to understand what kind of ankle injury you have sustained and what treatment your ankle injury needs.

Both taping and bracing are just a part of life for every athlete. No matter what the injury is, even after ample time off to rest and heal, it needs a little support to allow athletes to return to their previous level of competition. While both taping and bracing can greatly reduce risk of re-injury, the question is which one is best. Although an athlete may need both and eventually they can use one or the other depending on the injury, certain wounds will flourish from either a brace or tape depending on the situation.

As you are probably well aware, tennis elbow affects many people who have never even picked up a racket. While it is a common condition that tennis players get, it is simply the overuse of the hand muscles, forearm, and arm. This condition causes a painful elbow and is also known as the medical term, lateral epicondyle.

When you think of taking a yoga class, getting injured is probably not something you consider likely to happen. Yoga is supposed to be healing, right? Like any activity, it has its risks, especially when you attempt more difficult postures like arm balances or inversions, try one of the styles of yoga hybrid classes like aerial or acro yoga, or just don't listen to the cues your body is sending.  

A jammed finger is often not considered a serious injury, but it is one of the most common sports injuries out there. It can happen in any sport, and while athletes can often play through the pain, like any injury, it should be addressed.

For many athletes, a knee injury is a constant threat. Whether it is a torn ligament or an injury that required knee surgery, athletes with injured knees may find themselves requiring a knee brace for six weeks or more. Not only is the immobilization that takes them out of the game enough to drive an athlete nuts, but if their knee brace doesn't properly fit, it can make a knee injury absolutely maddening.

Knee pain is a common condition practitioners encounter. The functional capability of the knee, not to mention its fluidity, and agility is truly amazing. Unfortunately, intrinsic in its design, it has the potential to increase the risk of knee injuries.

Dr. Kevin Wait, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS - Clinic Director of Capitol Physical Therapy in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin deals with complaints of knee pain frequently. As a Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, Dr. Wait has an impressive working knowledge of knee injury and diagnosis. In his article below, Dr. Wait goes over a list of possible knee pain signs and symptoms.

As its name might suggest, patellar tendinopathy, or jumper's knee, is one of the more common sports injuries that can affect those that play sports like volleyball or basketball. Jumper's knee results from trauma to the patellar tendon which connects the knee cap (or patella) to the front of the shin. When the tendon is continuously jarred from frequent jumping or even hard running that involves numerous direction changes, it begins to fray.

Each year more and more young people are enjoying various sports. Taking part in physical activities offers many benefits, like developing confidence and discipline, reducing stress, and reducing the risk of chronic illness and cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, sport injuries are part of the territory, too. It is estimated that over five million athletes under the age of 18 will receive medical treatment for injuries related to their sport.

Knee injuries are a major problem in athletics around the world. Not only can blown ACLs, MCLs, PCLs, and torn cartilage take athletes out of the game for long periods of time, if poorly handled and not allowed enough recovery time athletes may never be able to play again. When it comes to braces and supports for the knee, athletes may only think to slip on their hard brace in order to prevent injury. However, these hard braces not only limit knee mobility, but will prevent the joint from becoming stronger overtime. For athletes looking to prevent knee injury without compromising their knees, then knee sleeves are the way to go.

In the athletic world, the most common injuries fall into three categories - strains, sprains, and breaks. In each of these categories, there are hundreds of different names to describe each, fitting with what type of body part that was injured. However, while a break in the bone or ligament is obviously more serious than a strained muscle, without proper treatment for each of these injuries, it can take you out of the game in the long-term. Knowing the difference between these three common injury categories and how to best treat them can make all the difference in terms of proper healing and healing time.

With a bevy of warm weather sports activities on the horizon, it’s time to prepare for one of the most common problems that athletes face to occur, wrist injuries. Wrist injuries run the gamut from dislocations and fractures to sprains. Sprains tend to be the more common of the three. Thankfully, there are treatments like wrist supports available.

Most physicians and physiotherapists divide wrist sprains up into three different categories, also known as grades. The first grade includes minor injuries that can typically be addressed at home with the aid of kinesiology tape, over-the-counter pain medication and ice packs. Second and third grade injuries are obviously more severe and may require instantaneous, specialized medical attention.

Ask a cyclist the benefits of their sport and they will keep your ear full all day long about how much they save on transportation and how amazing their legs are at the same time. These days, cyclists of all skill levels are getting even more out of their sport after discovering graduated compression socks. Alongside a cyclist’s typical sports medicine braces and supports to help their sore knees and ankles, graduated compression can not only help to prevent injury, but help you ride longer and faster.

The personality type of the typical amateur athlete someone that doesn't want to sit on the sideline any longer than they absolutely have to. Whether you're a runner, a racquetball player, soccer enthusiast, or whatever it is that gets your juices flowing, treating knee injuries can be tricky business. The biggest reason being that it can be a very fine line between persevering or "playing through the pain" and pushing the limits too far. Sometimes when you don't respect a knee injury enough and attempt to keep pushing the limits, you end up hurting it even worse, and something that could have been completely better in four to five days becomes something that keeps you sidelined for four to five weeks.

Getting hurt can really throw a monkey wrench into life. For a sports player, it can seem like the end of your life. But don't fret, sports injuries are quite treatable, including those annoying ankle injuries. If you play a sport where you're on your feet all the time, your ankles will feel the pressure from the repetitive use and eventually you might succumb to an injury. It helps to really understand the anatomy of the ankle, and how it can get hurt.

Your wrist doesn't care how it was injured - it just knows that it was injured. Maybe you fell and caught yourself with your outstretched arm. Maybe you've been playing too much Candy Crush or Mah Jong. Maybe arthritis is creeping into that wrist. It doesn't really matter how it happened. You just know that now it hurts to pick up a cup of coffee or grab the steering wheel. It hurts to work out at the gym or to pick up that newborn grandbaby. It hurts to type at work, and forget about Mah Jong!

Sports injuries are a hassle and a pain, but they can be prevented and treated successfully. Back pain and injuries are, unfortunately, common among sports players. This can include the spine itself, soft tissue and/or fascia. An estimated 5-10 percent of all athletic injuries are related to the lumbar (lower) spine. Therefore, it's important that players understand the strain put on their lower back from their specific sport(s). This will help you take the proper precautions during games and while training. And if a back injury does occur, athletes can often keep playing as long as they have the proper information about treating back injuries and back pain.

If you’re an athlete, then you probably know firsthand that a sport injury can interfere with your life in more ways than just keeping you off the field. Sports injuries can get in the way of your every day life, making simple tasks much more difficult. Fortunately, although playing sports comes with a risk – and many injuries are unforeseen – it’s possible to reduce your risk for some of the most common sports injuries.

No matter whether it is lifting a heavy object, twisting around, or even suddenly lunging forward, these motions can all result in lower back injury and pain. For athletes, the muscles and ligaments in the back are particularly prone to tears. However, lower back pain doesn't have to be forever, and by trying out these seven tips, it might not even have to be at all.

The knee joint, more so than almost any other area of the body, is subject to a variety of forces and actions during competitive sports play. It has to endure an abundance of wear and tear, which should make it no surprise that many athletes have to endure knee injuries throughout their active lives. Even with proper strength training, safe and correct performance of sports-related drills, and lessening the stress on the knees, the reality is that injury will happen no matter how much we prepare and try to prevent it. However, coaches, trainers, and sport medicine professionals have all found a variety of ways to treat knee injuries, the most fascinating of which is that patellar strap.

When you get injured, it's important to take action right away in helping to heal. When treating injuries with heat therapy or cold therapy, you need to know why and how to use controlled temperature in order the maximize your results and get better as soon as possible. And although you can go by the general concept of ice for injury and heat for chronic pain, muscles, and stress, that rule is not always true.

Athletes tend to not think too much on their calves, aside from how awesome the muscle group looks when finely toned. However, it may be easily ignored, but it is one of the most important muscles in the leg, and when you injure it, the calf won't let you forget it. Formed from the combination of the soleus and the gastrocnemius muscles, straining these muscles is one of the most common sports injuries for athletes, and athletes are at risk each time they push off. When stretched beyond capacity, the muscle fibers tear away from the tendon, creating a nagging paint hat will keep you down. With three grades of severity, calf strain can range from mild tears and symptoms to a complete rupture that may require surgery.

As every great athlete knows, avoiding injury is just as important to athletic success as the hours of long training. However, while some athletes are extra careful with the ACL or rotator cuff, few give much thought to the most important part of the body  - their feet. Plantar fasciitis, the medical term used to describe painful tears to the plantar fascia ligament that runs along the bottom of the foot, is one of the most common causes of foot pain that can easily put an athlete off their training regimen.

 You don't need to have a professional sports doctor waiting on the sidelines of your pick-up game, but you should most definitely have an athletic training kit. Even with all the safety equipment available today, injuries are just part of the sport. Most injuries need not stop your game if you have the appropriate medical supplies packed, but still the unexpected happens. While packing an athletic training kit full of bandages, gauze, and disinfectant is a must, there are a few more curious items that you may want to consider stashing inside.

Lower back pain is a common ailmentthat almost everyone suffers from at one point or another throughout life. Whether it was brought on after a sports injury or caused by just getting older. However, unlike other areas of the body, the back can be particularly difficult to treat, yet pain can become so bad it can be debilitating. For common back strain and stiff muscles, the key to treating frequent back pain or minor injuries might be kinesiology tape.

A Lisfranc injury, often just simply called a midfoot injury, is where one or more of the metatarsal bones become displaced from the tarsus. These injuries are often caused by unintended impact damage. The foot is flexible and changes with the surface that it stands on, but it must also remain supportive, meaning that instead of splaying, the metatarsal foot bones will dislocate in order to prevent from completely breaking if they can. For example, athletes who know the pain of jumping hard on pavement while bare foot will be familiar with the midfoot pain of the foot bones attempting not to completely break from the impact. Lisfranc injuries are often under diagnosed, but this type of injury can include painful fractures and ligament sprains that are not serious enough for a foot cast, but no less painful. Yet, with a simple kinesiology taping technique called the Herringbone pattern, they can be easy to treat at home.

Feet are our friends. They help us achieve many daily functions and some extraordinary athletic feats. Some of us live with regular foot complaints, such as recurring athlete's foot or dry heels that crack and burn no matter how many times we apply lotion. For those of us with such experiences, we are grateful for days when our feet will just act normal. Having less-than-perfect feet isn't something that we should have to accept. For many foot problems, there are proven remedies. 

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition that makes it difficult for many people to enjoy their day-to-day lives. It attacks the heel, compromises foot strength, support, and balance. Treatments for this condition can be expensive, but are often necessary for a full recovery.

The mobile phone has dramatically and irreversibly altered how we function in society. Apps and texting have made our lives richer and more fulfilling. Family and friends, work or play are literally at your finger tips 24/7.

[Completion of the post on common basketball injuries]

It has been a long-held fact that applying ice and heat can help provide pain relief and facilitate the healing of injuries. However, ice and heat should not be used interchangeably; each therapy has its own unique benefits but when used one after the other, users fail to utilize the unique benefits of either. In general, cold therapy is reserved for new injuries while heat therapy will help sooth away reoccurring aches and pains. So when is it time to use heat and when is it time to use ice in hot and cold therapies?

[Continuing the post on Common Basketball Injuries: part 1]

With NBA and college hoop season ready to tip off, basketball injuries are the subject of this post. Whether you're an avid fan, a concerned parent, a competitive athlete, or a weekend warrior, having a baseline knowledge of basketball's most common injuries can promote prevention and proper treatment and give you insight into the inevitable injury reports you will read this season.

You have already grudgingly accepted that you are not invulnerable, but this new back pain is driving you crazy! It just hurts when you try to do the things you are used to doing. How could your back betray you like this?!?!

Suffering from a wrist injury is problematic because it will make it more difficult to perform a variety of simple activities. Thankfully, it's possible to increase your wrist strength before and after an injury with wrist exercises. This will help decrease the likelihood of injury, as well as injury severity.

You do what you want to do. You bike or lift or run or climb when you want to. You can't imagine not grabbing life by the saddle horn and riding hard until you can't ride any more.

You were just walking on the golf course! Just walking! You didn't see that big acorn on the ground. All you know is that you stepped on it, your foot rolled in and you went down, hard. Now your ankle hurts - a lot. You can see it swelling up in front of your eyes and you wonder if you should have left your shoe on.

Are you in the market for medical bags or athletic training kits?  Did you know that choosing the right bag is almost as important as choosing the supplies that go in the bag?  The right bag can make your job as an atheltic trainer or medical professional much easier, allowing you to do your job efficiently and effectively with all the necessary supplies readily available to you.  Here are 6 questions athletic trainers should ask themselves before choosing a medical bag or athletic training kit:

We have all heard of treating orthopedic injuries with heat therapy or cold therapy. We are going to spend a few minutes discussing what each of these treatment modes do physiologically and the types of injuries which require these treatments. We will also discuss when you should seek medical attention for orthopedic injuries.

Many people have a hard time treating back injuries and back pain, mainly because so many treatments stop too short of successfully solving the problem. At the core of that is a lack of understanding of how pain afflicts people who've suffered back injuries. Those in sports careers, particularly, have to live in pain for years (sometimes in silence), simply because they think there isn't any way for them to feel better.

If you're not using kinesiology tape, you're probably either lucky enough to work out without pain, or you're a skeptic. That bright, colorful tape that runners, cyclists, gymnasts, climbers and athletes in virtually every sport on their knees, ankles, shoulders - you name it - looks like a fad that's here to stay. 

It is difficult to get a precise count of the most common NHL injuries because they are publicly reported inexactly. In the public reports, injuries are usually reported according to the part of the body injured, rather than a recognizable diagnostic category but you can get an idea of the kinds of injuries and their severity.

We beat on them. We twist, spindle and mutilate them. We pray on them, propose on them and crawl around on the floor with the kids and grandkids.

The use of Sports Medicine Braces and Supports may require using crutches to keep weight off an injury while moving around. Athletes requiring crutches for support while healing an injury often receive little to no instruction on properly moving around on them. Even worse, improperly fit crutches and incorrect movement can further injury from a slip and fall, or the stresses of uneven movement.

After maintaining a strict adherence to your sport's rules of engagement, including stretching and warming up, maintaining a strength training program and wearing the proper athletic shoes, a sudden knee injury leading to a sprain, fracture or ligament tear can be life changing. When treating basic knee injuries such as a knee sprain, using the RICE method including resting the joint, applying ice packs, compression and keeping the leg elevated can bring relief and allow the joint to heal naturally.

If you are an athlete, one of your best friends is probably your physical therapist who helps you recover after all of those injuries. Many athletes have injuries that can use a lifetime of pain and discomfort. The injuries can also make it extremely difficult to take part in any sports-related activities. When you can receive treatment on a consistent basis, you will give yourself a better chance of recovering from other injuries. 

Ever wonder why NASCAR is such an expensive sport? The drivers push their equipment to the very edge of its performance envelope, giving 100% to reach the finish line first, and the equipment is rebuilt from the ground up after every race. Sadly, we can't rebuilt our bodies the same way.

According to a national news source in October 2015, an Illinois judge dismissed the first class-action lawsuit challenging high school concussion policies.   A former high school footballer filed the case against the Illinois High School Association, which oversees 50,00 football players all over the state.  The teen, who was a defensive lineman, brought the suit on behalf of himself and other Illinois high school students, after he suffered a concussion during the 2012 preseason and then was not removed immediately from practice.  The delay in receiving care caused his head injury to worsen and today he still suffers from symptoms, including memory loss. In his order, the judge concluded that only the legislature, and not the judiciary, could provide plaintiffs with the changes to concussion policies that they were seeking in their lawsuit. (See Illinois NPR report here.)

Are you treating ankle injury, maybe an ankle sprain? We're here to help. But, applying heat is not enough for people who've been around the block with their ankle injuries. Sometimes, you have to get a little more creative. That's why we've come up with two creative ways to do just that.

When the winter snow begins to fall, millions of people don't let it put a damper on their game. Instead they dust off those skies, sharpen those skates, and break out the hockey gear to embrace the cold. However, while the snow can cushion a number of bad falls, winter sports injuries are still common. The most common winter sports injuries, if left untreated and simply walked off, can even take you out of the game long into the warmer months. For those looking to head out their next winter adventure, be sure to be prepared for these three common winter injuries.

Running feels great until it doesn't. Running injuries usually happen when you push yourself too hard, wear the wrong shoes, or run with incorrect posture. Unfortunately, as runners, we all manage to overdo it from time to time. Sometimes we think we can walk it off, or take a few days of R & R. Ice will work for many injuries, along with stretches or new muscle-building exercises.

Back Pain: causes and treatment

Low back pain is the fifth most common reason for seeking medical care in the United States. It has been reported that a quarter of all adults in the US report having low back pain of at least one day in the past three months.

Wrist injuries accounting for 3–9% of the all sports injuries. However, wrist pain from repetitive motion in the workplace are much more common.

Treating knee injuries is often an inevitable downside to athletics. Knees perform many functions in our competitive sports and at the same time are vulnerable to injury.

The knee is one of the most commonly injured joints in the human body.  An injured knee can affect every activity from walking to high level sports.  One common type of device used to protect the knee after injury is a knee brace.  The purpose of a knee brace is to provide support and decrease discomfort while allowing for normal motion of the knee. And hopfully help prevent the need for knee surgery.

Your wrist is an amazing, elegant joint that is actually many joints. The eight bones of the wrist are called carpals. These bones articulate with your radius and ulna, the two bones of the forearm, and with the metacarpals, the bones in your hand.

Basketball athletes of all levels and ages benefit from the innovative Mueller products developed to protect athletes from basketball injuries. Mueller's products also help enhance the ability of athletes while on the court. The Mueller family has continued to run the business with the same mission statement of: to help athletes stay in the game and help them perform at their peak.

Have you ever gotten out of bed on a bright, sunny morning, all ready for another amazing day only to find that your foot is stiff and sore? Does the pain go away after a few steps, but comes back with a vengeance later as you climb stairs or stand for longer periods of time? It's not just a cramping muscle or stiff joints, this foot pain can be a sign of plantar fasciitis, a much more serious condition.

You've worked through pain before, but never anything like this. A few days ago, during your running routine, you hit something on the ground and twisted your ankle. You didn't fall down at the time, but now it's swollen and uncomfortable.

Іf уоu hаvе knее раіn duе tо іnјurу оr surgеrу, уоu mау bеnеfіt frоm рhуsісаl thеrару tо hеlр dесrеаsе уоur раіn аnd іmрrоvе уоur rаngе оf mоtіоn аnd strеngth. Ѕоmеtіmеs, уоur рhуsісаl thеrаріst оr dосtоr mау rесоmmеnd уоu wеаr а knее support tо hеlр stаbіlіzе уоur knее whіlе іt hеаls frоm уоur іnјurу.

Hand and wrist injuries are fairly common among athletes, accounting for between 3 and 9 percent of all sports injuries, according to Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University. Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) are some of the most prevalent in the athletic community, due to the repetitive actions performed during many sports activities.

If you've ever seen a runner sporting a thin, tourniquet-like knee strap, you may have wondered about the purpose and effectiveness of the device.  What is it?  How does it work?  What is it supposed to do?  Does it actually help?

All athletes know the feelings: the push, the drive, the elation when achieving a goal.  Most athletes know this feeling: the dread when you hear something in your body pop that's not supposed to.  They know the anguish of having to take a step back from the level of intensity that they are used to.  And, even though wrist injuries are not one of the most common sports-related injuries, they are still devastating when this common body part cannot be used to its full potential.

Whether you're a "newbie" to running or an experienced marathoner, you probably know that along with the exhilaration and cardio benefits comes the risk of injury. The constant pounding of your foot and ankle can cause a variety of ailments around the knee. One problem in particular is called "Runner's Knee" or Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). 

The American Heart Association estimates that nearly 295,000 deaths occur from sudden cardiac arrest every year and it affects everyone. As many as 2,000 of these deaths occur in those younger than 25 years old. It's no secret that defibrillators saves lives, but every minute that treatment is delayed the chances of survival dwindle. Including a defibrillator in your medical bag is essential to preventing on field deaths. 

You've never let anything hold you back. You are the one who always did the extra training run... in the cold... in the rain, because you wanted to make sure you were ready for the upcoming race. You are the one who has always persevered, and it has always paid off.

From NBA players to Olympic volleyball stars, high-profile athletes are using kinesiology tape as a way to heal from injuries and prevent them from occurring in the first place.

We're wrapping up our series of posts about common running injuries today.  If you missed the previous posts about runner's knee, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and IT band syndrome, be sure to check them out, too!  For our final post in this grouping, we'll provide an overview of stress fractures, one of the most dreaded running injuries.

Today we're continuing our series of posts about common running injuries.  So far, we've covered runner's knee, plantar fasciitis, and shin splints.  On the docket for today,IT band syndrome.

Shin splints, a condition that accounts for about 15% of all running injuries. But you shouldn't just ignore them. Here's why :

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, approximately 25,000 people sprain their ankle each day. With pain that subsides in just a few moments and swelling that can go away in just a day with proper icing, most sprains go untreated which leads to permanent damage. The common consequence of neglecting even minor sprains results in lasting weakness and unstable joints which results in repeated sprains of compounding severity.

What are knee braces for? According to the American Family Physician, knee braces are used to support an injured or a painful knee. Some athletes use a type of knee brace to prevent injury to the knee. Knee braces come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are made of different materials, including metal, foam, plastic, and elastic straps.

What do most people and physicians reach for when dealing with an acute or chronic low back injury? Usually, the first line of treatment is medication whether it is in the form of an anti-depressant, opioids, or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. But this doesn't have to be the case. In fact, it has been shown that unconventional methods for treating back injuries and back pain are just as successful or even more so than medication or surgery with few or no side effects as compared to their counterparts.

No one prepares for injuries, but everyone, at some point, sustains one. Whether one incurs sprains or breaks, the manner in which you adhere to a program of care depends on the recovery time and may reduce the chances that another injury in the same spot occurs.

Kinesiology tape is lightweight and very comfortable to wear. You can use it for several types of injuries including knee fractures, shin splints and lower back pain. KT tape not only looks good, but it provides around the clock relief per application. It is made of a latex-free hypoallergenic cotton fiber with an acrylic heat-activated backing that stretches only along its longitudinal axis. You can wear it in water and it stays in place through humidity, strain and sweat.

The wrist is made up of the two bones of the forearm, the radius and ulna, and the eight carpal bones. There are many ligaments and muscles that attach to the bones. A wrist fracture is a break or crack in one or more of these bones. The most common cause of a fracture is a fall on an outstretched hand. Signs and symptoms of a wrist injury include:

Knee sprains and strains can leave an athlete laid up for days or weeks. If the injury isn't cared for promptly and properly, those weeks can turn into months. Here are a number of tips for treating knee injuries at home to get you back on your feet sooner.

For many people experiencing minor injuries, not doing their workout or foregoing training is simply not an option. Yet continuing to use the injured area can have devastating results, including further training setbacks or even more serious injuries. Using kinesiology tape on the affected area, however, can provide support and allow you to train or exercise safely. The key to doing so is to learn how to properly apply the tape by asking a physical therapist, an athletic trainer or similar individual trained to use it. Here are some reasons why kinesiology tape works.

Runner's knee is a general term used to describe pain around the knee cap. Though the condition might be more common in runners, you don't need to be a runner to be suffering from runner's knee pain. According to WebMd, causes of runner's knee pain may include:

Common sport injuries can escalate into painful conditions. Knee injuries are unpleasant especially when accustomed to regular athletic activity.

You are on the sidelines of your child's sporting event when an injury occurs. Where is your medical bag (athletic training kit)? Now is not the time to find that it's not stocked and ready to use. Do you know what should be included? Here is a list of important items to gather and have ready.

Regardless of their specific types, injuries are generally painful - and you want to treat them in the best way possible to speed your healing and fully recover. So you may ask yourself: should I treat my injury with heat therapy or cold therapy? How can I best relieve my pain? Here are 3 tips to help you pick the best option for your injury.

An ankle injury can happen to anyone at any time. Most often it occurs as a sporting injury, but it can be the result of walking on an uneven surface or in high heels. The most common ankle injuries include sprains, strains, and fractures. A sprain is an injury where the ligaments are stretched beyond their normal range of motion whereas a strain is damage caused to a muscle or tendon that is stretched too far. A fracture refers to a break or crack in one or more of the bones. For each of these, the pain can be sudden and severe, and you should get medical attention immediately, since sprains can be mistaken for fractures and have similar symptoms.

When a person has experienced an accident or surgery and more, they may need to use a knee brace. It is important they use the best knee brace for their situation. There are a number of knee brace options available. Each provides a different level of support and can be put on the knee in a different way. In some cases, the type of material is also a consideration.
 

For centuries, healers have been successfully treating injuries with heat therapy or cold therapy.  Both heat and cold have the ability to substantially reduce pain and relieve discomfort when properly used.

Professional teams have team doctors, sports therapists and athletic trainers on the sidelines, there to tend to any player who needs medical assistance during practice or a game. That’s because, even with all of the safety equipment in use today, injuries are still a part of playing sports. And this isn’t only true of professional athletes. Accidents and injuries can occur in any sport, and to athletes of all ages.

If you are a person who enjoys sports and you are always at the gym or a park, you probably have placed a first aid kit somewhere in your home or car that you use to treat common [sport] injuries. There are probably times when it really comes in handy, and you're glad that you have it. You will never know when you will need the first aid kit, but when you have one, it will always be there when you need it.

Carpal tunnel is an uncomfortable hand and arm condition that involves inflammation and tendon thickening. It also entails soft hand tissues that compress the median nerve. In most cases, people who have this problem can find relief from symptoms without requiring surgery. Here’s what you need to know about this condition and carpal tunnel treatment options. 

When you're good at your game, you never want to stop playing. You work hard to get in great shape and maintain your strength. Despite your best efforts, injuries will happen. But they don't have to keep you down. Tennis elbow is one of the seven most common sports injuries. It's unplanned but it happens and it hurts, so here's what you need to know:

Maybe you were playing ball with the kids, or you have been doing a repetitive motion too much and your wrist hurts. Your doctor might tell you to wear a brace for awhile.

Tendonitis knee or, as the Mayo Clinic calls it, patellar tendinitis is an injury that affects the muscle tendon that connects the knee cap to the shin bone. This tendon plays a crucial role in how you uses your leg muscles. It allows to extend your knee when kicking a ball or jumping. Tendonitis knee is a common injury among athletes, especially in sports that involve a lot jumping like basketball and volleyball.

One of the most asked questions people with knee pain probably ask is, "Will I need a knee support?" If your knee was hurt in an accident or you have some type of knee condition, you should make serious considerations of getting some kind of support for your knee. Every knee support is made differently, and you will need to learn about the different support and braces available. 

 Knee injuries are the most common reason for one to make a doctor's appointment.Millions of people walk into their doctor's office with complaints of knee pain, swelling, or the feeling that your knee is giving out. Here are the most common knee injuries that get you into your doctor.

A swollen knee can be the result of a sports-related injury, arthritic changes, cartilage deterioration, or even gout. Gout is a type of arthritis that can cause the deposit of irritating uric acid crystals to form on the joints of your knees, ankles, fingers, and on the joints of your big toes. While gout typically affects the feet, it can affect your knees as well. The combination of gout and an existing knee injury can cause extreme pain, inflammation, redness, and decreased range-of-motion.

Knee swelling can be a big concern for athletes of any age. When you gain a better understanding of your swollen knee, you can lower the pain and retrieve the ability to get up and move again, all while staying healthy. When people have knee pain and knee swelling, they want to know if the knee pain caused the swelling or if the swelling is causing the pain in the knee. It's similar to the causality dilemma of "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome causes pain and pressure in your wrist making it difficult to perform everyday tasks, let alone compete in a sport. There are many forms of carpal tunnel treatment, some can even be done at home, but if your symptoms are serious you may need to talk to doctor.

Active people spend lots of time on their feet: it has always been that way. Ever since humans evolved to walk upright the foot has taken on added importance. It is our foot and ankle that must provide both stability and mobility to support the body and handle the forces associated with jumping, landing, walking, and running. Ankle and foot injuries are found in a variety of sport activities. Injuries to the foot represent about 7.1% of all sports injuries. The ankle sprain is one of the single most common injuries in all of sport and physical activity. Most ankle injuries occur in sports that require jumping, landing, and sudden starts and stops (e.g. basketball and soccer). Consider that in the United States alone, 4.8 million grade school and 1.7 million high school athletes participate in supervised soccer and basketball programs and, on average, 15% (1 million) of these athletes sustain ankle sprains each year. Making matters worse is the fact that people who suffer from ankle sprains are more likely to reinjure the same ankle in the future. Preventing new injuries as well as preventing reinjury is the key to avoiding chronic pain, instability, and long term ankle disability not to mention health care costs associated with rehab and recovery. Given these costs and potential long term physical consequence using a Mueller ankle brace to help prevent and ankle injury or lessen the impact of an existing injury is a wise decision. The use of ankle braces is associated with decreases in injury rates as well as reducing the re-injuring of previously sprained ankles.

You may be wondering why you need an Elbow Brace or Elbow Support. Just off the top of our head, we can come up with three reasons why.

Back braces are extremely useful for two groups of people: those who, due to injury or disease, cannot maintain proper posture for sufficiently long periods of time to allow the safe performance of certain activities; and those who are hoping to avoid injury or re-injury during certain activities. 

In this age of technology there are so many devices that we use on a daily basis that strain our wrists and hands. Not just typing, but even just the repetitive thumb swiping of browsing can add micro strain to the delicate and complex joint of the wrist and hand causing and aggravating the common condition of carpal tunnel. For athletic types there is also the added complication of wrist strain from weight training, boxing, push ups, and numerous other exercises that involve articulation of the wrist.  

The rotator cuff is four little muscles (the infraspinatus, supraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor muscles) strategically placed around the shoulder joint. They attach to the upper arm bone (the humerus) and the other bones that make up the shoulder socket (collar bone, and spine of the shoulder blade).

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is an overuse injury of the attachment of the muscles and tendons to the outside bony point of the elbow. Tennis isn't the only cause of tennis elbow- it affects 1 to 3% of the population. It does, however, cause problems for at least 50% of tennis players at some point during their careers. Golfers, baseball players, weight lifters, bowlers, carpenters, gardeners and mechanics can all suffer from debilitating tennis elbow.