Should Athletes See Chiropractors?

Chiropractic care is a holistic, safe, and effective healthcare option that can benefit people from different fields. In particular, it is a non-invasive, drug-free alternative approach that can help patients get relief from a variety of musculoskeletal problems. Specifically, athletes can benefit greatly from chiropractic treatments before and after they practice and perform.

A sports chiropractic physician has the unique skills and tools to improve the efficiency and optimize the athletic performance of an athlete. This specialized training enables sports chiropractors to offer therapies specifically aimed at maintaining strength and healing after an injury. Chiropractic care also helps athletes avoid injuries or sports-related traumas altogether, and to manage the associated pain and healing effectively. 

Here are five top-of-the-list reasons why athletes should consider frequent chiropractic visits:

Improved range of motion

Improved range of motion is one of the main advantages of routine chiropractic treatments. Athletic activities put a lot of pressure on the body, and such strenuous activities can create problems with spinal alignment and motion. Misalignment of the body joints can cause stiffness and discomfort and may restrict the range of motion – thus inhibiting overall athletic performance. 

Receiving adequate chiropractic treatment can prevent injury before it happens and undo the damage while promoting pain-free movement.

Shortened healing time

Chiropractic treatment can help shorten healing time for a number of conditions. Neck and head trauma, for example, can lead to headaches and muscle pull arising from a patient’s neck. A chiropractor can provide relief from these debilitating headaches and spasms by adjusting the cervical vertebrae of an athlete. Rehabilitation protocols can be supplemented with shoulder manipulation to reduce pain, restore range of motion, and improve outcomes among athletes with shoulder injuries. 

Reduce pain and inflammation

Even the most influential athletes can suffer neck and back pain, especially in the lower back. To promote proper alignment and movement, a chiropractor knows exactly how to work with a sensitive spine. Hence, in addition to restoring function, your chiropractor may recommend therapies and treatment modalities that will reduce all types of back pain and inflammation – both in the short term and in the long term.

Need for fewer prescription drugs 

Body aches are often treated with pain medicines, cortisone injections, and other medicines such as muscle relaxants and anti-depressants that provide short-term relief. However, chiropractic care offers a drug-free alternative solution for athletes to reduce or even eliminate their pain and swelling and speed up the healing process. This also means that professional athletes and other people who get regular chiropractic sessions will not be subjected to the adverse effects or dependencies commonly associated with the use of prescription drugs.

Non-invasive treatment option

Chiropractic treatment is non-invasive and may provide relief from body-wide injuries, not just traumas to the neck and back. It may even serve as a useful alternative to invasive treatment options such as surgeries that would sideline athletes over a long period of recovery. 

Treatment methods such as the Graston technique, electrical muscle stimulation, functional dry needling, and the Active Release technique may be used to treat injuries in athletes suffering from a variety of injuries.

The Takeaway

If you are a professional athlete who wants to get pain relief, reduce inflammation, or maintain your physical strength and range of motion, you might want to consider regularly seeing a chiropractor. It can be a safe and effective option for you if you want to recover from an injury without using prescription medications and invasive procedures. You may be surprised by how much better you feel when your body is in balance and pain-free and how much your performance improves after a few chiropractic sessions!