Staying active through sports can be incredible for your body, but sometimes the game takes a toll on you. Even with a good stretching regimen and proper form, all that sprinting, running, reaching, jumping, and maneuvering can leave you prone to the occasional injury. When you do face an injury, it’s important to address it quickly. Not only will that get you back to playing as soon as possible, but it will also help prevent further damage. Receiving chiropractic treatments for sports injuries can aid tremendously in your recovery and even help you avoid future injuries. With your chiropractor’s help, you can return to the field (or the court, pool, or track) as soon as possible.
Chiropractic Treatments for Sports Injuries
What Injuries Can a Chiropractor Treat?
Chiropractic treatments can help you recover from many different kinds of injuries, both major and minor. These include all of the following:
- Sprains and strains: Sports of all kinds can put stress on your wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, ankles, back, and more. Your whole musculoskeletal system is subject to sprains and strains, so all athletes are likely to encounter them at least once in their sports career.
- Tendonitis: Repetitive motion can sometimes lead to your tendons becoming inflamed, causing a condition known as tendonitis.
- Knee pain: Any kind of sharp or dull pain in your knee after a game is a sign that something isn’t quite right. Even minor knee pain is important to tend to quickly, as your knees are a delicate part of your body.
- Spinal misalignments: Your spine is your body’s powerhouse, and sports can sometimes overwork it. A chiropractor’s skills certainly aren’t limited to the neck and back, but working with the spine is the discipline’s bread and butter.
What Are the Treatments Like?
Some of the most common chiropractic treatments for sports injuries include the following:
Adjustments for the Limbs or Spine
Accidents happen. Whether it’s a bad tackle in a football game or improper form during a swim meet, many athletes will experience some kind of musculoskeletal misalignment or restriction during their lifetime. If left untreated, an injury like this will put more stress on your body’s tissues and leave you prone to worse injuries. A chiropractor can adjust your spinal column or limbs (depending on where you’re injured) to put everything back in its proper place.
Massage
Massages aren’t just for relaxing days at the spa. A good massage will relieve muscular tension. That’s crucial when healing from a sports injury. Other benefits include a better range of motion, flexibility, and improved circulation — all of which will help you feel better quicker. Your massage should be tailored to your sport. This will help address the areas that experience the most tension. If your chiropractor’s office doesn’t provide massages, the staff can likely help connect you with a good sports massage therapist.
Acupuncture
Though you might say this doesn’t deserve a spot on our list of chiropractic treatments for sports injuries, many chiropractors offer acupuncture in addition to chiropractic. This unique treatment offers plenty of benefits for athletes. Acupuncture activates the nerves in your body to improve your circulation and facilitate healing. It can soothe and heal trigger points: tight knots or bands in your muscles that leave you feeling tense. Acupuncture can even boost your energy (and what athlete wouldn’t like more energy?). Plus, despite what you might assume, acupuncture doesn’t hurt.
Wellness Counseling
Lastly, you’ll need a plan for staying safe and healthy in the long run. That’s why we recommend wellness counseling as a part of your recovery and eventual prevention plan. A large part of chiropractic care focuses on enhancing your body’s potential, not just healing existing problems. Your chiropractor will be able to help you develop an exercise regimen, pre- and post-workout stretching routines, and even a nutrition plan. Participating in wellness counseling will help you protect any past injuries and prevent future ones. The key is to meet with your chiropractor regularly and to closely follow the plan the two of you have created.
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Have you been injured through athletics recently? Or are you simply looking to prevent a sports injury? Pay a visit to Loehr Health Center. We know that no two patients or injuries are alike, so we’ll work with you to create a recovery and/or prevention plan customized to your body and needs. We want to help ensure your body is functioning at peak potential while remaining as noninvasive as possible. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, give us a call today at 417-887-8075 or contact us at [email protected].
