How Can Chiropractic Care Help Athletes?

Here are four important reasons why chiropractic care is essential for athletes of all ages and abilities:

1. Chiropractic adjustments can help improve range of motion

One of the biggest benefits of receiving regular chiropractic adjustments is improved range of motion. Athletes put a lot of pressure on their bodies every time they train, and physically intense activities can create problems with spinal alignment and movement.

Because of this, an athlete can easily end up with stiffness and pain in their joints. Spinal alignment issues may cause their range of motion to be limited, thereby inhibiting their overall athletic performance. Receiving the appropriate chiropractic care can help undo the damage and prevent injuries before they occur, all while promoting movement that’s pain-free.

2. Receiving chiropractic care can reduce pain

Active people can suffer from neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, elbow pain, and more. Dr. Grabouski knows exactly how to  adjust the spine and extremities (i.e. hands, wrists, arms, feet, ankles, legs) to promote proper alignment and movement. In addition to restoring function, he can recommend stretches and exercises that will help reduce pain both in the short-term and for the long run.

A growing amount of research confirms spinal manipulation (aka a chiropractic adjustment) as an effective form of pain relief. In studies cited by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH): “participants who received spinal manipulation, personal instruction, and exercises had less pain after 12 weeks and used less medication a year later than participants who received only personal instruction and exercises.”

3. Athletes who receive chiropractic care are less likely to need prescription drugs

Chiropractic care gives athletes a drug-free alternative that can reduce and often eliminate their pain. This also means that athletes won’t be subjected to the side effects or dependencies that commonly arise from the use of prescription medication.

In fact, the widespread dependency on opioids in the United States has prompted the American College of Physicians to update their guidelines regarding low back pain—one of the most common reasons doctors prescribe opioids. The group now suggests those with low back pain use various complementary and alternative medicine techniques including spinal manipulation before resorting to prescription medication.

4. Chiropractic care provides a non-invasive, non-addictive treatment option

Chiropractic care is non-invasive, and it can provide relief from injuries throughout the body, not just neck and back injuries. It also serves as a viable alternative to invasive procedures such as surgeries that would keep athletes sidelined during a long recovery period. In fact, a seven year study showed patients whose primary care physician was a Doctor of Chiropractic experienced 60% less hospital admissions, 62% less outpatient surgeries, 85% less pharmaceutical costs, and a 95% success rate.

What conditions can a sports chiropractor help with?