Both amateur and pro athletes know what it’s like to suffer from injuries related to their sports activities. Sometimes it’s an injury resulting from time on the field or on the court and other times it’s the result of training a bit too ambitiously. Athletes come from all over the country for Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections Scottsdale AZ because, although a relatively new type of therapy, is found to be effective and a huge number of pro athletes swear by this treatment.

However, what kinds of injuries can benefit from PRP injections? If you are trying to step up your game, it is a good idea to beware the most common sports injuries. It would be better not to be injured but in the event you are, it is great to know that there are treatments like PRP that don’t entail heavy duty narcotics. The most common sports injuries to beware of are as follows:
Injuries to the Ankle

Two types of ankle injuries have kept athletes out of the game for extended periods of time. Of the two, sprained ankles are more common but often the ankle bone is broken which makes for an extended period on the bench. Both are extremely painful and both can be severe enough to take that player out of the game forever, although rare. If the break is severe enough, surgical reconstruction of the bone is required and that is one of the leading causes of retiring a player.

Pulled Groins

Although not usually serious enough to retire a player forever, pulled groins are nothing to laugh about. These can be extremely painful and they can take a very long time to heal enough to get back into the game without an inordinate amount of pain.

Injuries to the Knee

Sometimes knee caps get broken but much more common is an ACL tear. An injury to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, ACL, can require surgery to repair and this is a common injury in players of high impact, high demand sports such as football, basketball, hockey and soccer. An ACL tear, medially called Patellofemoral syndrome, is often caused by repetitive motion of the kneecap that wears against the thigh bone. It is an extremely painful injury and since it happens over time, it is a lengthy process to heal. This is one of the common injuries for which PRP therapy is prescribed and athletes who have undergone the treatment say they found a great deal of relief.

Also common among athletes are tennis elbow, hamstring strains and shin splints. While each of these can heal of their own accord over time, tennis elbow may benefit most from PRP therapy. The player’s own blood is drawn, and key components are injected into the site where the injury has been suffered. By using substances from your own body, growth factors in the plasma, which are known to stimulate healthy cells, the injury can quickly begin to heal as healthy normal cells are formed. Even so, it is by far better to avoid injuries than to treat them, so beware the most common injuries players suffer.

Whether you’re a fitness fanatic or a sporadic sportsperson, injuries are probably the bane of your existence. Whether it’s shin splints, runner’s knee, Achilles tendonitis or something else entirely, these conditions often don’t just keep you away from the gym; they can also keep you away from enjoying life in general.

And, of course, treatment is never cheap. Between physio appointments and supportive braces or sleeves, you can find yourself shelling out a heap of dollars over a pretty short period of time.

Well, that’s the bad news. The good news? As the old saying goes, prevention is better than a cure, and there are a range of things you can do to help prevent these conditions including stretching and warming up properly and wearing quality footwear. You can also use orthotic inserts when you’re getting active – these can help you in a range of ways.

Make sure you check out a specialist provider like Footlogics when it comes to orthotics for shin splints relief or help with other sports injuries – that way you know you’re getting quality inserts that will actually do what you need them to!

So how do orthotics help? Let’s break it down!

Assist with pronation

Many big brands of footwear claim that certain models help with pronation (the way your foot rolls when it strikes the ground) but this is generally not the case. Orthotics are usually the best way to help correct any pronation issues. Pronation can be a big problem because when your foot rolls with each strike, it is often unstable or not aligned well, which then means other muscles, joints and ligaments have to step in (literally!) and compensate. This can cause pain throughout the entire body, from the foot right through to the knees, hips and back. Orthotics take care of the compensation and help correct the original problem, meaning your body can function at maximum capacity again.

Provide cushioning for biomechanical support

Orthotics developed by professionals won’t just be a cushy surface – they’ll have correct arch support, a deep heel cup and an in-built metatarsal raise, all of which provide a solid base for correct biomechanical function. This means you can expect a high level of shock absorption and correct tracking of your knees, so you can help prevent injuries like runner’s knee – winning!

Help with optimising stride

Runners in particular will know the advantages of optimising their stride. Ensuring your foot strikes at just the right angle and just the right place can help prevent a plethora of conditions. By aiding in general comfort and support, orthotics can make sure you aren’t short-striding or over-striding in an unconscious attempt to avoid pressure points or sore spots on your foot. That means you can be more biomechanically efficient, which translates to more than just injury prevention – you can literally enhance your performance.

While they certainly aren’t a magic solution to all your sports injuries, a good set of orthotics that are right for your feet can certainly have a positive impact on your body.

Are you a fan of orthotics? How have they helped you stay active?

This has been the year of the quarterback and the passing game in the NFL. Speed and precision were the sexy characteristics this season as the NFL altered the rules to take away some of the more physical aspects of the game that were causing serious sports injuries like concussions. Drew Brees was setting records, while Aaron Rodgers was drawing comparisons to Joe Montana.

Yet this weekend seemed to be a reminder that power and defense still matter as the Giants upset the Packers in Green Bay and the 49ers stopped the pass-happy Saints. Everyone seemed to be questioning the old NFL axiom that defense wins championships, but now we have a reminder that even with the new rules power and defense are very important.

That should please all our readers out there who love getting to the gym and pumping iron. Football has always beena bout strength. The Giants put on a display like they did in 2007 as they put a pounding on Rodgers and the Packer offense. Then they also hit them with their power running game.

The only pass-happy team still in the hunt is New England, so perhaps the speed and precision people will get the last laugh. Yet you have to look at how the Patriots play, with two huge tight ends in their passing game. Strength and power are still important ingredients to their success.

It will be a great weekend of football as we hash out who will face off in the Super Bowl. You can check this website for online betting sites as you get ready for all the fun this weekend. Hopefully you can host a great party or make it out to Las Vegas. After a bitter offseason, the NFL has provided some great entertainment for us all this season.