February 21, 2019

How a Chiropractor Can Help Your Sports Aches and Pains

Chiropractic Doctor

Whether you are a seasoned performance athlete, or just starting to get physically active, sports aches and pains are inevitable. Typically these types of pains occur from repetitive movements or repeated stress. Over time, if these pains are ignored a slight loss of movement in your spine, and joints can interfere with healthy functioning muscles and nerves. Chiropractors often see patients who suffer from sports-related problems with their shoulders, hips, knees, back, elbow, and neck, turning the most active person into a couch potato.

What can a chiropractor do for your sports pain?

Participating in any type of athletic or sports activity places a certain amount of stress on your body. If proper care is not taken, painful tears, sprains, and strains are the consequence. Chiropractors not only help to alleviate sports pains, but they can also help to prevent future injury. During a chiropractic consult, a full examination regarding lifestyle, sports activities, posture, medical history, and diet will be considered in order to make an accurate and proper diagnosis. Once a full examination is completed gentle and specific hands-on manipulation will take place in order to realign the body. Treatment typically continues with a rehabilitation plan that is designed to help strengthen the injured area, improve flexibility, and prevent any flare-ups.

Chiropractors are skilled in manual adjustment of the spine, helping to relieve unnecessary tension in the body, and aligning your bones to ensure your body is balanced. Proper alignment allows the body to function more optimally, which then decreases the chances of injury. The main goal of a chiropractor is to reduce pain, enhance joint function, and resolve any joint inflammation, as well as increase muscle control, range of motion and strength.

Can injury recurrence be prevented?

Depending on the issue at hand, injuries may be prevented. The main cause of injury in sports activities is an improper warm-up and cool-down. Taking the time to perform proper stretches before and after a sports activity is equally important in preventing injury. Regular visits and checkups with a chiropractor are also important. A chiropractor can ensure that your joints, and body are aligned for proper function and sports activities.  

Chiropractors are skilled healthcare professionals that specialize in diagnosing, treating, managing, and preventing disorders of the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, and muscles), as well as continuing effects that these disorders can have on general health. If you think that “running off” your injury will help, in most cases it does not. If your body is not working properly, or it is misaligned, continuing to overload the body will only further the injury and prolong the healing process.  

Chiropractors are trained in providing treatment plans to help manage pain and heal injuries in a holistic manner. If you are suffering from a sports injury or would like to start becoming more physically active consider a consult with a chiropractic doctor Shawnee KS relies on who can offer the proper therapy and advice for your athletic journey.

Thank you to our friends and contributors at LifeWorks for their insight about sports injuries and alternative medicine.