Men’s lacrosse is a full-contact team sport, while women’s lacrosse is limited contact sport. During play, a small, hard ball is tossed through the air using small nets on the end of the lacrosse sticks. Its origins are rooted in Native American tradition among the Iroquois tribes that inhabited what is now present-day New York and Pennsylvania in the United States and the lower parts of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Lacrosse was considered a warrior’s game, to be played for the honor of the various tribes. Interestingly, it got its name from a visiting French Jesuit missionary, who dubbed the game “la crosse,” which was similar to the French term for field hockey (“le jeu de la crosse”), which is like ice hockey, except it is played on grass.

Lacrosse remains popular today, particularly in the same regions from which it originated. It also retains much of its rough and tumble, full-contact origins, with slashes and stick checks to the body considered a legitimate part of the game. As a result, it is not unusual for players to sustain musculoskeletal injuries that may sideline them. In fact, Dr. Nathen Horst welcomes Lacrosse players at his practice. Learn more about the typical injuries that lacrosse players sustain and how Dr. Horst treats these conditions.

Typical Lacrosse Injuries

Ankle and knee sprains are among the most common injuries associated with lacrosse due to the fast, sudden changes in direction that are often required to keep pace with the ball. Ligament, joint, and tendon damage can also occur as a result of forceful collisions between male players. Rotator cuff injuries to the shoulder are also common due to the overhead motion necessary for using the lacrosse stick to throw the ball through the air. These can be due either to repetitive motion or as a result of collision with another player or stick at full speed. Lower back pain can also occur as a result of twisting the spine in order to attempt to reach the ball with the lacrosse stick.

Chiropractic Treatment for Lacrosse Injuries

It is important to remember that an injury to the foot or knee doesn’t involve just that part of the anatomy. In fact, it can affect the entire alignment of the body from the foot, to the hip, all the way up the spine. This is why Dr. Horst will treat not just the injured area, but any surrounding ligaments, tendons, joints, or muscles that may have become misaligned as a result of the injury.

Such treatment can range from heat, to ice, to massage therapy, to joint manipulation to open up any spaces that might be compressing nerves, to use of electrical impulses to stimulate surrounding muscles. Dr. Horst may also use special sports tape, called kinesio tape that holds the skin away from sore or injured soft tissue, allowing for better blood and lymphatic fluid drainage, which can help speed the healing process. Patients may also be given specific exercises to do at home that mimic movements that are used in lacrosse in order to build up muscle strength in anticipation of returning to the game as soon as possible.

Because lacrosse is a demanding game, those who participate often see themselves as capable of sustaining forces during a game without letting it slow them down. Unfortunately, the reality is that the game can take its toll over time. On the plus side, however, chiropractic care can help athletes get back into the game as soon as possible.