Every year, experts estimate that over 8.6 million people develop a sports-related injury or other recreational type issues. Many of these athletes may be helped with effective and experienced chiropractic care. Chiropractors can treat the whole body and develop dependable treatments and preventative measures that can aid in the healing and muscle recovery process.
Chiropractic Care May Improve Athletic Mobility, Performance & Coordination
Athletes often overstrain when working out or participating in vigorous sports-related activity. Even slight balance slips can result in serious muscle, tendon, ligament, joint, and other musculoskeletal injuries that can result in pain. Seeing a reputable chiropractor can help ensure that small injuries do not turn into a chronic or more serious issue.
Chiropractic care may even help an athlete improve their overall performance, mobility, and specific coordination. This can help keep the athlete in the best of shape and allow them to remain competitive in their chosen sports.
Chiropractic Treatments Are Non-Invasive & Do Not Require Strong Pain Medications
Part of the problem with the usual route of medical care following a sports-related injury is the overuse of strong pain medications that can result in unwanted side effects that include extreme fatigue, lack of balance and coordination, lack of mental focus, dizziness, nausea, and other GI issues, headaches and other problems. Most prescribed pain medications are addictive as well, and many athletes must undergo sports-related physicals and drug tests before competing in larger events.
On the other hand, chiropractic treatments do not usually require the use of these strong medications yet still help decrease overall acute and chronic pain using more natural methods of rebalancing and aiding in muscle tissue recovery time. These treatments are also non-invasive as an added incentive.
Athletes with Acute/Chronic Pain May Be Managed Better by Chiropractic Care
Sports chiropractors rely on a variety of methods to manage an athlete’s overall and specific pain-related complaints. Gentle pressure, massage, and musculoskeletal adjustments can be highly effective in resolving many of the more common sports-related injuries that athletes suffer on a regular basis. More traditional medical doctors today highly endorse chiropractic care and physical therapies to aid in the treatments of these injuries and other issues.
Chiropractic Treatments for Sports Injuries May Speed Healing & Lessen Recovery Time
Even small imbalances in the spine, neck, and overall body musculoskeletal components can lead to injuries that may not be felt until later. Also, an injured muscle or stressed tendon, ligament, or nerve can result in the athlete being more prone to further injury which can be more difficult to treat.
Chiropractic treatments for sports-related injuries may help speed healing of these injuries and lessen overall recovery time and are especially effective for muscle-related fatigue, strains, tears, swelling, and other problems.
Many Athletes Undergo Chiropractic Care to Help Prevent Pain & Sports Injuries
Many athletes decide to undergo chiropractic care to help prevent pain and other sports-related injuries from occurring in the first place. These sessions may also help the individual to improve on their overall balance and body alignment that can aid in the prevention of certain injuries common to professional and amateur athletes.
Muscle and other soft tissue sprains, strains, and other problems can result in pain due to swelling that can impede smaller nerves and ligaments causing pain and other discomforts. Chiropractic care is terrific as a preventative measure and well worth investigating.
Common Types of Sports Injuries Treated by Chiropractors
There are many different types of sports-related injuries that chiropractors can effectively treat.
Muscle or Tendon Sprains, Tears or Strains
Injuries to the muscles, tendons, and other small soft tissues are by far the most common of these types of injuries. Time and rest of the injured area are necessary for full recovery of the injured region.
Shin Splint Pain
Shin splints are often used to describe a specific pain and injury that involves the shins. Chiropractors can treat the issues that usually involve the lower shin and tibia bone. If it is fractured, these specialists can refer the athlete to a surgeon or other medical professional for specialized treatment needed. Most of these injuries heal over time with rest. This is common in runners and those that play basketball or other repetitive running sport.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a sharp and stabbing intense pain that is felt from the lower back down the leg and is usually caused by swelling that impedes blood flow and pinches nerves resulting in discomfort. Individuals often report numbness and/or tingling feeling in the regions impacted and farther down in the pathway of pain. Chiropractors can treat this pain using lumbar spinal manipulations, physical therapy methods, and specialized massage among other treatment options.
Achilles Tendon Injuries
Runners and other athletes often develop pain from the heel of their foot up to the calf region. This is due to straining the Achilles tendon. It is important to stop the activity and seek competent chiropractic care to hopefully achieve full recovery in a timely manner.
Other common sports injuries chiropractors may treat include:
- Knee Injuries
- Joint Dislocations & Fractures – May Need Surgical Intervention
- Minor or Chronic Neck & Back Injuries
- Painful Swollen Muscles with Pain or Numbness
A Chiropractor Can Develop a Personalized Preventative Care Regimen
An experienced chiropractor can develop a personalized preventative care regimen to better suit each unique athlete and specifics for certain sports-related injury prevention tactics. This is a holistic or whole-body approach that can provide increased strength and flexibility training by seeking to diagnose and treat the underlying root cause and not just relieve certain symptoms.
Chiropractic Treatments Help Decrease Physical and/or Emotional Stress
Playing sports can be extremely stressful on the athlete’s body and emotions. This is especially true for serious professional athletes who have invested time and effort into getting where they are. Chiropractic massages and other treatments can assist in decreasing some of these physical and/or emotional stressors.
When Athletes Should Seek Out Chiropractic Care
Seek out professional chiropractic care when:
- There IS Increased or Continued Pain and/or Swelling in Impacted Area
- Inability or Difficulty with Weight Bearing
- Whenever Pain, Edema, or Numbness Becomes Severe in Nature
Conclusion:
Contact Denver Chiropractic, LLC by phone at (303) 455-2225 for appointments or for further information.