Weekend Warrior Sports Injuries & Chiropractic Care
We all know injuries commonly occur in sports. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, majority of sports-related injuries occur during practice. There are several factors why such injuries take place but keep in mind that many of these injuries are preventable.
What are the factors leading to the occurrence of sports injuries?
- Acknowledging your current state of well-being is the first step to any safe sporting activity. For many of us we need to acknowledge we can no longer move as agile as we once did when we were ten years younger. If you have been previously injured, also consider that your joints or muscles may not fully function as they did prior to the injury. Always make sure that you know what your body can do at that point in time. Properly stretching and warming up the muscles before you take part in a sports activity is essential. One of the most common factors in sports related injury is pushing your body bey0nd it’s current limit.
- Improper equipment may also lead to unexpected sporting trauma. Make sure your gear is suitable for you and in perfect shape. Do not train with a pair of worn out running shoes or a tennis racquet with improper grip size. Doing so would mean risking your safety. This is also true if you are playing on a hazardous surface such as a slippery tennis court or any uneven pavement.
- Incorrect form and technique can also lead to injury. This usually happens when our muscles become “out of balance” where certain muscles are “inactive” while the surrounding muscles are “overcompensating” and most of the time we are totally unaware of it. Having an assessment from a trainer or chiropractor on your technique can help diagnose if the problem is mechanical or muscular in nature.
- Lack of routine warm-up and stretches would make you vulnerable to injury. It is a standard to build up slowly for any vigorous activity. Avoid starting and stopping abruptly.
- Most people think that endless practice is the key to victory. It should be noted that lack of rest could lead to more serious injuries. It is essential for any athlete to recover from high impact trainings since rest is as vital as training itself.
Chiropractic Care for Athletes
Regular visit to the chiropractor will prove to be helpful for any athlete’s performance. You do not need to acquire an injury to make that initial visit. Here is a list of things your chiropractor will be able to help you with:
- A chiropractor will correct spinal alignment by hand in order to restore normal nerve transmissions. This would enable the patient to regain normal bodily functions and in this case, athletes would be able to execute moves flawlessly.
- Your chiropractor will be able to guide you in terms of nutritional support as well as routine therapeutic exercises and massages. Strains and pains are easily resolved by a short trip to a chiropractic clinic.
- Chiropractic doctors also help athletes before and after competition. They conduct a “tune-up” before the start of game in order to regain an athlete’s peak performance. Right after the competition, athletes undergo a series of spinal adjustments to aid in faster recuperative process.
An athlete’s body is like a well-oiled engine which is properly maintained. It is not a tall task since your coach and your chiropractor will work hand-in-hand in oiling that human engine. You will be amazed how these small hand adjustments will rev up your performance.
Dr. Judd Lowrey is a Folsom & El Dorado Hills (CA) Chiropractor.
