What's Up, Doc?

Thanks to one of our favorite #teamOYMbike supporters, Dr. Jaysen Sudnykovych, D.C. of Campbell Sports Rehab and Spine Center, for being our guest blogger today. 

When not in the office, you'll find Dr. Jaysen cycling with On Your Mark Performance, participating in running events, competing in triathlon events or dabbling in anything that keeps him active. 

As many of you already know, Dr. Jaysen cares for several of our OYM athletes. He has been using Active Release Technique (ART) on his patients for the last ten years. ART is a soft tissue approach which helps address pain, decreased mobility and, of course, repetitive stress injuries. Today he's going to share with our readers a little about soft tissue pain:

Repetitive stress injuries can cause dysfunctions such as pain, decreased mobility, and swelling. The associated discomfort varies significantly from muscle spasms to joint tenderness to muscle pain. Soft tissue pain is a by-product of repetitive stress injuries which may include:

• Running Injuries
• Weight Lifting Injuries 
• Tendonitis – Tendonosis
• Scar Tissue Formation
• Myofascitis
• Post-Surgical
• Nerve Entrapment Syndrome
• Gait Imbalances
  
• Joint Dysfunction
  
• Muscle Pulls & Strains

In general, when any discomfort is present in the network of interconnected tendons, ligaments, and joints, then soft tissue pain is an accurate description. In some cases, however, the pain could be caused by joint dysfunction due to improper movement; in these situation, an adjustment might be beneficial.

With such a wide variety of soft tissue pain ailments, understanding the source of the pain is essential to developing a treatment plan for recovery. ART is a soft tissue approach and one of the best ways to treat repetitive stress/strain injuries, reduce pain, and prevent future ailments particularly with triathletes. 

Running Injuries

Running injuries are incredibly common, as the activity of running is both repetitive and taxing on the body. Hip pain, knee and leg injuries, and foot pain are plentiful since the entire body is under stress while participating in serious runs. Those runners who are especially conscious of their body and potential damages will be better equipped to avoid setbacks. Runner’s knee, hamstring injuries, and Achilles tendonitis are some of the most common running injuries, but there are certainly many additional ways that runners suffer each day. Being proactive about addressing even minor pain is critical to pinpointing injuries before they become serious.

Repetitive Stress Injuries

As already stated, when too much pressure is placed on a certain part of the body due to repeated movements, repetitive stress injuries may occur. This type of bodily damage is common with athletes, as they are typically practicing and playing using the same muscles and joints over and over again. As a result, muscle strain, inflammation, and tissue damage may occur. This type of pain is often marked by numbness and pain which increases over time. Treating repetitive stress injuries as soon as any symptoms are felt is essential to a quick recovery.

Joint Dysfunction

Formed by the connection of the right and left iliac bones and the sacrum, the sacroiliac joint connects the spine to the pelvis. While there is typically very little motion in the sacroiliac joints, there is a great amount of stress across them due their role in supporting the weight of the body. The sacroiliac joint has a layer of cartilage that covers the bone; when this cartilage begins to wear away or suffers any type of damage, the results can be incredibly painful. As the bones begin to rub on one another, degenerative arthritis arises in the sacroiliac joints. Through chiropractic adjustments, ART, stretching, exercise therapy and modalities all play a great role in alleviating sacroiliac joint pain.

Muscle Pulls & Strains

Muscles pulls and strains are some of the most frequently seen injuries for athletes today. From a medical perspective, muscle pulls, strains and tears occur with damage to a muscle or the attached tendons. An athlete will typically describe a snapping or popping sensation upon muscle tear. The symptoms of muscle pulls and strains vary tremendously, as these injuries range from very minor to very severe. As soon as any redness or swelling is sustained, it is important to seize activity in order to assess the damage. Sports rehabilitation, specifically ART, is often necessary to reduce swelling and slowly begin the healing and recovery process.

Understand that soft tissue pain will likely affect almost everyone at least once their lifetime. While the severity of injury may range significantly, it is imperative for athletes to take a proactive approach to recovery. Even the most minor of soft tissue pain can quickly escalate to a serious injury if not treated appropriately. At Campbell Sports Rehab and Spine Center, we have spent years utilizing ART and perfecting our process to treatment and recovery of sports injuries.

Let me know if I can answer any of your questions,

Dr. Jaysen

Thanks, Doc! We sure will. 

Love, Peace and Bicycle Grease,

Matt & Julie