Athletes
Athletes are some of Dr. TJ’s favorite people to work with. Sports are actually the reason why he got into Chiropractic in the first place. Dr. TJ was a college athlete who realized the benefits of Chiropractic through his college football career. From there, he knew he wanted to continue his education and pursue a medical degree in Chiropractic.
Why Chiropractic Treatments Are Important for Athletes
1. Chiropractic treatment leads to improved range of motion.
One of the biggest benefits of regular chiropractic treatments is improved range of motion. Athletes put a lot of pressure on their bodies every time they train, and physically intense activities can create problems with spinal alignment and movement.
Because of this, an athlete can easily end up with stiffness and pain in their joints. Spinal alignment issues may cause their range of motion to be limited, thereby inhibiting their overall athletic performance. Receiving the appropriate chiropractic care can help undo the damage and prevent
injuries before they occur, all while promoting movement that’s pain-free.
2. Receiving chiropractic treatment can reduce pain.
Active people, even the strongest athletes, can suffer from back or extremity pain, particularly in the lower back. A chiropractor knows exactly how to work with a sensitive spine to promote proper alignment and movement. Therefore, in addition to restoring function, chiropractors can recommend treatments that will reduce all types of back pain both in the short-term and for the long run.
A growing amount of research confirms spinal manipulation as an effective form of pain relief. For example, in studies cited by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH): “participants who received spinal manipulation, personal instruction, and exercises had less pain after 12 weeks and used less medication a year later than participants who received only personal instruction and exercises.”
3. Less prescription drugs are needed for athletes who receive chiropractic treatment.
While aches can be, and often are, treated with pain medications, cortisone shots, and other drugs that provide short-term relief, chiropractic care gives athletes a drug-free alternative that can reduce, or even eliminate, their pain. This also means that athletes won’t be subjected to the side effects or dependencies that commonly arise from the use of prescription medication.
In fact, the widespread dependency on opioids in the United States has prompted the American College of Physicians to update their guidelines regarding low back pain—one of the most common reasons doctors prescribe opioids. The group now suggests those with low back pain use various complementary and alternative medicine techniques including spinal manipulation before resorting to prescription medication.
4. Chiropractic treatment provides a non-invasive treatment option.
Chiropractic care is non-invasive, and it can provide relief from injuries throughout the body, not just neck and back injuries. It may even serve as a viable alternative to invasive procedures such as surgeries that would keep athletes sidelined during a long recovery period. Our combination approach of Torque Release Technique and Traditional Chiropractic Care pinpoints the root of subluxations in order to achieve achieve long-term results.
Benefits of Chiropractic Medicine for Athletes
Whether they play in a neighborhood sports league or are elite competitors, an increasing number of athletes rely on chiropractic doctors who specialize in sports injury treatment to get them back in the game.
Traveling sports start at a younger age, which usually means more practices per week and tournaments multiple weekends per month. Tee ball starts by age 4. Travel baseball and football begins by age 8. Kids committing to one sport, also called specializing, is seen by middle school.
According to a study by The American Journal of Sports Medicine, athletes who specialize at a younger age are injured more often. Whether or not you agree with this practice, the fact is, it’s happening all over the country. Chiropractic medicine has a real niche in this environment as well as the knowledge base to treat these kinds of athletes.
Dr. TJ Alger, a graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic, notes that there are many benefits in chiropractic adjustments for younger athletes to assist in helping their growing bodies better adapt to their day-to-day physical activity. Optimal function breeds better-functioning athletes and healthier children.
