18805 W. Catawba Ave. Suite 101

Cornelius, NC 28031 US

(704) 987-5050

Open mobile navigation

September Newsletter: How Chiropractic Care Helps with Sprains and Strains

Woman hurts her knee playing tennis.

How Chiropractic Care Helps with Sprains and Strains

Your chiropractor offers treatments that relieve the pain of many type of injuries, including sprains and strains. Chiropractic care could help your sprain or strain heal faster, in addition to relieving stiffness and improving flexibility.

Sprains and Strains: What's the Difference?

A strain happens when you overstretch or tear a muscle or tendon. Tendons are the strong bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Sprains tear or stretch ligaments. Ligaments are tough fibers that connect the bones in a joint together.

Although sprains and strains may be different, both injuries cause pain and swelling. Mild sprains or strains may only cause minor symptoms, while torn ligaments, muscles, or tendons can trigger severe pain.

Swelling is often accompanied by stiffness that makes it harder to move the affected joint or muscle. Muscle weakness, cramping, or spasms are common with strains. If you have a sprain, you may notice a bruise around the injured area.

Although sprains often happen as a result of a trip or fall, the cause of a strain may not be quite so obvious. While strains can occur while playing sports or happen during a fall, you might also strain a muscle by sleeping in an awkward position or using a worn-out pillow. Poor posture, repetitive movements, lifting heavy objects, or spending too many hours in front a screen are common causes of strains.

Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment

Ignoring your pain or attempting to power through it is never a good idea. For example, if you continue your regular activities and exercise routine with a sprained ankle, stretched ligaments could soon become torn ligaments, increasing the severity of your injury. Overworking a strained muscle or tendon could also make your injury worse and slow healing. In some cases, delaying treatment could even cause chronic pain.

Fortunately, visiting your chiropractor as soon as possible will ease your symptoms and help you avoid lingering pain. Chiropractic treatment offers several benefits, including:

  • Reduced Inflammation. Although inflammation is part of your body's healing response, lingering inflammation can cause pain and stiffness. Treatments like ultrasound therapy and cold laser therapy decrease inflammation and pain. Massage and other soft tissue therapies improve blood flow to your tissues, providing the nutrients injured areas need to heal.
  • Less Pain. Spinal manipulation, massage, soft tissue mobilization, ultrasound therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and other treatments offered by chiropractors decrease pain. Massage and soft tissue mobilization relax tight tissues and ease muscle spasms. The deep heating effect of ultrasound therapy improves blood flow while tackling pain. TENS treatment prevents signals that trigger pain from reaching the brain. Spinal manipulation eases pain by adjusting misaligned vertebrae in the spine and also helps tight tissues relax. Joint adjustments can be helpful if the bones in a joint became misaligned due to a sprain.
  • Improved Flexibility. Treatments like massage and soft tissue mobilization improve flexibility and range of motion by relaxing tight tissues and breaking up scar tissue. Scar tissue forms as your body repairs injured tissue. Although scar tissue is helpful initially, it can limit range of motion and decrease flexibility. Massage and other treatments also break up trigger points, knots in muscles that cause pain, weakness, and reduced range of motion.

A case report published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine in March 2023 explored the benefits of chiropractic treatment for chronic ankle pain and limited mobility. After spraining an ankle during a soccer game, a 15-year-old boy experienced pain and limited mobility for more than eight months. After four weekly ankle manipulation treatments and home stretching exercises, pain and range of motion improved, allowing the boy to return to the playing field.

Your chiropractic treatment plan may also involve strengthening and stretching exercises. The exercises aren't just part of your recovery but will also help you avoid new injuries in the future.

Don't suffer unnecessarily with a painful sprain or strain. Our chiropractic treatments can help jumpstart the healing process and end your pain. Contact our office to schedule your appointment.

Sources:

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine: Chiropractic Management of Chronic Ankle Pain and Limited Mobility in a Pediatric Athlete: A Case Report, 3/2023

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36844988/

WebMD: Sprain vs. Strain: What’s the Difference?, 2/26/2024

https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/understanding-sprains-strains

NCBI: Internal Medicine Review: Low Intensity Ultrasound for Promoting Soft Tissue Healing: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Medical Technology, 12/2016

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30198009/

The Harvard Gazette: Massage Helps Injured Muscles Heal Faster and Stronger, 10/6/2021

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/10/massage-helps-injured-muscles-heal-faster-and-stronger/

Exclusive Offer

New Patients Receive a Free Consultation

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Holistic Healing Chiropractic Hours

Monday:

7:30 am-5:00 pm

By Appointment

Tuesday:

7:30 am-5:00 pm

By Appointment

Wednesday:

7:30 am-5:00 pm

By Appointment

Thursday:

10:00 am-7:00 pm

By Appointment

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Location

Find us on the map

Testimonials

Reviews By Our Satisfied Patients

  • "Very professional and personal care. Takes the time to explain in detail your condition. Focuses on long term success and behaviour changes rather than short term fixes."
    Noah K
  • "Dr. Gary is absolutely WONDERFUL! My whole experience here has been just perfect. I feel that he truly cares if I get better or not, and I look forward to my appointments. If you're looking for an AMAZING chiropractor, this is the place you want to visit!"
    Suzie B
  • "Dr Gary is the best! He is very knowledgeable and knows what he is doing. I highly recommend anyone to seek him for help."
    Krystal D
  • "Dr. Draper knows the body; not only physically, but mentally as well. He's got machines throughout the office that can help treat both the body and the brain. He cares about each patients' wellbeing, and takes a practical approach to finding the root cause of whatever might be ailing you. Highly recommended!"
    David W
  • "Eileen M recommends Holistic Healing Chiropractic.
    I can not say enough positive things about Dr. Gary, the inviting office atmosphere and friendly staff. Dr. Gary treats everyone with professional care, excellent service and a caring heart."
    Eileen M.
  • "He is the greatest doctor ever had! He goes above and beyond with my whole family, kids and dog. If it weren't for Dr. Gary I would not be able to work or live! We love the office and the staff!"
    Carolyn Oliver
  • "I have two herniated discs in my lower back. Because of my spinal decompression, I am much better and I don't think I will need back surgery."
    Mary W.
  • "I have three bulging disc's in my lower back, one of which is pressing against a nerve. Due to being in so much pain I have put a lot more pressure and such on my right foot as well. Doctors have given me medication that doesn't touch the pain, but Dr. Draper and Dr. Gary as most of his patients lovingly call him will reduce my pain level more than half in one visit. I can't Recommend this place enough."
    April Plexico
  • "Dr. Gary is a very knowledgeable and very caring person. He gives you 100 percent of his attention. So glad that we found him."
    Barbara Rourke Chappell
  • "Dr. Gary Draper and staff are OUTSTANDING!!"
    Erin Murray
  • "Friendly and knowledgeable staff with a welcoming atmosphere. The facilities are beautiful, and the hydrotherapy table is fantastic!"
    Courtney Stahl Stachowski
  • "very personalized, wonderful bedside manor, actually takes time to listen, I left feeling taller and was able to walk without pain."
    Meegan Clemons​
  • "5 stars"
    JR Rivas​
  • "Very caring and get results kind of a doctor. If you are looking for a quality docotr... schedule your appointment today!"
    Celia Ringstad
  • "Dr. Gary Draper is such a great doctor with cutting edge therapies. His knowledge and caring, positive attitude is unmatched! He has helped me with back issues, vertigo, and feet issues. He has helped athletic boys with all kinds of issues! I highly recommend Dr. Gary and Pierce Family Chiropractic for your whole family!"
    Elizabeth Gwyn Jones​

Featured Articles

Read about interesting topics

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Sign up for more articles