Chiropractic healing has gained recognition in recent years throughout the medical community as being a valid and effective treatment method to relieve many types of pain. Many medical and university studies have produced results showing that spinal manipulation results in almost immediate relief from many types of pain. If you are an athlete that needs help in treating and preventing sports injuries, a chiropractic specialist may be able to help.
Chiropractic is a form of medical treatment that recognizes the nervous system plays a vital role in a person’s health and well-being. The nervous system regulates many essential bodily functions, including breathing, digestion, blood circulation, and motor function skills. Nerves branch out from the spinal cord to all parts of the body. Trauma to the spine can cause havoc on the nervous system and cause pain throughout the body. By manipulation of the spine, many of these pain symptoms can be relieved.
Athletes often stretch their bodies to the limit. Without proper care, athletic injuries can severely limit activities and may even preclude athletes from participating in sporting events. Growing numbers of athletes are discovering how regular chiropractic care can benefit them and may even be effective in reducing the number and severity of athletic injuries.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care as an Alternative Form of Treatment for Athletes
Research about chiropractic care continues to develop new therapies to help athletes. According to the Annals of Internal Medicine, spinal manipulation combined with exercise may provide more relief for sports injuries than medication. Other research reported by American Chiropractic Association shows that chiropractic care is safe and summarizes that the natural approach for treating the whole body by chiropractic doctors is useful for many conditions, including both acute and chronic pain. By using the services of a chiropractor, athletes may reduce their prescription medication costs and also have fewer hospital stays because of sports injuries.
What is the difference between chiropractic care and other types of medical care? Chiropractors can safely and efficiently treat many types of pain including back pain, neck pain, headaches and more. Your regular doctor may prescribe pain medication, anti-inflammatory drugs or muscle relaxers whereas a chiropractor will develop a natural treatment plan through manipulation of the spine. With natural therapies, you do not have to worry about the negative aspects of becoming addicted to painkillers or other side-effects that other medications may cause.
The Science of Chiropractic Care
How do chiropractic treatments help those suffering from sports injuries? As the chiropractor works to manipulate the spine by accessing the body’s pressure points, the nerves are better able to function and allow energy to flow down your spine and throughout your entire body. With continued chiropractic treatment, your spine can become re-aligned, and many health problems can be alleviated.
Your brain sends messages down your spinal cord to the entire body. When these nerves become twisted or otherwise injured or incapacitated, their function is affected. By manipulation of the spine, nerves are allowed to heal and regain proper function.
Chiropractic care can become an advantageous part of an athlete’s overall medical care. Your chiropractor can provide you not only with spinal manipulation treatments but also with recommendations for nutrition, exercise, and healthy lifestyle recommendations. By following this advice, many athletes will avoid expensive medications and invasive surgery. Many athletes also find that when injuries do occur, they seem to heal at a significantly faster rate with regular chiropractic care combined with proper exercise and nutrition.
Hall of Famers who Vouch for Chiropractic Care
If you are an athlete, regular chiropractic care can be advantageous to you, even before you are involved in a sports injury. In fact, proper alignment of the spine may even prevent many sports injuries or at least lessen their severity. If you are an athlete and elect to receive chiropractic care, you will be joining the ranks of many famous athletes including Tiger Woods, Jerry Rice, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Evander Holyfield, Michael Jordan, Emmett Smith, and Joe Montana. These athletes all attest to the positive effects and benefits of regular chiropractic care.
Your local chiropractor can provide you with more information about how chiropractic care can help athletes treat and prevent sports injuries.