Sports Medicine Q&A: Your Top Performance and Injury Related Questions Answered
While many athletes of all levels, along with active individuals in general, are well aware of the numerous benefits of sports chiropractic care for improved performance and injury prevention, there are still those out there who have questions as to its effectiveness and how it actually differs from regular chiropractic care. Below are some of the most common questions we get regarding what we do at DTX Sports Medicine and how we can help improve and maintain overall body functionality.
What is the difference in regular chiropractic care and sports chiropractic care?
While both chiropractic and sports chiropractic care focus on body alignment and the musculoskeletal system, sports chiropractors specialize in diagnosing, treating and preventing sports-related conditions and injuries that are either caused by or compromising athletic training and performance.
While both practices may utilize spinal adjustments, sports chiropractic also incorporates specialized techniques such as biometrics analysis, myofascial release, athletic taping, and sports/movement specific rehabilitation exercises and treatment plans.
Sports chiropractors undergo extensive training in sports medicine and are generally certified in additional areas like athletic training or strength and conditioning.
What conditions do you treat?
At DTX Sports Medicine we treat a variety of acute and chronic sports pain and mobility conditions in all areas of the body, including the shoulders, knees, hips, ankle, elbow, neck and back. We don’t only treat the symptoms. We strive to get to the root issue of the pain through a full body analysis of spinal alignment, movement patterns, range of motion, strength, weight distribution, balance and neurological responses.
A few of the most common injuries we treat include:
Golfer’s/tennis elbow
Sprains and strains
Ligament and tendon issues
Shoulder pain
Osteoarthritis
Knee and hip pain from running or stop/start injuries
Neck and back pain
What is your approach to treating sports injuries?
We take an active recovery approach to treating sports injuries by finding the right balance between resting and loading injured tissues. While rest is often advisable immediately following an acute injury, complete and prolonged rest does not benefit most soft tissue injuries. Instead, it can result in stiffness, atrophy and potential chronic issues such as the inability to take normal training loads in the future.
Gentle movement through a sports chiropractic rehabilitation plan will promote blood flow to the injured area, restore range of motion, prevent stiffness due to inflammation, and strengthen and stabilize the muscles surrounding the injury — all while you’re healing.
Can you treat an old injury?
Yes! Old injuries that were never treated or allowed to heal fully often compromise the integrity of movement leading to compensation injuries down the road. Part of getting to the root of sports pain is following the trail back to its origin, which is often an old site of injury. When treated properly and allowed to heal completely, pain is diminished and re-injury is far less likely.
What kind of patient do you treat?
Sports chiropractic care is a first line of treatment for athletes of all ages and levels, from young players who are still developing to professionals with years of wear and tear on their bodies. It is also of great benefit to active individuals who may not consider themselves athletes at all — weekend warriors on the tennis court, studio workout enthusiasts, home gym lifters and people with overall physical lifestyles and jobs can all experience pain and injury from movement deficits.
If you want to discuss these or any other questions regarding sports chiropractic care and how it can help improve your overall body function, please contact DTX Sports Medicine today.
Customer Testimonials
“As someone who suffers from multiple sports injuries, I rely heavily on Dr. Mann and his incredible staff to get me back on my feet. DTX sports medicine is the best, period. If you have injuries, bad back, or just sore from the day to day grind, the treatment and therapy you receive will have you feeling like new again. There is a reason the pros choose Dr Mann and his knowledgeable staff. I’m thankful for their support.” Written on Google Reviews by Adam D.
“I LOVE DTX! They are definite miracle workers from injuries to strains to supporting overall wellness. The doctors are phenomenal, and the staff is kind, supportive and fun - they all feel like family! I can’t recommend the team at DTX enough to get you feeling your best” Written on Google Reviews by Christina H.
