With the increasing physical demands that warmer weather brings (such as gardening, biking, golfing, etc), it’s no wonder why we see more patients complaining of new aches, pains, and physical injuries this time of year.

It is unfortunate that people with good intentions of doing some exercise and getting back into shape often develop injuries during that process.

Common springtime injuries we see include conditions such as shin splints, knee pain, foot pain, shoulder pain, and back pain.

The list goes on, but those are some of the more common injuries we see coming in for full-body chiropractic care.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS THAT CAN HELP YOU PREVENT PHYSICAL INJURIES AS YOU BECOME MORE ACTIVE DURING SPRINGTIME WEATHER:

1. Hydrate. It’s amazing how few people actually drink enough water. If you drink sodas or caffeinated beverages throughout the day, that makes it all that much more important to drink more water. Increased activity during warmer months will cause you to sweat more than normal, and as a result, your body will lose greater amounts of water. Because of that, it’s important to keep yourself well hydrated.

2. Warm-up with gentle exercise prior to stretching. People often begin their activities by stretching their muscles. However, you may risk injuring a muscle, tendon, or joint by stretching prior to warming up. Get into the habit of doing some light exercise for 10-15 minutes and then stretch your muscles. This may seem counter-intuitive to what you’ve been taught, but it will help you to prevent stress injuries.

3. Cool down with stretches. Once you’re finished with your exercise routine or strenuous physical activity, you should get into the habit of stretching the major muscle groups. Hold each stretch for about 20-30 seconds. This will improve muscle and tendon strength and elasticity.

4. Listen to your body by slowing down or discontinuing your workout when your body is telling you “it has had enough”. If you experience abnormal pain in your joints or muscles, it could be an indication of a potential problem. You will need to become intuitive with your body to know when the symptoms you’re feeling are just a normal side effect of exercise versus a potential health condition. The best rule of thumb, when you are in doubt, is to discontinue your exercise routine and get checked by your chiropractor.

Whether you’re planting your garden or playing 18 holes of golf, you should always listen to your body and heed nature’s signals.

Regular chiropractic checkups will help you maintain proper structural alignment promoting optimal health and function.