The Importance of Chiropractic for Athletes

Treatment is beneficial for athletes of all levels and disciplines. Whether you are a professional athlete, an amateur athlete, or just an active person looking to stay fit, chiropractic can help boost your performance.

Functional sports chiropractic care is a form of therapy that focuses on the neuromuscular system and can involve manual manipulation of the spine and joints to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and reduce inflammation.

Using techniques such as spinal adjustments, soft-tissue manual treatment – Trigenics®, muscle retraining, mobilization, and exercises to target the area(s) of concern. Chiropractors are trained to identify areas of dysfunction in your body that could limit your performance.

Their focus is on improving function, and testing for neuromuscular imbalances which is key to maximizing athletic performance. Treatment can realign joints and muscles, improve balance, increase flexibility, and reduce inflammation.   They can diagnose and treat a range of conditions, including back pain, strains, concussions and more.  Other benefits are improved sleep quality, and increased energy levels.

 

How can you reduce your risk of sport-related injury?

Now a days there are so many sport programs available that run all year round.  Many people, including our children, can be involved in multiple sports all year long.  This has contributed to over use injuries as rest time or time off has been limited.  Players and teams often travel for tournaments where a full day of games and competition add more potential for strain and overuse of the same muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Remember to:

Take breaks – Rest is an important factor for sport recovery.  When training, it is recommended to have at least one day off each week.  And add times where you stop training by adding mobility such as yoga and stretching to give the body time to repair.

Keep hydrated – Staying hydrated helps improve mobility, recovery, and thermoregulation. It also improves mental clarity, which boosts performance and minimizes the chances of injuries.

Pain – Playing through the pain is a bad idea.  Pain is a signal from the body as a warning to take notice, stop playing have the area/injury assessed for the best course of action.

Chiropractic is a natural, safe, non-invasive, and drug-free treatment option

Chiropractic care is a natural way to heal.  By attending regular visits and following a care plan can help lower your risk of injury in the future.  A thorough assessment can identify areas of weakness in your body before they lead to something bigger. It’s important to add chiropractic care as part of an athletic training regime.

Athletes are constantly putting pressure on their bodies- during workouts and competitions alike. The intensity at which they work out or perform can cause spinal alignment and movement problems, especially for younger athletes who might not be working out properly.

When people lose mobility in their joints, it is often because of a misalignment which can interfere with performance.

Ways that chiropractic can boost sports performance: 

1. Better hand–eye coordination and improved reaction time

• Studies have also found that chiropractic has a positive effect on reaction time, helping athletes respond more quickly to their opponents’ actions.

2. Improving recovery from concussions

• Concussions, and their subsequent neck pain, are a major issue for athletes.  Dr. Phil specializes in diagnosing and treating concussions.

3. Soothing aches, strains, joint stiffness, and pain

• Restores motion in your joints decreasing stiffness and pain, which can increase mobility and athletic function, including proprioception.

4. Increased Healing Time

• Treatment can speed up the recovery time associated for athletic injuries. Lessening the risk of accidents and further injury.

Chiropractors treat a wide range of injuries, including hamstring strain, neck and back pain, rotator cuff injury, shin splints, tennis elbow, knee injuries, and concussions to name a few. If you have a sports injury, set up an appointment for a comprehensive physical exam and health assessment.  We would be happy to answer any of your questions and help you to achieve your goals on and off the field.

The information is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

It is for informational purposes only.

.