Chiropractic Care for Sports-Related Injuries: How to Get Back in the Game
The majority of Olympic athletes, NBA players, and other athletes at the top of their games seek the help of a chiropractor for injuries. It’s a good match. Chiropractors specialize in treating the musculoskeletal system. This includes the skeleton, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, and other connective tissues in a human body. Chiropractors can work with patients to improve range of motion and mobility and reduce pain, and chiropractic care has shown to improve balance, coordination, and reaction time.
Call 401-728-8060 to learn more about our chiropractic sports-related injury treatment options.
Common sports-related injuries that can benefit from chiropractic treatment
Depending on what type of sport an athlete plays, the injuries will likely differ. However, these are some common sports-related injuries, all accompanied by pain:
- Neck Injuries. Damage to the spine around the neck causes inflammation. It is painful and limits the range of motion. A common consequence of neck injuries is headaches and TMJ.
- Pinched Nerves. A spinal injury resulting from sports activity leads to painful pinched nerves. Chiropractic professionals have experience adjusting the spine to relieve pressure from a pinched nerve. Many people, including athletes, suffer from sciatica, which involves pinched nerves. Adjustments relieve the pain, allow the body to function better, and improve the general health and well-being of the patient.
- Sprains and Strains. These are common during athletic competition. Sprains occur in the joints, especially the wrists and ankles, when a ligament is stretched too far or torn. Carpel tunnel is another example of a sprain resulting from over use. Painful swelling, bruising, or the temporary inability to move the joint usually occur. Strains are when the muscles or tendons are torn. The most common strains are in the back or
hamstrings. Strains also result in swelling or spasms, as well as the inability to move the injured muscle. - Knee Injuries. Knee injuries are often the result of insufficient warm-up before competition, a twisting of the knee, or running to excess without proper stretching. More severe injures to the knee are bruising to the bone or damage to cartilage and ligaments.
- Dislocations. When the bones in a joint become separated, a painful dislocation occurs. Nerve damage can be a part of a dislocation, too.
- Stress fractures: Also called fatigue fractures, stress fractures happen when an unusual amount of stress is placed on a bone. Runners, for example, who increase their training distances before a race may experience stress fractures in their legs.
- Tendonitis: An injury caused by overuse of a joint is tendinosis, otherwise known as tendinitis. The tendon around the joint becomes inflamed due to increased and
sustained use.
Common symptoms of sports-related injuries
Symptoms that occur when the body is injured due to sports or training are:
- Swelling
- Burning, dull pain
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
- Inflammation
- Muscle spasms
Some athletes as well as coaches will insist that it is acceptable to “push through the pain.” This is not the case and will only result in further injury, longer rehab times when treatment is finally begun, and sometimes spells the end of an athlete’s career.
Seek treatment for any of the following:
- Severe pain, swelling, or numbness
- Inability to put any weight on the affected area
- Increased pain, swelling, and instability in a previously injured area
- Tingling in upper or lower extremities
- Headaches or tension in the scalp
- Trouble bending or stretching
- Muscle aches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
The use of chiropractic care to relieve pain from sports-related injuries
The treatment plan for each patient will, of course, differ based on the specific injury. All treatment begins with an exam of the arms, legs, back, tendons, ligaments, and joints. An initial plan is then instituted to relieve pain and lay the foundation to prevent future injuries.
In general, the most common treatments used by chiropractors for sports injuries are spinal mobilization and chiropractic adjustments:
- Spinal mobilization is a gentle approach used using tools and stretches. The goal is to release pressure and the resultant pain in joints. Chiropractors may also use ice, heat, or electrical stimulation.
- Chiropractic adjustment is a manual technique where the doctor will place you in different positions and perform a manual impulse to a joint. This impulse releases pressure in the joint and aligns muscles and joints properly.
Benefits of chiropractic care for sports-related injuries
Chiropractic services for athletes are considered so essential to performance and recovery that all NFL teams, as well as most PGA golfers and MLB and NHL teams, have chiropractors on staff. These doctors and therapists keep athletes healthy and do their best to prevent injuries during games and practice.
The top benefits of chiropractic care for athletes are:
- Reduced pain & quick injury recovery
- Prevention of injuries
- Increased strength & flexibility
- Improved sleep
- No risk of addiction or chemical damage to the body
What are some things I can do to prevent sports-related injuries?
It is also essential to have the proper equipment for your sport and use it. Many injuries can be prevented if head gear, mouthguards, pads, and proper footwear is used.
What are some things I can do to prevent sports-related injuries?
The same is true for chiropractic care. Insurance companies have found that chiropractors effectively treat a variety of musculoskeletal issues, such as:
- Back pain
- Chronic pain management
- Neck pain
- Spinal manipulation to treat subluxation
- Most insurance will also cover x-rays to help diagnose your issue
Manual manipulation of the spine for lower back pain is the most common chiropractic treatment covered by insurance. Of course, patients must check with their own insurance carrier to verify coverage before making decisions about treatment.
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Cost of chiropractic care for sports-related injuries
There is a wide range of costs for chiropractic care in the US, so make sure to check with any chiropractic practice before undergoing treatment.
Without insurance, you will pay between $100 and $150 for a chiropractic visit that includes a full exam and adjustments. This is the average, however, and it is possible to pay as little as $60 in some places or as high as $200 in others.