For many athletes (or even just the active population), maximizing performance and preventing injuries is of the utmost importance. While correct form, training routine and nutrition are crucial to achieving these goals, chiropractic care is another element that can improve your performance! Whether you are just getting started, a weekend warrior or a semi/professional a visit to your chiropractor could up your game.
Here are some of the benefits of treatment:
1. Improved Range of Motion
Stiffness can be a result of muscle tightness and reduced joint mobility. Athletes who have a limited range of motion are more prone to injury and may not be able to perform to their full potential. Adjustments directly improve joint mobility. Combined with our variety of soft tissue techniques, such as dry needling, massage and fascia work, you should notice a great increase in flexibility
2. Increased Strength
With great flexibility often comes great power. In a study published in Frontiers of Neurology, researchers discovered that chiropractic care may strengthen the lower leg muscles by making the muscle fibres more excitable. An exciting fact: Usain Bolt regularly uses chiropractic to improve his strength and speed before sprints.
3. Drug-free Pain management
Pain makes sticking to your regular practice schedule a difficult task. Unfortunately, some prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers have unpleasant side effects. Working with a sports chiropractor relieves pain even if you don't take medications, making it easier to recover from sports injuries and overuse syndromes. Bonus- no side effects.
4. Less Down Time
As much as rest days are important, we do understand that sometimes they are just not possible. Chiropractic care can help reduce the amount of time it takes to recover from such an injury with techniques that are designed to lengthen your muscle fibres, promote healing and keep your nervous system firing!
All muscle groups are encased in a thin connective tissue called fascia. Fascia can become “knotted” during an injury. Chiropractic care reduces fascia tension and breaks up scar tissue, reducing the amount of time it takes to recover from certain injuries. Dr Dinkelmann makes use of the Graston technique to help lengthen and improve the glide of these fibres.
Chiropractors have extensive experience helping athletes recover from injuries such as:
· Shin splints
· Strains and sprains
· Stress fractures
· Meniscus tears
· Rotator cuff injuries
5. Improved Coordination and Balance
Chiropractic optimises your nervous systems functioning. Be relieving inflammation bombarding the nervous system and stimulating the joint proprioceptors, chiropractors help to coordinate the movements of your body.
6. Improve Reaction Time
In sports, quick reaction times are just as important as other athletic skills. Lauro and Mauch examined the effects of chiropractic care on athletes. After six weeks, the athletes who received chiropractic care performed 6.12% better than the control group on the Index of Average Athletic Ability Improvement (IAAAI).
How often should athletes see a chiropractor?
A frequently asked question with an answer that is completely dependent on your goals, type of injury and lifestyle.
For patients who are not currently experiencing pain or injury, a visit to the chiropractor once a month or once every few months can help maintain proper spinal alignment and muscle firing, reduce the risk of injury, and promote optimal nerve function.
Those who are recovering from an injury may require more frequent visits to the chiropractor. In some cases, athletes may need to see a chiropractor multiple times a week to address acute pain and inflammation and promote faster healing. As the injury improves, the frequency of visits will decrease.
Ultimately, the frequency of visits to the chiropractor will depend on the individuals needs and goals. A qualified chiropractor can work with the athlete to develop a customized treatment plan that considers their unique circumstances and helps them achieve their desired outcomes.
Athletes should strive to maintain a balanced and holistic approach to their overall wellness, which may include a combination of chiropractic care, massage therapy, physical therapy and other forms of treatment as needed. Dr Kate Dinkelmann is located at the Ballito Wellness Studios, a healthcare practice home to a variety of healthcare professionals. Dr Dinkelmann is committed to serving the community of Ballito, Salt Rock and surrounding areas.
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