Loudoun County, Va. — Ankle sprains are a common injury in sports and are a result of excessive stress on either side of the ankle causing excessive motion in the joint. Most commonly, people roll their ankle inward causing the ligaments on the outside of the ankle to stretch, tear or rupture. Some common causes of a sprained ankle might include a fall that causes you to twist your ankle, landing on your foot after jumping or pivoting, walking or running on an uneven surface or someone stepping or landing on your foot. Symptoms of an ankle sprain Pain, especially…

Loudoun County, Va. — Many people think that a concussion only happens in football games or car crashes. But the truth is, all athletes are at just as high a risk. So how do you reduce the risk of you or your athletes getting sidelined by a concussion? What is a Concussion and How Does it Occur? A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alters the way the brain functions. Think of your brain as a marble in a small bottle of water. When you shake the bottle back and forth, the marble may hit the sides of the…

Loudoun County, Va. — There have been numerous times athletes have grabbed the back of their leg and hobbled off the field or court in pain. This is often because they’ve pulled their hamstring muscle. What is the hamstring and why is it injured so often? The hamstring complex is made up of three muscles that originate from the ischial tuberosity (bone in the buttock region), proceeds down the back of our leg, and then crosses the knee on either side. It is therefore considered a two-joint muscle. It is most common for people to strain or injure a hamstring…

Loudoun County, Va. — All sports we participate in, whether it be football, rugby, volleyball, soccer, field hockey, or many others, require a wide range of movements. Athletes have to be able to jump, run, change direction, and change speed. With so much variability, the possibility of sustaining an injury while practicing or playing is common. Injuries can pertain to specific muscles or joints, ranging from muscle strains (“pulled muscles: or tear in muscle tissue) to sprains of ligaments that help stabilize joints. Athletes can also have a risk of sprains, in their ankles and knees. Though these injuries can…

Loudoun County, Va. — You may think that a concussion only happens in football games or car crashes, but the truth is, all sports players are at just as high a risk. What is a Concussion? A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions. Essentially, It’s a bruise on your brain. Think of your brain as a marble in a small bottle of water. When you shake the bottle back and forth, the marble may hit the sides of the bottle. When your head moves back and forth quickly, that makes your brain actually…

Loudoun County, Va. — You should know what type of stretching you should do both before and after playing sports or any other physical activity. Stretching is an important part of an athlete’s daily exercise routine, however, it should not be the only exercise they are doing. Most people think that when we stretch we are elongating our muscles. This is a misconception. Unless we are stretching for many hours every day consistently for at least six weeks, then we are not actually lengthening the muscles. It is more likely that you are changing the neural tone. You can think…