Going to the gym is where you go to challenge yourself physically and either lift weights or push yourself in a conditioning class, but it’s always best to proceed with caution because even among the fittest, injuries can still occur.
Rotator Cuff Injury
The rotator cuff is located in the upper arm and connects your humerus with the frame of your body. Its located in a socket and allows for the shoulder to be able to lift and rotate and is composed of four muscles: Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres minor and the Subscapularis.
Oftentimes, with this type of injury, the tearing of the rotator cuff occurs over a period of time as it’s not one action that causes the injury. Many pitchers suffer this type of injury and will put a damper on players season.
When working out in the gym, there are some machines that leave you more susceptible to rotator cuff injuries such as the bench press or chest fly reps and this repetitive motion can cause tearing in the shoulder. Always ensure that you are performing the workout correctly and not overdoing them as that can lead to injury.
If lifting weights, it’s recommended to pull them down in front of your neck as opposed to down behind your shoulders as that can lead to injury. Always keep a stable range of motion and keep the elbows from dropping.
Pectoral Strain
If weight lifting in excess, there is potential to tear the pectoral muscle which is the large muscle covering your chest. When this muscle is pulled, there will be a sudden pain found in the chest in front of the arm pit.
In sports such as wrestling or hockey the pectoral muscles can become strained but while at the gym, bench pressing in excess can be the culprit for this injury. Women are not exempt from these injuries, and they can even occur from not wearing proper undergarments while working out.
Groin Pull
Your adductor muscles are located in your inner thigh and they pull your legs together while stabilizing your hip joint. Straining or tearing your adductor muscles can result from jumping or twisting, which in the gym can come from such activities as boot camp classes or even Zumba.
Symptoms of this type of injury are decrease in strength,pain in the inner thigh, bruising, swelling, and snapping sound when injured
Chiropractic Treatment
If working out is part of your normal regime, adding chiropractic care on a regular basis can help minimize injuries as a chiropractor will know your body’s baseline and therefore know when an adjustment will need to be made to keep you in optimal health.
Every patient is different and therefore the treatment is different as well. For those who suffer shoulder injuries, our chiropractors will evaluate the shoulder and test the range of motion as well as the strength of the arm and determine the best course of treatment from that analysis. Chiropractors perform adjustments which are natural, non-invasive, and with no side effects.
Staying fit is great for your health, but what’s even better is keeping your healthy body in it’s most optimal condition and in order to reach that level you need to work with a chiropractor on a regular basis to ensure that the body is functioning the way that it should be.
By working with a chiropractor, you will be able to keep up in the gym as your body will be in its best shape. Contact one of our Lithia Springs chiropractors today to learn more about how we can help keep your body in the best shape! Call today at (404) 602-0388.