East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P.C.

Shoulder

5 Tips for Preventing Pain Caused by Surfing

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Summer in New York is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, and many of us find ourselves more active during this season than any other. Studies show that activity levels peak in spring and summer, from walking in our communities to participating in sports like surfing. And while staying active is key to a long, healthy life, it doesn’t come without risks.

A 2023 study revealed that over 3.7 million people were treated in emergency departments for sports- and recreation-related injuries. Even more experience mild aches and pains that go untreated. Surfing, in particular, uses muscles we often neglect in daily life, making the risk of injury higher than expected.

Common Injuries Caused by Surfing

Surfing doesn’t just pose a risk of injury from wipeouts; the activity itself can strain your body. Some of the most common surfing-related injuries include:

  • Shoulder impingement
  • Lower back pain
  • Knee injuries
  • Hip flexor strain
  • Cuts and abrasions to the feet and toes

5 Tips to Prevent Surfing Injuries

To minimize injury while surfing, incorporate the following practices into your routine:

  1. Warm up with mobility exercises before entering the water.
  2. Use proper surfing technique to reduce joint and muscle strain.
  3. Stretch and cool down after surfing to aid recovery.
  4. Take regular rest days to allow your body to heal.
  5. Consider soft tissue support treatments, like the Graston Technique®, to manage pain and prevent chronic conditions.

Is Surfing Hard on Your Body?

Yes, surfing is a full-body workout that demands strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance. It places stress on multiple muscle groups, especially the shoulders, knees, core, and back. Consistent surfing in challenging conditions requires proper warm-ups and cool-downs to avoid strain and injury.

How Often Do Surfers Get Injured?

Like any high-impact sport, surfing comes with its share of injuries. Rotator cuff tendonitis is common among surfers due to the repetitive paddling motion. Lower back and knee strains are also prevalent, often linked to soft tissue damage.

One proven method for treating these injuries is the Graston Technique®. This treatment utilizes stainless-steel instruments that comb over the affected areas and pinpoint the location of the scar tissue buildup around the damaged soft tissue. The scar tissue deep under the skin can then be broken up, which alleviates the pain and increases mobility. This allows you to heal faster and get back to your favorite activities, including surfing.

East Bay Chiropractic Wellness Can Assist With Your Recovery from Surfing Injuries

If you love summer activities like surfing, don’t let an injury keep you on the sidelines. At East Bay Chiropractic Wellness, we specialize in the Graston Technique® to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and restore mobility. Our experienced team has nearly 30 years of expertise helping patients recover from sports injuries and chronic conditions.

Contact us today to discover how chiropractic care can support your active lifestyle and help keep doing what you love, pain-free.

3 Conditions That Can be Treated with Chiropractic Care

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When most people think of chiropractic care, they immediately think of spinal adjustments. It makes perfect sense as spinal adjustments or manipulation are a unique form of care that chiropractors provide. This can lead to people underestimating the full scope of what chiropractic care can encompass.

It’s more accurate to say that chiropractic care involves a multi-pronged approach that can include spinal adjustments, massage, stretches, lifestyle advice, and much more. Because of how encompassing chiropractic care can be, it can treat several different conditions for so many people.

So, what are some of the different conditions that chiropractic care can treat?

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How To Avoid Shoulder Surgery

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For many of us, whether we’re athletic into our later years or not, shoulder pain is a reality. A bad fall, golfing, tennis, bowling, or a car accident; there are no shortages of instigating factors that can lead to a torn rotator cuff. Because our rotator cuffs are made up of a series of muscles and tendons connecting our arms to our shoulder blades, healing from rotator cuff damage may be problematic.

Complicated injuries like a torn rotator cuff can be difficult to deal with. When it’s a minor injury, a torn rotator cuff can be handled with rest, icing the affected area, and recommended stretches. If your injury is more severe, it will require a more aggressive approach to recovery, and surgery may also be recommended.

We know that surgery always comes with risks; in many instances, those risks are worth it. When it comes to shoulder surgery, however, it may be more intricate. So, is it possible that there may be alternatives to shoulder surgery?

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What Is Rotator Cuff Tendonitis?

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For many of us, as we get older, we’re more prone to aches and pains in colder weather and during sharp changes in barometric pressure. We’re not entirely sure of the reason, but those with chronic pain or arthritis are most susceptible to it. Issues with chronic pain are why you hear of so many New Yorkers becoming snowbirds or retiring down to places like Florida.

One such ailment aggravated in the cold weather is rotator cuff tendonitis. That’s a condition where the tendons in your shoulders are inflamed. Tendonitis happens a lot to athletes where your shoulders are vital to your success, including swimming, tennis, baseball, and more.

So, what can we do to help mitigate the pain or perhaps even cure rotator cuff tendonitis?

[Read more…] about What Is Rotator Cuff Tendonitis?