Athletes and Chiropractic:
“I’ve been going to chiropractors for as long as I can remember. It’s as important to my training as practicing my swing.” -Tiger Woods
When one considers the function of a chiropractor, they often think of only pain complaints or recovery from that injury. For decades however, athletes in particular, have profited from corrective and preventative chiropractic techniques. Athletes of every sport have sought the care of chiropractors not only because it leads to stronger athletic performance and overall better health, but also because these specialists are able to treat the patient without the use of drugs and other unnatural remedies. Athletes, their coaches, and trainers are proactive in their quest to seek out this focused treatment knowing that chiropractic corrections support any affected areas of the body. Chiropractic fits extremely well for athletes because it allows them to function at their body’s highest potential.
The nervous system, which controls all body functions, sends and receives “messages” from nerves and is protected by the vertebrae. When the spine is properly positioned, the nerves are sheltered and communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body is at its best. When the spine is even minutely askew, clear communication within the body can be reduced. Thus, allowing for dysfunctions or weakening throughout these affected areas of the body. Based on these facts, chiropractic discipline is founded on the idea that an appropriate nerve supply is essential to governing and normalizing body functions.
For athletes who endure rigorous training, the spinal column can very easily be jolted and misaligned. Because of the location of the spine in the body, shock can be sustained by other body parts including, but not limited to the head, neck, and shoulders, as well as the legs and feet. Chiropractic professionals are proficient in identifying and adjusting these misalignments to reestablish the proper functioning of the nervous system. When these adjustments are made, the overall operation and potential of complete restoration of the athlete’s body can reach maximum potential. As indicated above, many athletes have found that chiropractic treatment affords them the opportunity to reach unmatched personal performance levels. Studies have shown that response times, agility, and endurance were all improved after athletes received chiropractic care. In addition to performance, recovery times from inevitable injuries that will occur in any sport were decreased.
“I didn’t know how much I could improve until I started seeing a chiropractor. Since I’ve been in chiropractic, I’ve improved by leaps and bounds both mentally and physically.” -Michael Jordan
Without question, there are a number of benefits that any athlete can receive from undergoing chiropractic care. Not only can corrections assist in treating damages from high-impact sports like football, hockey, wrestling, lacrosse and basketball, but they provide other benefits also. Because high-impact sports can sometimes have the same impact on the body as an auto accident, athletes who receive regular preventative and corrective adjustments will experience noticeable improvements to their range of motion and often times, the number of injuries can be minimized. This minimization is due to improved flexibility, increased blood flow, and a reduction in inflammation and irritation of the nerve roots in the spine.
It is not only high-impact sports that can lead to jarring and other spinal misalignments. Athletes of low-impact sports can certainly benefit from being proactive and receiving regular spinal adjustments. In general, a misaligned spine is equal to a damaged vehicle frame. Given this, impaired patterns of movement throughout the muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons will leave the body vulnerable to injury. For golfers, dancers, cheerleaders, and those who are active in tennis and swimmers, routine treatment can minimize the tension that is consistently placed on the body. Chiropractic care offers a more holistic means of prevention and management of various disorders that are often experienced by athletes.
The science of chiropractic has made remarkable strides in the world of organized athletics in the last decade alone. The kind of treatment provided by the chiropractor is dependent upon the individual athlete’s complaints and/or circumstances. However, because chiropractic medicine addresses the source (cause) of the problem, symptoms will never be masked, and the athlete will surely benefit from treatment.
“Chiropractic just makes you feel so much better. When I walk out of the clinic, I feel like I’m about three inches taller and everything’s in place. And as long as I see the chiropractor, I feel like I’m one step ahead of the game.” -Tom Brady
If you know n Athlete, young or older, tell them to call us to see if we can help them perform and function better.
Yours in health,
Dr. Philip A. Mahan, D.C., C.C.E.P.