Bottom Line:

By this point, you may have heard, or are well aware that many athletes use chiropractic to stay healthy and functioning their best……

 

But does that mean it’s true?

The truth is that many athletes work with chiropractors to improve their performance. Oh yeah, remember me saying we’re all athletes in one way, shape, or form?? Even getting out of bed and walking to turn on the shower is a roll (surprisingly demanding on the body), a squat to stand up, walking which is the same requirements as running or sprinting, and a hip hinge to reach into the shower faucet. 

 

A LOT of muscles and joints are involved in that sequence….like all the muscles and joints. Even in a simple daily task as such.

 

Chiropractors have a unique outlook on health and well-being that is often the perfect match for athletes and people looking to stay active. We look to stray away from turning to medication to mask symptoms. Often times we are able to find the why pain or injury occurs in the first place. This skill goes back to our unique style of taking a thorough history, gathering information, as well as our assessments. 

 

At ProMove we get very thorough with our movement assessments to get as much information as possible. We dive into your movement capabilities as an entire human and how each part interacts with each other. We understand that in life, and especially in sport, many body parts have to work together in order to accomplish the desired action. Muscles and joints do not act in isolation, so why would we only test in isolation? Often times it’s the relationship amongst many different body parts that need to be addressed. 

 

Decreased core stability can lead to elbow pain in pitchers. Less than optimal shoulder range of motion can cause hip and low back pain in lifters. Weak hip musculature can be the reason you get plantar fasciitis or other foot conditions.

 

All things that can be addressed with treatment that includes not only adjusting, but with manual and active therapies. Although, some exciting new research talked about later on shows that solely the adjustment can render exciting benefits to athletes. 

 

THIS IS THE OUTLOOK THAT SETS US APART!

Why it Matters:

To perform at your highest level, you need to optimize your body's structure and function. Structure does not automatically assure function, nor vice versa. 

 

Big muscles doesn’t mean they do their jobs well. It just means they’re big. A dump truck can be filled with gravel, but if it doesn’t have an engine it just looks like it does a good job. 

 

We all know how competitive the sports arena has become for all involved, so even the slightest increase in performance can be the difference between succeeding or failing during your competition. Not only that, but if you’re on the bench, you won’t even be able to compete. Being available is of utmost importance. 

 

Athletes of all ages can be found looking for a natural advantage that can help improve their performance. Thankfully, you have found one chiropractic.

 

Exciting new research has shown that the spinal adjustments provided by chiropractors can positively influence muscle strength, balance, and endurance.

 

The 3 main takeaways from the research: 

 

·    Pain can reduce your strength, balance, and endurance.  

·    Spinal adjustments can improve joint and tissue motion, helping to reduce pain.

·     Increases in muscle strength have been observed following spinal adjustments.

 

Once our body has been injured, our body can alter movement patterns to avoid the movements that either caused the injury in the first place, or what motion caused pain after the injury (hence, the limp). Ever see someone who had knee surgery 5 years ago, never rehabbed, and still presents with a limp. The motor pattern has been affected for so long, the body now recognizes that as normal. The same can happen with any muscle or joint that may be injured or not moving optimally.

 

SO STAYING OUT OF PAIN ALL TOGETHER IS ESSENTIAL! 

Next Steps: 

Being proactive by working with a chiropractor, whether you’re in pain or not, is a smart idea for athletes of all ability levels. 

Assessing your movement patterns, making adjustments and implementing strengthening exercises where necessary, and helping you craft an at-home exercise plan are just a few of the ways chiropractors help athletes like you improve their performance. 

 

At ProMove the improvements don’t stop once you walk out these doors because you will receive your own stretching/exercise routine to continue to progress, putting you above and beyond the competition. 

Dalton Sealey DC, CSCS

ProMove Chiropractic & Performance

402.915.4901

drsealey@promovechiropractic.com

Science Source(s): 

 Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2020.

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