Have you taken up a new sport during quarantine? Watch out for these injuries.

With pools shut down and team-sports a no-go, you may have decided to try a new, more socially-distant activity. Tennis courts, golf greens, and trails are filled with novice enthusiasts willing to try something new to get outside and exercise. Your body may not be used to this new way of moving. Your beginner technique may be setting you up for some muscle strain, spinal misalignments, and other injuries.

Check out these tips for avoiding common injuries associated with quarantine favorites, running, tennis, and golf.

Running injuries

With your gym closed, have you decided to brush off your running shoes and hit the pavement? Running can clear stress, and get your lungs pumping, but it can also exacerbate existing joint, tendon, and misalignment issues.

Knee pain is the most common complaint of runners. Swelling in the tendons around the knee can cause pain and limit mobility. Continuing to run or jog on a painful knee is not recommended. Dial back the activity and check in with the chiropractor and stretchologists for exercises to improve muscle stability in the knee joint to prevent future strain.

Running can cause increased inflammation and overload on the tendons and muscles in the legs and hips. Poor technique or overuse (like a "weekend warrior" overdoing things), can cause plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and IT band pain. Reducing your distance, correcting your gait with proper footwear, and targeted stretching and muscle strengthening help minimize pain and head-off future injuries.

Tennis injuries

You may get "tennis elbow" even without playing tennis, but there's a reason this injury is synonymous with the sport. Tennis injuries happen from repetitive overuse – particularly in your racket arm. Tennis elbow, and other strains in your shoulders and arms, like rotator cuff and wrist tendonitis, can take down competitive and social players.

As with running, most tennis-related injuries can be avoided or minimized, with proper stretching and technique, and strength training. If you are already injured, research shows that chiropractic care for these complaints is more effective than steroid injections or other anti-inflammatories.

Golf injuries

You may not think of golf as a high-impact sport, but those repetitive power swings can do a number on your neck and back. A recent study reported that up to 85 percent of injuries occurring on pro golf tours relate to the spine.

Chiropractic care offers golfers spinal adjustments for improved alignment and injury prevention, including rehabilitation exercises, stretching techniques, and anti-inflammatory nutrition advice.

Smart start

Any sport can cause muscle sprains and strains resulting in pain, swelling, bruising, and loss of the ability to move or use a joint. In running, tennis, and golf, these injuries often occur when athletes strain against misalignment or extend their joints beyond a normal range of motion.

You are particularly vulnerable to injury when the activity is new, and you are less familiar with your limitations.

If you're suffering from misalignment issues that impede your range of motion and mobility, non-invasive chiropractic techniques like adjustments restore balance to your system, alleviating the pain restricting movement. A well-balanced system will enable you to perform at your best.

Chiropractic care can help relieve that pain and relax damaged muscles. It also speeds healing of soft tissue injuries and addresses the underlying issues that led to the injury in the first place.

At True Potential Chiropractic, we also offer massage therapy to help reduce pain and inflammation from muscle strains and increase circulation to injured areas so you can heal more quickly. Massage also alleviates muscle tension and stress throughout your body to help you feel relaxed and at ease.

While you may not be a competitive runner, golfer, or tennis player, TPC has years of experience serving pro athletes. Let us help you stay fit and enjoy your new sport free of pain and injury! Call us today for a consultation. (503) 574-4872