Can Chiropractic Care Reduce/Fix Sports Injuries?
Have you ever wondered why you may want to see a Chiropractor for your sports injury? The application of force, direct impact, and overuse are common causes of sports injuries, preventing athletes from performing adequately. The downtime due to sports injuries can take a massive toll on an athlete’s career.
Bruises, sprains, straining, nose bleeds, muscle pain, and joint injuries are common sports injuries. Competing as a sports professional is tougher because every sport in the 21st century has intense competition.
Minor performance improvements can make a massive difference on the field and make the athlete or sports team win the game. So this is why many sportspeople turn to chiropractic treatment to help them train effectively, prevent injuries, and speed up recovery after a severe complication.
Research shows that 90% of professional sportspeople seek or use chiropractic care to prevent injuries, streamline their performance, or treat a condition caused by a fall or accident on the field.
In a study published in the National Library of Medicine, 77% of coaches, mentors, and trainers refer sportspeople to chiropractors to improve their overall health and athletic performance.
Likewise, 100% of trainers say that many sportspeople and players seek chiropractic care without recommendations or referrals. So, it shows that chiropractic care is an excellent option for preventing sports injuries.
According to Liberty Ville Wellness Group, a survey report highlighted that athletes experienced a 6.12% increase in performance after a few sessions, including spinal adjustments and manipulations.
Another article concluded that athletes and sports people improved their eye-hand coordination by 30% after undergoing chiropractic sessions for 12 weeks. These statistics confirm that chiropractic is a reliable preventative method or treatment for sports injuries. Read on!
What are Common Sports Injuries?
Sports injuries occur throughout the body and affect musculoskeletal structures, including bones, muscles, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues. Although you can use ice, heat therapy, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as NSAIDs, narcotics, opioids, muscle relaxants, and antidepressants, to relieve discomfort and pain, these can cause moderate to severe side effects.
On the other hand, chiropractic care is a holistic health approach for sports injuries that improves an athlete’s physical, mental, metabolic, homeostatic, musculoskeletal, and social wellbeing. Let us discuss how chiropractic care can prevent or treat different sports injuries.
Knee Injury
Basketball, football, skiing, and running are sports that can cause knee injuries, affecting the athlete’s muscles and joints. Knee injury is due to harsh movements and the application of force inherent to the sport.
For example, sudden twists, stops, turns, or pressure on the joint while running, diving, or sprinting can cause knee injury, discomfort, inflammation, and pain. While most people associate chiropractic care with neck and back pain or related injuries, a professional chiropractor can perform knee and hip manipulation to mobilize the knee joint and prevent injuries.
An experienced chiropractor uses different manipulation and adjustment techniques to mobilize the joints in your knees, reduce inflammation and swelling, and improve the range of motion.
ACL Tear
ACL tears occur in various sports, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis, lacrosse, and downhill skiing. Because these sports require sudden and frequent deceleration and acceleration, including pivoting, cutting, or landing on one leg, the chances of an ACL tear or injury are high.
A professional chiropractor performs spinal manipulations and adjustments to streamline the nervous system. The purpose is to ensure the athlete’s brain controls the body’s central and performs adequately without experiencing injuries. Likewise, if you (as an athlete) already suffer from an ACL tear, you can undergo chiropractic care or treatment to speed up the healing process.
Tennis Elbow
Any activity that involves repeated wrist twisting, elbow bending, or overuse of forearm muscles can cause tennis elbow. The condition is among athletes who play tennis, squash, badminton, or javelin throw.
An experienced chiropractor uses evidence-based knowledge to adjust the elbow and mobilize the joints. The primary objective of chiropractor care is to decrease compression, swelling, and inflammation in the joints.
Likewise, chiropractic care increases blood circulation to the injured area and provides the wound with oxygen and nutrients to speed up healing and streamline recovery.
Shin Splints
While anyone can suffer from shin splints, these sports injuries are more common among sportspeople. Runners are at high risk of developing shin splints on uneven surfaces. Sports people who play high-impact sports can experience extreme stress on their legs, leading to shin splints.
The good news is that chiropractors can prevent or treat shin splints adequately. A professional and experienced chiropractor adjusts the ankle, calf, and foot to increase blood flow and stretches the musculoskeletal structures.
Groin Strain
Groin strain and pain are common sports injuries or problems. Athletes who play high-impact or speed-based sports, such as running, sprinting, soccer, football, rugby, skiing, and hockey, are more vulnerable to groin strains.
Sudden changes in direction, increased speed, and sprinting are common causes of groin strain among sportspeople. A chiropractor uses hands-on experience and evidence-based methods to determine how muscles, tissues, and nerves interact.
An experienced chiropractor uses adjustments, manipulations, active release therapy, needling, and physical therapy to reduce or treat groin strains and related sports injuries.
Sciatic Pain
Sciatic pain can take a massive toll on an athlete’s overall wellbeing and career. Acute or chronic back pain can cause sciatica, pain that radiates from the lower back and goes through the buttocks into the leg.
For example, Tiger Woods is a famous professional and champion golfer who experienced lower back and sciatic pain between 2014 and 2017. Tiger underwent various treatment options, including minimally invasive surgery. Although surgery treated his condition, the champion golfer suffered a lot.
On the other hand, chiropractic care is a safe, reliable, and efficient treatment option for sciatic pain. A chiropractor uses spinal manipulation and other techniques to relieve pressure on spinal discs and sciatic nerves.
For instance, our chiropractor in Bundaberg applies spinal adjustment and manipulation techniques to reposition a herniated disc. The purpose is to take pressure off the nerve.
Final Words
Sports require a muscular physique, muscle flexibility, hand-eye coordination, and skills to improve performance. However, athletes can experience various sports injuries in different body parts, including the above.
Our chiropractor can help strengthen your muscles, increase range of motion, boost muscle development, streamline blood flow to the musculoskeletal system, improves the function of the nervous system and align the joint with soft tissues to prevent or treat sports injuries. Contact us for more information.
