“My son has tension in his legs from playing basketball. How can I help him?”
My son has tension in his legs from playing basketball, and he plays almost constantly because of school. What are some therapies that can help him not get this muscle tension?
13 Answers
The first step is to consult the team trainer or a physical therapist. If the issue is not resolved, he should definitely consult a sports physician
Stretching his Hamstring muscles every day
PT can help tremendously. Hamstring stretching and hip flexor stretching as well
Need to know his age, he could be growing. First have him Rest! It could be a repetitive injury.
As experienced chiropractors, we like answering the questions we receive from our patients. A common inquiry is "what is the difference between a sprain and a strain?" Sprains and strains are injuries to the musculoskeletal system that are commonly diagnosed conditions, and are two separate issues people frequently mix up. We will attempt to explain away some of the confusion today.
Let's look at three ways sprains and strains differ from each other.
1. SPRAINS AND STRAINS AFFLICT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BODY.
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH), a sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament which provides joint stability. A strain is a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon in the area where it is turning into a muscle.
2. SPRAINS AND STRAINS ARE MOST OFTEN CAUSED FROM DIFFERENT ACTIONS.
Falling or twisting the wrong way typically causes a sprain, because the movement forces a joint into an awkward position and ends up stretching or tearing the ligament. Twisting an ankle, falling down the stairs, or trying to catch yourself on an icy walkway are all ways to end up with a sprain.
A strain often results from overexertion or trauma, and repetitive movement. Lifting an item that is too heavy, jumping into an exercise routine that is too strenuous, or performing repetitive movements in either a sport or work are ways an individual can end up suffering from a strain.
3. SPRAINS AND STRAINS GENERALLY AFFECT DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE BODY.
Sprains occur at parts of the body that are injured when falling or suddenly twisting. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, ankle sprains alone number around 2 million each year.
Ankles, wrists, knees, and fingers are all areas that are frequently sprained. Strains, on the other hand, commonly occur in the back, shoulder, or hamstring, as both of these areas are affected by overexertion or repetitive movement.
Although sprains and strains are different injuries, they do have some similarities. This is most likely why people get them mixed up.
Let's discuss a few commonalities of sprains and strains.
Both share common symptoms. Both injuries can bring on pain, swelling, and limited movement at the injury site. The pain can be moderate or intense, depending on the severity of the injury. Sprains and strains both benefit from ice packs, rest, and elevation.
They can require surgery. Most diagnosed strains and sprains heal on their own with time, but a serious tear can require surgery to repair. With both injuries, it's important to visit a doctor if an individual experiences severe pain and swelling, and decreased mobility.
Both can benefit from chiropractic care. Chiropractors can work wonders on the neck and back, but chiropractic care can assist in lessening the impact of a strain or sprain injury, too.
The benefits of seeing a chiropractor for both sprains and sprains are twofold. Chiropractic treatments promote healing of the injured area as well as help strengthen the areas around the injury to decrease the chance of future injuries.
Sprains and strains can sideline individuals from their activities, no matter if they are athletes or regular guys doing yard work. It's vital to take steps to avoid sprains and strains in the first place.
Always properly stretch and avoid overexertion to prevent strains. Take pains to clear walkways and stairways to avoid falls or sudden twisting movements to decrease the risk of sprains.
If you end up with a strain or sprain, contact us for a consultation. We have extensive experience in working with patients suffering from sprains and strains.
As experienced chiropractors, we like answering the questions we receive from our patients. A common inquiry is "what is the difference between a sprain and a strain?" Sprains and strains are injuries to the musculoskeletal system that are commonly diagnosed conditions, and are two separate issues people frequently mix up. We will attempt to explain away some of the confusion today.
Let's look at three ways sprains and strains differ from each other.
1. SPRAINS AND STRAINS AFFLICT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BODY.
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH), a sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament which provides joint stability. A strain is a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon in the area where it is turning into a muscle.
2. SPRAINS AND STRAINS ARE MOST OFTEN CAUSED FROM DIFFERENT ACTIONS.
Falling or twisting the wrong way typically causes a sprain, because the movement forces a joint into an awkward position and ends up stretching or tearing the ligament. Twisting an ankle, falling down the stairs, or trying to catch yourself on an icy walkway are all ways to end up with a sprain.
A strain often results from overexertion or trauma, and repetitive movement. Lifting an item that is too heavy, jumping into an exercise routine that is too strenuous, or performing repetitive movements in either a sport or work are ways an individual can end up suffering from a strain.
3. SPRAINS AND STRAINS GENERALLY AFFECT DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE BODY.
Sprains occur at parts of the body that are injured when falling or suddenly twisting. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, ankle sprains alone number around 2 million each year.
Ankles, wrists, knees, and fingers are all areas that are frequently sprained. Strains, on the other hand, commonly occur in the back, shoulder, or hamstring, as both of these areas are affected by overexertion or repetitive movement.
Although sprains and strains are different injuries, they do have some similarities. This is most likely why people get them mixed up.
Let's discuss a few commonalities of sprains and strains.
Both share common symptoms. Both injuries can bring on pain, swelling, and limited movement at the injury site. The pain can be moderate or intense, depending on the severity of the injury. Sprains and strains both benefit from ice packs, rest, and elevation.
They can require surgery. Most diagnosed strains and sprains heal on their own with time, but a serious tear can require surgery to repair. With both injuries, it's important to visit a doctor if an individual experiences severe pain and swelling, and decreased mobility.
Both can benefit from chiropractic care. Chiropractors can work wonders on the neck and back, but chiropractic care can assist in lessening the impact of a strain or sprain injury, too.
The benefits of seeing a chiropractor for both sprains and sprains are twofold. Chiropractic treatments promote healing of the injured area as well as help strengthen the areas around the injury to decrease the chance of future injuries.
Sprains and strains can sideline individuals from their activities, no matter if they are athletes or regular guys doing yard work. It's vital to take steps to avoid sprains and strains in the first place.
Always properly stretch and avoid overexertion to prevent strains. Take pains to clear walkways and stairways to avoid falls or sudden twisting movements to decrease the risk of sprains.
If you end up with a strain or sprain, contact us for a consultation. We have extensive experience in working with patients suffering from sprains and strains.
If he feels tight, then more stretching may help. If he feels cramps, he may be dehydrated or may require a multivitamin to balance his electrolytes. If neither of these helps, perhaps there is something affecting either the foot, ankle, or knee that contributes to his symptoms, in which case an examination by a chiropractor, physical therapist, or sports medicine specialist is advised.
Check his magnesium levels
Make sure he gets proper hydration. A year-round low-impact program (biking, swimming, elliptical 30 minutes 4/week) helps prepare for sports. Proper stretching is also very important.
Good quadriceps and hamstring stretching program.
Massage can be very effective in relieving muscular tension, as well as adequate stretching. A lot of Chiropractors also utilise Myofascial Release Therapy to treat this tension.
Lots of parents ask this question and most don't like the answer. He has an "overuse" injury. Try giving him Ibuprofen once or twice a day. Give him the dose on the bottle, or if he's over 100 lbs, give him 2 advil twice a day with food. However, the best way to decrease his pain or "tension" in his legs is to reduce his sports playing time per week.
Hope it helps,
Dr. Bose
Hope it helps,
Dr. Bose
Assuming you mean spasms, that is usually a sign of dehydration. Most youngsters do a poor job of remaining hydrated. I encourage a sports drink rather than water alone. There are problems that can also cause leg pain, especially when initiated by exertion. If he continues to have symptoms, take him to your local Orthopaedic Sports Medicine provider
Heat, massage, functional warm ups, proper warm up and cool down, and most importantly proper nutrition and sufficient hydration. He is probably dehydrated and suffering from overuse— the same repetitive use of the body until it is injured due to lack of recovery time. Make sure he takes at least 1 day off from basketball every week. Give him lots of water (not sports drinks and definitely not caffeine drinks).
Functional warm up means moving the parts of the body in gentle motions that replicate the movements performed during the particular sport, starting at the core and working out to the extremities. Professional athletes, especially soccer players, do this.
Finally, make sure he has an “off season” every year! He needs to spend 1-3 months doing something other than scheduled/supervised basketball and ideally other than basketball at all. Even the pros take an off season!
Functional warm up means moving the parts of the body in gentle motions that replicate the movements performed during the particular sport, starting at the core and working out to the extremities. Professional athletes, especially soccer players, do this.
Finally, make sure he has an “off season” every year! He needs to spend 1-3 months doing something other than scheduled/supervised basketball and ideally other than basketball at all. Even the pros take an off season!
By massage and stretching and some rest
