Many Olympians do it. Countless collegiate athletes, the majority of PGA golfers, and most NFL, NHL, MLB, and NBA teams do it as well. In fact, the Palmer College of Chiropractic reports that some 90 percent of world-class athletes routinely rely on chiropractic care. Fortunately, you don’t have to be an elite player to enjoy the many benefits of chiropractic care for athletes.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Athletes
Whether you’re a fitness fanatic with a meticulously crafted exercise routine, a weekend warrior who enjoys playing whenever the opportunity presents itself, a student athlete, or someone who is simply committed to staying active as part of a healthy lifestyle, you may find that chiropractic care is the perfect addition to your regimen. According to the American Chiropractic Association, 77 percent of athletic trainers have referred players to chiropractors for evaluation and treatment. That’s because people committed to staying in the game can score significant advantages by utilizing this drug-free, hands-on form of health care.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
Many people first turn to a chiropractor when an injury sidelines them, so it’s no surprise that many athletes find that chiropractors are incredibly useful allies when they’ve been hurt. While its ability to treat back pain is widely recognized, chiropractic care can actually help soothe a wide range of sports-related injuries and discomforts, including shoulder instability, neck pain, headaches, elbow and wrist issues, groin pain, and knee and ankle issues. How does chiropractic help? Correcting misalignments in the spine allows the nervous system, the body’s master control system, to function more effectively, so addressing these irritations can speed healing and reduce pain. A chiropractic care plan can also help to release muscle tension, break apart scar tissue, and restore range of motion. By promoting healing and providing pain relief, chiropractic care can help you get back in the game faster and make it easier to remain active throughout your life.
Pain Relief
There are a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications available to treat pain. However, these medications come with the potential for unpleasant side effects and the possibility of developing an addiction. Many people are understandably reluctant to rely on them, especially for extended periods or chronic discomforts. Chiropractic care, on the other hand, uses the power of touch to heal. In utilizing targeted, hands-on adjustments to correct misalignments in the musculoskeletal system, this form of care supports the body’s own natural healing mechanisms and reduces pain and discomfort without drugs or invasive treatments.
Injury Prevention
Elite athletes don’t wait until they’ve been hurt to seek out the assistance of a chiropractor. In fact, many count on their chiropractors to help them avoid injuries. Skeletal misalignments can contribute to issues like postural and muscular imbalances. The result is unnecessary stress on the body, which can pave the way for injury, instability, and pain. Taking a proactive approach to correct these misalignments and imbalances with customized chiropractic care can keep the body functioning effectively and decrease the risk of injury.
Performance Enhancement
While injury prevention is certainly a laudable goal, many athletes find chiropractic care’s potential for enhancing athletic performance even more alluring. After all, sometimes the difference between winning and losing is measured in fractions of a second. Routine visits to your chiropractor can enhance your performance by providing the following benefits of chiropractic care for athletes:
- Coordination: Excellent hand-eye coordination is a necessity for athletic feats like catching, throwing, hitting, or shooting a ball. When examining chiropractic care’s impact on athletic performance, researchers in one study discovered a 30 percent improvement in hand-eye coordination after 12 weeks of chiropractic treatment.
- Flexibility: Flexibility is determined by muscle length. Overuse, postural imbalances, and injuries can all hamper this vital quality, but chiropractic care can help athletes overcome these hurdles.
- Range of Motion: Your range of motion is a measure of how well a joint moves. Flexibility is part of this, but strength and the health of the joint and its surrounding tissues also matter. When injury, pain, or structural imbalances limit range of motion, athletic performance is hindered. Addressing misalignments and imbalances with chiropractic care can help athletes maintain an optimal range of motion.
- Strength: By reducing pain and promoting fast recovery, chiropractic care can improve the efficiency of training, which provides athletes with the opportunity to build their endurance and their strength.
- Balance: Being able to respond quickly to the unexpected without losing your footing is vital to avoiding injury both on and off the game field. Because it keeps the musculoskeletal system functioning in a smooth, balanced way, chiropractic care can make it easier for athletes to maintain their balance.
Are you ready to experience the benefits of chiropractic care for athletes for yourself? If you’d like to learn more about chiropractic treatment or explore how it can support your wellness routine, contact Loehr Chiropractic & Acupuncture. Our doctors are skilled in many different chiropractic techniques, and they are constantly working to refine and expand their abilities with additional advanced training. To learn more about our services or request an appointment, contact us today.
