Whether you are a professional athlete, or just enjoy taking part in your spare time,
injuries are very much a common occurrence. Pulls, sprains, and strains occur
regularly, and while many heal quickly without the need for professional
intervention, other injuries may take weeks or even months away from your sport
while you heal.
Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to
increase the rate at which your injury will heal and reduce any pain or side effects
that you experience during the process. In addition to hot/cold therapies, sports
massage, and oral pain medications, you should consider making an appointment
for a consultation with a chiropractor.
Although professional and regular sports players are less likely to suffer from
injury than someone who plays intermittently, they do still occur. All of our bodies
are prone to the same types of injuries, many of which can create a range of side
effects, from discomfort and pain to swelling, limited mobility and an interruption
to the ability to perform day to day tasks.
In some instances, it may
be an underlying problem that causes the injury, such as joint or spine issues.
These often occur gradually and without symptoms, until one day, when the
underlying problem causes something noticeable to develop.
Some of the
most common sports injuries treated by chiropractors include:
Achilles tendon problems
Calf and hamstring pulls
Golfer’s elbow
Groin strain
Lower back pain
Neck pain
Shoulder pain (rotator cuff injuries)
Thigh injuries
Having a sports injury can be incredibly frustrating. Not only do you have to
deal with the effects of the injury itself, but you also may have to
take weeks, months or even longer off of your sport in order to heal properly.
And if you play professionally, the injury could threaten your
career.
Most sports injuries are caused by pushing the body beyond its
usual limits. Most of them involve some sort of spinal misalignment or inflammation
that puts pressure on the spinal cord or surrounding nerves. A chiropractor is
trained to perform manual manipulations that will restore balance to the spine and
body systems. In doing so, they can reduce inflammation and increase the flow
of nutrients and oxygenated blood to the affected area which will speed up the
natural healing process so that the body can repair itself faster. The use of
chiropractic care has been shown to reduce both pain symptoms and the healing
time required for most sports injuries.
Regular chiropractic care can
also be used to help prevent future problems. In many cases, athletes have
weaknesses or imbalances in their bodies that aren’t yet causing them any symptoms
but if left untreated, could cause a much more prominent injury. By identifying
these and performing chiropractic manipulations to realign and balance the body,
your practitioner can potentially avert future injuries.
Want to know
more about chiropractic care for athletic recovery? Contact our friendly,
knowledgeable team today who will be delighted to assist you.