Summer Injury

For many individuals, spring and summer become a time you WANT to be active. Enjoying the sunshine while you are out running, lacing up the cleats for a softball game, challenging a friend in a tennis match or just getting out for a walk make the concept of working out far more attractive. However, this sudden urge to spend more time exercising outdoors can often result in a predictable increase in sports injuries, quite often caused by doing too much, too soon.


Injuries such as stress fractures, shin splints, patellar and Achilles tendonitis, ITB syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis all seem to rise during the warmer months. These are common overuse injuries that spring up as we lunge into our newfound yearning for recreation. Sprains and strains of the tendons and ligaments of the ankle, knee, elbow and wrist are also very common sports injuries as we conveniently forget that we actually DO AGE every year.


Another common summer injury is tennis elbow. The individual feels pain on the outside of the elbow – in the muscles that extend the wrist. The counterpart to this is commonly referred to as golfer’s elbow and affects the muscles that flex the wrist – and is felt on the inside of the elbow. Both of these injuries are the result of overuse from repetitive wrist extension and flexion with more forceful activity.


Shoulders can take a beating in the warmer months, too. Rotator cuff tendonitis and tears are common. Tendonitis usually responds well to proper treatment while tears are often treated by surgical repair.


Runners seem to be at the top of the overuse injury list. Giving your body enough time to heal, proper footwear and appropriate strengthening/stretching exercises can be crucial to enjoying the roads without being sidelined by an injury. In addition, complimenting your routine with cross-training in non-impact activities and running on soft surfaces can be helpful.


Braces or straps are often utilized to decrease tendon load and allow the body healing time. Physical therapy may be ordered by your physician to assist with the healing process. While stretching and strengthening appropriately have their benefit and can play an extremely important part in the healing process, it is very important to remember that the old quote, “no pain, no gain” does not always apply to these conditions and can sometimes actually worsen the condition. For example, stress fractures need rest to heal and if not given the appropriate time it may turn into a more serious issue that requires surgery.


I will continue to advocate that PREVENTION will always be the best treatment for any of these injuries! It is so much better to maintain SOME degree of health and build yourself up to where you want to be over time! To some degree, injuries can be an unavoidable byproduct of an active lifestyle, but the advantages of being healthy and active far outweigh the incidence of injury. If you fall into the category of the “seasonal athlete,” be mindful of how you enter your season. In addition, keep in mind that fatigue leaves you more at risk to poor mechanics and increased risk of injury. And good nutrition and hydration is vital to performance and recovery from activities!