Every activity or sport comes with a potential for injuring yourself. If your body is not properly aligned and balanced to remove lockups and tension, a simple fall or misstep could result in serious injury and pain. When you keep up with regular chiropractic adjustments your body can move in a way like a well-oiled machine, this helps absorb impact and protect your joints and tendons. 

Athletes often reach out for chiropractic care when they are injured, but chiropractors can also provide preventative adjustments and services as well. When your body feels stiff or sore, your range of movement will be limited. As a result, it becomes more difficult to run, jump, hit or kick as well as you usually do. Many people push through their physical discomfort, but its important to take care of your body.

In this article we will be discussing different ways Chiropractic care can reduce injuries/sports injuries. First we want to address the spinal misalignment with chiropractic adjustment. Your spine offers structural support for your body, protects your nerves and internal organs, and promotes flexibility. It does all of these things when it is properly functioning. A misaligned spine provides minimal protection for your body. Spinal misalignment isn’t always obvious, there may be little to no discomfort when your spine is slightly out of alignment. Over time a spinal misalignment may worsen if completely ignored. You may develop symptoms such as pain, tension, stiffness, reduced range of motion, tingling sensation, numbness and lack of energy. These symptoms occur when your vertebrae press against nerves and pull on muscles and ligaments.

Another benefit chiropractic care can help with is enhancing your range of motion with adjustments and exercises. When your spine is misaligned, it becomes difficult to bend and stretch the ways you normally would. Many people including athletes find that spinal adjustments along with exercises help to improve their overall range of motion. A wide range of motion is important- it reduces injuries because it's easier for your body to perform. 

Chiropractic care can also boost your energy. Chiropractors focus on your overall well-being, not just aching and troubling spots. Sometimes chiropractic care can help with issues that may not be directly related to your spine. Exhaustion is a common complaint we hear among athletic patients. Strenuous training and multiple games and practice will take a toll on anybody. Poor lifestyle choices, dietary habits, untreated symptoms of anxiety or depression will also take a toll on the body. Some patients find that chiropractic treatment boosts their energy levels. This occurs because spinal adjustments will help to jump-start and optimize your central nervous system.

 Now you may be wondering what the central nervous system (CNS)  is and why is it important.. Think of your central nervous system as a phone that sends messages between your brain and your body. Your body can not do anything until it receives a message. When messages are transmitted without any difficulty, you can walk, talk and breathe easily. A damaged central nervous system can deplete your energy levels and make it difficult for you to perform everyday functions. Spinal cord damage can trigger major issues with your central nervous system, which is why it is important to get chiropractic treatment when dealing with a misalignment.  

Pain management is another thing chiropractors can help with. Athletes can suffer a wide range of sports injuries including muscle, tendon and ligament strains, tears, aches and pains. These injuries can lead to soft tissue damage that can then take weeks or months to heal. As the body heals itself, it creates scar tissue over the muscle tears. This scar tissue can reduce flexibility and strength, as well as muscle pain and joint stiffness. Chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue manipulation, as well as using Kinesiology Tape can help athletes manage pain during injury recovery by improving muscle balance and removing nerve interference. Sports injuries often result in misaligned vertebrae that pinches nerves and causes pain. Athletes looking for a drug free way to manage sports injury pain should consider chiropractic care. 

Chiropractic care doesn’t just reduce the pain associated with injury recovery but enable the body to recover faster. Chiropractic care can alleviate and prevent sports injuries by restoring joint mobility, aligning the spine, and removing nerve interference. Don’t wait to see a chiropractor until its too late. Proper spinal health will reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation, reduce pain and tension in muscles, and overall improve the body's ability to heal itself. Thanks for reading, Dr. Joe