Sports Injuries

Definition

Sports injuries are any type of injury that occurs while performing athletic activities or exercising. The most typical injuries are soft tissue injuries such as strains, sprains, joint dislocations, fractures, and head injuries. See a doctor if you experience any such injuries because you may cause permanent damage to your body if your injuries do not heal properly.

Cause

In general, if you are healthy and are in good shape, the less likely you are to experience a typical sports injury. However, stretching and proper warm up routines are essential to minimizing your injury risk. Many active athletes stretch and warm up but a cool down routine is just as important. Cooling down allows your muscles to slowly return to a natural non-active condition which helps blood circulation and removes acidic build-up that may be triggered during physical exercise. Following a proper exercise routine also helps prevent muscle soreness and stiffness.

Caution: Joint dislocations, cracks, and head injuries all require instant medical attention.

Organic Cures

Diet: Eat an organic, whole-foods diet containing healthy complex carbohydrates and quality non-processed fats. Additionally, consume clean organic fruits and veggie and adequate amounts of high protein foods, which are necessary for muscle mass repair.

Do not eat right before a strenuous work out, but drink plenty of fluids an hour before heavy exercising, even if you do not really feel thirsty, because dehydration reduces performance abilities.

Flower Essences: Rescue Treatment Cream® used topically.

Herbs: Effective herbal remedies include valerian root (muscle relaxant also effective against muscle spasms), lobelia extract (applied topically), passionflower (to support the nervous system), white willow bark (to reduce irritation and ease pain), feverfew (to reduce pain and inflammation), and turmeric and boswellia, both of which decrease inflammation.

For muscle as well as connective tissue accidental injuries, comfrey underlying sooths and stimulates tissue repair.

Be aware: Comfrey Underlying should only be used internally under the supervision of a qualified wellness-treatment professional.

Homeopathy: Arnica taken orally and arnica cream applied topically help to soothe and prevent inflammation of the muscles and encircling tissues.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the process of applying water, ice, steam and alternating cold and hot temperatures to restore health. Treatments include total body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation, and the application of warm and cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating an array of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a personal-treatment program. Many professionals including naturopathic physicians, physical therapists, and day spas use Hydrotherapy as part of their treatment routines. We suggest trying several at home hydrotherapy remedies but please seek the advice of an alternative healthcare practitioner prior to undergoing these treatments to ensure they are right for you.

*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy remedy.

Juice Therapy: Consuming fresh, organic vegetable fruit juices will supply your body with rich essential nutrients.

Nutritional Supplementation: To help prevent sports injuries, supplement with vitamin B-complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium and free-through amino acids.

To recover from sports injuries, supplement with calcium, magnesium, manganese, free-form amino acids, as well as proteolytic nutrients.

Other useful nutrients are selenium, the amino acids cysteine and glutathione, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), pycnogenol, dimethyl glyciene (DMG), SOD (superoxide dismutase), as well as germanium sesquoxide.

Alternative Expert Care

If your symptoms persist despite following the recommendations listed above, seek the help of a competent health professional. These professional care therapies have previously been useful for treating sports injuries: Acupressure, Acupuncture, Used Kinesiology, Biofeedback Training, Bodywork, Chiropractic, Energy Medicine, Enzyme Therapy, Permanent Magnetic Field Therapy, Natural Endocrine Replacement Therapy, Naturopathic Treatments, Neural Therapy, Osteopathy, Oxygen Therapy, Air Therapy (Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment), Prolotherapy, Rolfing, traditional Chinese Medicine, and Yoga. (See Glossary for descriptions of these alternative therapies.)