Athletes are always looking for different ways to increase their performance in their respective sports. There are many ways that can help when it comes to gaining an edge over the competition. One of them is chiropractic care. With chiropractic care, an athlete can boost their performance and also prevent injury or even recover faster from an existing injury. Chiropractic care for athletes has come a long way over the years, and now professional sports organizations, such as the NFL, NBA, MLB and PGA, utilize chiropractic care to help aid players and make sure they are in top shape to perform. In this post, we will look at some ways chiropractic care can help athletes of any level to perform to the best of their ability.
- Preventing Injuries
When it comes to preventing injuries, chiropractic care can really help. This is done by restoring optimal mobility to the joints, helping with balance issues, and making sure that the nerves coming out of the spine have no pressure on them. Ensuring that the joints are mobile will help make the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the area less susceptible to injury. Balance issues can be corrected through specific exercises to help the patient with their coordination. Balance can also be affected if there is a discrepancy in leg lengths. Sometimes one leg is naturally shorter than the other, and at Apex Chiropractic we take a leg length x-ray to determine if that is the case. To combat this we offer heel lifts to balance out the pelvis, which can help with overall balance issues. Making sure the nerves coming from the spine are healthy helps with better range of motion, reduction in pain and tension in the muscles and joints, as well as improved recovery time following injuries.
- Faster Recovery
Most athletes receive a rehabilitative program when they are injured. Chiropractors can design rehabilitative plans to help with recovery. Spinal adjustments help with increased mobility in the joints and also help with nerve issues. Making sure that the nerves are healthy and that there is no pressure on them can help ensure that the nervous system is working at its optimal level. Using modalities such as electrical muscle stimulation (e-stim) can also enhance recovery time. When using e-stim, a small unit sends mild electrical impulses to the injured area. This helps increase blood flow and decrease inflammation. Adding these treatments to a specific care plan is a very useful way to aid in recovery time.
- Improved Performance
Everything in the body is connected through the nervous system. When there is a mishap or issue in the nervous system, it can alter even the most basic tasks. Chiropractors are professionals who have studied extensively about the nervous system along with the musculoskeletal system. If the nervous system is not functioning at its optimal level, coordination and reaction time can be affected, which is essential for athletes to perform to the best of their abilities. It can also hinder the muscles’ strength, which can lead to injuries. Receiving chiropractic care can help make sure that the nervous system is performing at an optimal level. This is done through adjustments to the spine and making sure that the nerves are functioning properly. Receiving chiropractic care can help an athlete perform at the highest level they possibly can.
At Apex Chiropractic, we help athletes through adjustments of the spine to make sure that the individual is able to perform at the highest level possible. We add stretches and exercises to help loosen and strengthen muscles so there is less risk of injury. We also offer modalities, such as electrical stimulation, that help to speed up recovery. We can also determine if there is a natural leg length discrepancy, and help correct this using heel lifts to further aid in athletic performance. If you or someone you know is an athlete, schedule an appointment online to see if we can help improve athletic performance. If you have any questions please leave them below and we will be sure to answer them.