How Chiropractic Helps Sports Performance

Performance is everything in sports. Regardless if you are a pro athlete or a weekend warrior, your level of performance in your chosen activity is what can make or break not only your success but also your enjoyment.

Everyone knows that there are certain things that will make them stronger, faster, more flexible, and have more stamina. Chiropractic care is becoming increasingly popular as a way for athletes to increase their performance and help avoid injuries..

You probably already know that chiropractic is great for people with back pain, neck pain, and headaches, but you may be surprised to know it can help athletes as well. Solid research, along with a proven track record, show that chiropractic helps sports performance in several key areas.

Increased flexibility

Flexibility is vital in nearly every sport. Chiropractic care helps to increase flexibility throughout the body by decreasing muscle spasms and decreasing ligament tone. Adjustments help restore function to the spine and other joints which helps to increase flexibility.

Better mobility

The more flexibility, the better our bodies move. Chiropractic loosens the joints and spine and allows more mobility in our joints. Blood flow is increased which means that nutrients and oxygen are carried much more efficiently to the vital organs and brain. All of the added nutrition and blood flow encourages better mobility.

More resistant to injury

Most injuries are a result of the body not functioning correctly. Tight muscles can lead to injuries that can sometimes be serious. When the body is functioning correctly and flexible, the chances of a pulled or torn muscle or ligament are greatly decreased.

Relieves pain

Injuries in full contact sports such as hockey and football are not uncommon. However, even milder sports like cycling and running can also result in injuries or pain from over exertion. One study showed that chiropractic helped relieve the pain of shoulder instability in hockey players.

Chiropractic aligns the spine and body but endorphins are also released through the treatment. This helps the body combat pain in a natural, less invasive way without the use of medications.

Increased strength

Chiropractic care is typically regarded as a method for relieving pain and alleviating skeletal and muscular issues. It has also been found to improve physical strength. A study on judo athletes who received just three chiropractic care sessions showed that their grip strength improved by 16 percent.

Helps sports related injuries heal faster

Chiropractic care has long been a standard practice for aiding in the healing of many sports related injuries including tennis elbow, hamstring pulls, rotator cuff injuries, back strains, and neck pain. Chiropractic care not only can help prevent these injuries but, in the event that they do occur, can help the athlete recover faster and get back in the game quicker.

Regardless if you are professional athlete, college or high school star, or just enjoy the occasional pick up game,  chances are you too can benefit from chiropractic care. Individually, each of these benefits are exceptional in their own right as athletes rely on their chiropractors to keep them in the game, but all these little benefits together add up to one significant plus: improved sports performance. If you want to be stronger, faster, and more agile, the research shows that chiropractic care can certainly help.

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