Whether you play a sport like tennis or golf, repeat motions throughout the workday, or have poor posture, it isn’t uncommon to develop repetitive strain injuries. Even if you give yourself a short break to recover, you may find that you experience the same problems repeatedly. It may feel like true recovery isn’t an option, but with chiropractic care, healing is within reach.
While other healthcare providers may help you achieve short-term relief, chiropractic care is dedicated to determining the root of your injury and ensuring long-term success. If you’ve struggled to recover from repetitive strain injuries and want to learn more about how a chiropractic team can help, keep reading.
What are Repetitive Strain Injuries?
Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) are injuries that occur when the muscles, tendons, and nerves in a body part are subjected to repeated strain or overuse. These injuries can occur for various reasons, including writing and typing, swinging a golf club or tennis racket, or using powerful tools that strain your muscles.
These movements, on their own, are not the reason why a person experiences RSIs. Instead, it is the repetition that leads to the kind of strain that causes them. Even if a movement doesn’t cause great discomfort, using the same muscles and tendons to do the same thing over and over again can put excessive stress on them.
Some people who are more prone to developing repetitive strain injuries include:
- Healthcare Workers
- Construction Workers
- Professional Athletes
- Musicians
- Individuals with Poor Posture
- Office Workers
While these individuals are more prone to RSIs, anyone can develop one during prolonged, repetitive motions. Whether you spend every day typing or frequent your gym, there is a chance that you will develop one or more repetitive strain injuries throughout your life.
The Symptoms of Repetitive Strain Injuries
There are a variety of symptoms an individual will experience when dealing with RSIs. Some of the most common symptoms that can help you identify this injury include:
- Increased pain in the limb, muscles, or tendons
- Swelling that you cannot explain
- Tingling and numbness
- Stiffness and weakness, even after time off
- Increased sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
There are a variety of common repetitive strain injuries you may be familiar with, including carpal tunnel, tendinitis, and bursitis. As you continue with these repetitive movements, you may notice increased inflammation, which can lead to worsening symptoms.
How a Chiropractor Can Help You Recover
In some cases, taking a short break from repetitive motion is sufficient to find relief from repetitive strain injuries. However, some patients may find themselves prone to redeveloping these injuries. You may find that taking breaks from these motions is no longer enough to provide the lasting relief you need.
That’s where chiropractic care comes in. Unlike some other healthcare services, chiropractic care is designed with long-term healing of your repetitive strain injuries. An expert chiropractic team will help you identify the root cause of your injury, reduce muscle and tendon inflammation, and provide the lasting relief you’re looking for.
If you’ve found that talking to your primary care provider hasn’t resulted in the relief you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to turn to a chiropractic team for support. They can help you get to the root of your problem and provide exercises and lifestyle modifications that can help you achieve long-term relief.
Chiropractic Treatments for RSIs
When you’re experiencing a repetitive strain injury, there are a variety of treatment options your chiropractor may recommend. Some of the most common treatments you’ll undergo while recovering from these injuries include:
- Comprehensive Assessment: Before beginning your care, your chiropractor will assess your injury and review your medical history to create a personalized treatment plan.
- Spinal Adjustments: Gentle adjustments can help relieve strained nerves and decrease inflammation, speeding up overall healing.
- Soft Tissue Therapy: Through gentle massage and pressure point therapy, you can relax stressed muscles and improve circulation.
- At-Home Exercises: In addition to in-office treatment, you may be advised to perform certain exercises at home to support your care.
- Lifestyle Changes: Your chiropractor may recommend larger-scale lifestyle changes, including postural changes, that can help you achieve lasting pain relief.
How often you will need to attend these appointments and for how long will depend on the severity of your injury. However, if you follow their advice and perform the at-home rehabilitative exercises, you can be confident that you’re taking the appropriate steps toward achieving lasting relief.
The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for RSIs
When you’re experiencing repetitive strain injuries, you may notice increased pain, swelling, tingling, and numbness. If taking a few days off from this repetitive motion doesn’t provide lasting relief, chiropractic care can help you recover. Some of the benefits of turning to a chiropractor for repetitive strain injuries include:
- Long-Term Pain Relief: If your RSIs are caused by misalignments, regular chiropractic care can help alleviate this discomfort and provide lasting relief.
- Increased Range of Motion: Addressing tension and stiffness can help restore your lost range of motion, particularly if you participate in sports like tennis and golf.
- Faster Recovery: When you have the support of a chiropractor, you may recover more quickly than if you attempt recovery on your own.
- Reduced Inflammation: Your chiropractor can help you manage swelling from your RSIs, which also aids in achieving a faster recovery.
- Drug-Free Recovery: If you are uncomfortable with using pain medications to reduce discomfort and swelling, chiropractic care is the perfect, drug-free solution.
Let Muscle & Joint Help You Recover from RSIs
If you’re looking for a reliable chiropractic team in the Tooele area to help you recover from repetitive strain injuries, turn to Muscle & Joint Chiropractic for support. Unlike other chiropractic teams, our team creates personalized treatment plans, tailored to helping you find the relief you deserve. Our team doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all recovery. Instead, we’ll sit down with you, learn more about your discomfort, and develop a plan that works for you.
When you’re ready to schedule a chiropractic appointment with our team, please contact us at either our Tooele or Grantsville office.