Chronic Injury
An injury that develops gradually over time, usually due to repetitive overuse of a body part. Chronic injuries are also known as overuse injuries.
Overuse injury
Damage to bones, muscles, ligaments, or tendons resulting from repetitive trauma and inadequate healing time.
Understanding Chronic Injuries
Key characteristics:
- Gradual onset of symptoms
- Often linked to repetitive movements
- Usually associated with technique issues
- Can worsen without proper intervention
A tennis player developing "tennis elbow" from repeatedly using incorrect serving technique. The pain doesn't start suddenly but builds up over weeks or months of playing.
Common Sites of Chronic Injury
- Upper Body:
- Shoulder (rotator cuff issues)
- Elbow (tendinitis)
- Wrist (carpal tunnel)
- Lower Body:
- Knees (runner's knee)
- Ankles (achilles tendinitis)
- Shins (shin splints)
The location of chronic injuries often reveals clues about technique problems. For instance, runners who consistently get shin splints might have issues with their running form or footwear.
Correcting biomechanical maladaptations can decrease the risk of injury
Biomechanical maladaptations
Incorrect movement patterns or techniques that place excessive stress on specific body structures, leading to potential injury over time.
Biomechanical maladaptations can develop from:
- Poor technique
- Muscle imbalances
