Is Your Athlete Prepared For This Season?

While the level of competition in high school athletics has increased with more advanced training and specialization there have also been increases in the number of injuries. Injuries are not only painful but can be demoralizing for the student athlete causing a negative impact on grades, attitude, health and potential scholarships. Once an injury has occurred there is a lot we can do to rehabilitate the athlete, but they will most likely be out of the game for at least four to six weeks. The sooner you get your student athlete in for regular adjustments the faster they will be in prime playing condition. Here are five ways athletes benefit from chiropractic care.

1. Chiropractic care treats a variety of sports injuries
Athletes can experience many different benefits from receiving chiropractic care. Not only can adjustments help restore the body from high-impact sports injuries but they offer other benefits as well. A Chiropractic adjustment is the use of a specific force in a precise direction that helps normalize spinal function. The adjustment is applied to a joint that is fixated, "locked up,"or not moving properly. Adjustments help return the bones to a more normal position or motion, restoring body's natural healing. It’s been shown that high-impact sports can place the same amount of strain on the body as an auto collision. Athletes getting routine adjustments may notice improved athletic performance, improved range of motion, better flexibility, increased blood flow, and may suffer from fewer injuries. Because spinal adjustments will reduce the irritation of the nerve roots between the vertebrae, the healing time from minor injuries can be shortened, improving performance.

2. Undo the punishment the body takes in sports
Athletic performance is affected by a combination of strength, flexibility, speed and coordination. Participating in sports is encouraged because of the many benefits. When the spine exhibits imperfections in movement and/or alignment, the resulting vertebral subluxations can create focal areas of irritation in the nervous system, which subsequently interfere with the optimum functions of all other systems. As a result, athletic performance suffers. When athletes are adjusted regularly, they will often attribute their success to regular chiropractic care.

3. Non invasive/drug free treatment
Athletes need to be in the right mindset to excel in their sport, which is why it’s important to be clear-headed and free of drugs, including prescribed medications like muscle relaxants or opioids. Chiropractic care is one way to decrease pain from an injury without the need for drugs or surgery.

4. Injury Prevention/Performance Enhancement
Any DC who specializes in treating athletes should be prepared to treat the whole person, and tailor a comprehensive program aimed at injury avoidance. Numerous studies support the fact that chiropractic care helps athletes achieve an optimal level of performance. A Canadian research team included chiropractic care in the rehabilitation program of 16 injured female long-distance runners. The runners recovered quickly; seven of them actually scored “personal best” performances while under chiropractic care, although there may be other contributing factors.

5. To Decrease Pain
The spine is an important physical structure that contains many pain-sensitive tissues: Most notably, joints, muscles, nerves, discs and ligaments. If there are any abnormal alignment patterns in the spinal column, this can place an abnormal amount of stress and strain on any one of these tissues. In a recent study reviewing the effectiveness of spinal manipulation, chiropractic adjustments were consistently better than other medical options in reducing the intensity of acute low back pain, plus restoring normal function, both for short-term and long-term effects.

Get your student athlete's season off to a great start by making an appointment today!

If you have any questions about how to improve your student athlete's on field predominance or have your own health care questions email me at spynalcracker@verizon.net or come in with your athlete and we can discuss a plan for them.

Dr. Peter E. Lowenstein
Coastal Chiropractic
321 Mantoloking Rd
Brick, NJ 08723
732-920-8918

Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p...
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/conte...