A visit to the chiropractor’s office can help improve mobility, reduce pain, and increase agility—so it’s no wonder that 90 percent of all world-class athletes favor going to the chiropractor to keep their bodies in performance-ready shape (1). As a non-invasive alternative to pain medication or surgery, regular sports chiropractic care offers many benefits to runners, cyclists, CrossFitters, and golfers alike. Below, we’re sharing the top five reasons you could benefit from seeing a sports chiropractor yourself.
Preventative Care
They say the best medicine is prevention, and chiropractic care is no exception. Regular chiropractic adjustments help prevent injury by aligning the spine and allowing the body to function in ideal movement patterns, reducing the risk of sprains, tears, and other injuries. In addition, frequent adjustments help you stay in tune with your body, so you can recognize when something’s out of alignment and seek treatment immediately.
Enhanced Performance
In addition to preventing injury, a visit to the chiropractor can actually improve your sports performance, be it a trail run or a visit to the golf course. By achieving physical alignment, chiropractic care can relieve discomfort and reverse muscle imbalances, resulting in better flexibility, improved posture, and stronger form. Chiropractors who specialize in sports medicine offered tailored solutions that enhance performance for specific athletic movement, like running, swinging, and jumping. In one study, athletes improved performance by 6 percent after receiving chiropractic treatment (2).
Injury Treatment & Rehabilitation
Unfortunately, preventative care isn’t a bulletproof safeguard to injury. Whether you’ve rolled an ankle in a race or pulled a muscle on the field, a sports chiropractor can address issues specific to your athletic injury. Muscle strains, ankle sprains, stress fractures, and tendinitis are all common injuries that bring athletes into the chiropractic office. Through gentle adjustments, therapy, and specialized exercise, a chiropractor can help you return to the field, trail, or gym more quickly.
Reduced Recovery Time
The sooner you can visit your chiropractor after an injury, the better. Of course, adjustments that realign the spine are most effective when done preventatively, but in the case of injury, adjustments after the fact can restore bones and muscles to their proper functional alignment to offer pain relief and less restricted movement. By addressing the root of the problem instead of symptoms, recovery time is greatly reduced and future activity is less painful.
Consistent Feedback & Care
Perhaps the most overlooked benefit to regular chiropractic visits is the valuable relationship that’s built between a patient and their chiropractor. Because your chiropractor knows your body and its past injuries, movement patterns, and imbalances, they can more effectively treat your ailments and restore proper alignment than a doctor who may not have the same history. By seeking chiropractic care regularly, you’re giving your body the fuel it needs to keep performing at its best.
Portland Chiropractor For Athletes
Dr. Charles Goldston is an avid cyclist who knows firsthand the perils of being an amateur athlete. No matter what your experience level or athletic ability, chances are you’ll encounter an injury or two at some point in your life. When those injuries involve the spine it can take a long time to recover. Even injuries of the limbs require a cautious recovery. Starkwood has a great understanding of this process. In fact, Dr. Charlie is one of only a few Portland sports chiropractors who knows how to treat sports-related injuries and provide compassionate care that works.