The number of athletes in St. Petersburg is impressive. The Rowdies show off their agility and endurance each time they play. The Pinellas Trail and North Bayshore Drive are consistently populated by runners and cyclists. In Vinoy Park, you’ll see groups playing touch football or ultimate Frisbee. There are also CrossFit and dance studios throughout the city and school extracurricular activities are played each season. People are participating, which is a good sign for fitness. But these activities don’t come without the possibility of sports injuries. How you handle treatment will affect how soon you return to the action.

The RICE Method

If an athlete experiences a sprain or tendonitis, they are encouraged to utilize the RICE method. This acronym includes four steps:

• Rest. Give your body two days of rest, paying particular attention to the muscle that is hurt. This is one of the most challenging steps for those experiencing sports injuries because they are used to staying in motion.
• Ice. Ice is applied to alleviate pain or inflammation after activity. Apply the ice for no more than 30 minutes at a time.
• Compression. Restricting mobility helps stabilize the athletic injury, and compression reduces any swelling that may occur from a sprain.
• Elevation. Elevation will relieve swelling, which allows the limb to rest completely. Like rest, this step can be challenging for active enthusiasts in St. Petersburg.

While the RICE method isn’t as rigorous as your typical workouts, we encourage you to see its value. The earlier you address the injury, the sooner you can return to the game.

Chiropractic Care for Sports Injuries

Warm-ups, cool-downs, and stretching aren’t always enough to prevent strain on the body. Our chiropractor specializes in sports injuries and can help those in St. Petersburg. He can use spinal adjustments to:

• Relieve pain
• Promote balance
• Increase mobility
• Quicken healing
• Prevent recurrence

Our chiropractor will get you back in motion as soon as possible and without any painkillers or invasive methods. He will provide you with stretches and exercises that will strengthen your muscles to prevent recurrence. Many local athletes continue treatment to promote their overall range of motion and health.

Painkillers & Surgery

Some in St. Petersburg will opt for these methods, but chiropractors won’t encourage fast fixes, like painkillers. They don’t address the source of sports injuries, but they do mask the pain. This allows an athlete to participate with limited awareness of the strain placed on their body. This is not helpful because it can aggravate the injury and make things even worse. Sometimes surgery is called for, but there are alternate treatments for most conditions.

Bond Thomas Chiropractic

The mild climate of St. Petersburg allows our athletes to be active throughout the entire year, whether they’re in school athletics, participate recreationally, or train as a professional. Don’t let sports injuries keep you off the field. At Bond Thomas Chiropractic, we can help ease pain and prevent recurrence. Call 727-522-1900 to schedule your first appointment today!