Goal! Kicking Athletes’ Performance Up a Notch with Chiropractic Adjustments
Enhance Athletic Performance with Chiropractic Adjustments
One of the main jobs of the spinal column is to protect the central nervous system and ensure efficient nerve communication. Misalignments in the spine can compress nerves and interrupt nerve root activity, which can result in internal symptoms like pain, numbness, and tingling in the back and extremities, and outward symptoms like poor posture, decreased mobility, balance issues, and reduced range of motion, among other things.
That’s why proper spinal alignment is at the foundation of both conventional and sports chiropractic care. Vertebral subluxations (misalignments in the spine) can affect functionality in every other part of the body.
This can not only make everyday tasks uncomfortable and more difficult, but it can severely impact sports training and performance.
Regular spinal evaluations and adjustments are only one of the ways sports chiropractic care can be so beneficial to athletes and other active individuals.
Flexibility and Range of Motion
Vitally important in practically all athletic pursuits, flexibility and range of motion can be severely restricted when the spine is not properly aligned. Chiropractic adjustments ensure the release of tension in muscles and joints, which frees up more efficient movement.
Balance and Coordination
Having a strong sense of balance in sports allows athletes to move with more intention and control. Better balance in motion often requires several muscle groups to work together for an athlete to be able to move quickly when making a throw or catch, avoid a tackle or other impact, as well as prevent falls. The coordination among muscle groups required for the proper and precise execution of sports technique can be dramatically impaired if the spine is misaligned and one or more nerves compressed.
Better Respiratory Function
When the torso is hunched, extra pressure is placed on the lungs and diaphragm making it harder to breathe deeply - especially under exertion. All types of body mechanics can be compromised as the body prioritizes getting air over-optimizing speed and strength. Improved posture allows the body to move more efficiently and conserve energy for when it’s really needed.
Strength and Endurance
With greater flexibility, mobility and body balance, muscles are more supported when called upon to perform sports-specific tasks and can work together more synergistically for greater, longer-lasting power. Chiropractic adjustments ensure nerve communication is unimpeded and joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons can move freely together.
Prevent and Treat Sports Injuries
Spinal misalignments affect more than just the back. The resulting tension and lack of mobility in muscles, ligaments, and tendons can compromise movement in all parts of the body and lead to a variety of sports injuries. Proper spinal alignment and posture is key to preventing injury because it allows the body to distribute forces more evenly for better joint function and more optimal biomechanics. When injury does occur, restoring alignment to the spine and/or affected joints can reduce inflammation and promote faster tissue repair for improved healing outcomes.
Spinal misalignments are a common result of everyday activities like lifting heavy objects, twisting awkwardly, bending over, etc, but they are especially prevalent among athletes who put their bodies through rigorous training programs.
Sports chiropractic care can not only help prevent sports injuries from happening by keeping the spine — and everything that depends on it — in proper working condition, it can help to maximize overall body functionality to dramatically improve sports performance. Contact DTX Sports Medicine for an evaluation today.
