Injured on the Field: Sports Injuries and Chiropractic
The treatment of sports injuries by chiropractic is a rapidly growing trend. As children as young as two join their older brothers and sisters on the playing field, injuries are not only more frequent but can be more severe.
In addition to younger players, the emergence of female athletes has also driven chiropractic sports medicine to a higher level of demand. Ever since Title IX was passed in 1972, there was been a boom in girls playing sports. As any Baltimore chiropractor can probably tell you, while the number of boys treated for sports-related injuries is higher than the number of girls treated, the girls are rapidly catching up. As they begin to participate in both individual and team sports, their injuries are mounting.
Finally, college and professional athletes as well as coaches have steadily increased their reliance on chiropractic treatment since 1976 when the first chiropractor was part of the Aruba Olympic team staff. Today virtually all professional and college teams either have a chiropractor on staff or on an as-needed basis.
How Players Get Injured
Regardless of the level of play, sports participants are almost guaranteed to get hurt at some point in their careers. Logically, the longer a person plays, the more likely he or she will need a Baltimore chiropractor to tend to an injury. And the rougher the sport, the more likely the injury will be more severe.
According to a Baltimore chiropractor a common source of injuries is the failure to warm up prior to a game. While coaches stress the need for warm ups, many players give them short shrift. In the belief that playing the game itself is a good enough warm up, players are apt to skip important exercises that stretch the muscles and help them loosen up. When the player is bumped or tackled or pushed, the muscle that hasn’t had a chance to loosen up will most assuredly suffer.
But don’t make the mistake of thinking so called sports injuries only happen on the field of play. As many a Baltimore chiropractor can attest, the term is actually used to describe a wide variety of afflictions that may be caused by something as innocuous as opening the dishwasher or reaching for something on a high shelf. And few, if any of us, think to warm up before dong a household chore.
Chiropractic Treatment
Conventional medicine usually recommends icing and resting the injured area. And both of those are good, as far as they go. However, a Baltimore chiropractor will help the injury heal sooner through physiotherapy (for soft tissue injuries) and chiropractic adjustment (spine realignment). Returning the vertebrae to their normal position helps increase the range of motion and alleviates pain.
Many chiropractors also offer massage as part of injury therapy. Massage not only relaxes the muscles but also relaxes the brain. By reducing stress and fear, the massage urges the body to heal faster. Treating a sports injury through chiropractic also means the patient is not exposed to painkillers that can harm the liver and kidneys and can prove addictive.
Another part of chiropractic treatment is educating the patient in how to prevent injuries from happening in the future. A Baltimore chiropractor can teach proper, safe warm up exercises so athletes lower their risk of further injuries. Practicing these exercises with the doctor will ensure you are performing them correctly.
Choosing the Best Chiropractor for the Athlete
Many professional athletes tout the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment when they are injured. From bicycle racers to football players to swimmers, professional athletic teams quite often have a sports-focused chiropractor on the staff. The same is true for college teams.
Chiropractic treatment of sports injuries has become such a high demand you may find a Baltimore chiropractor who specializes in sports injuries. (It’s one of the fastest growing areas of chiropractic medicine.) Many of these doctors belong to the American Chiropractic Association Sports Council (ACASC).
To be officially designated as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP) or a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DABCSP), the doctor must have completed a three-year postdoctoral program in the field. Given these credentials, you may want to move these doctors to the top of your list if you are interested in finding a sports-focused chiropractor.
However, don’t rule out a Baltimore chiropractor who is a general practitioner since many of them are well experienced in treating athletes, especially young adults and children. Your best bet is to get to know a qualified chiropractor before an injury happens.
The science of chiropractic medicine is based on the premise that, in order for your whole body to be healthy, your spine must be healthy. Given so many sports injuries involve the head, neck, torso and spine; you can see why athletes of all ages and levels turn to chiropractic treatment when they are injured.