5 Benefits of Chiropractic Care For Athletes

People often think chiropractic care is either best served for people dealing with the aftereffects of a car accident or the consequences of a life spent sitting at their work desks. While those are both situations that can be greatly improved with chiropractic care, athletes stand to benefit as much if not more than any other group of people interested in chiropractic.  Here are 5 of the biggest reasons athletes at all levels should consider chiropractic care.

College Football Players Reported Improved Mobility

Osteopathic manipulative treatment, otherwise known as OMT, is a form of chiropractic therapy popular among athletes, particularly football players. Used as a preventative treatment, OMT’s goal is to improve flexibility and be a catalyst for pain-free movement. One college football team, Virginia Tech, was the subject of a study which found that both offensive and defensive players reported improved sports performance after undergoing OMT sessions.

Eases Pain From Hockey Collisions

Hockey is similar to football in the sense that physical contact is a main aspect of the game. As such, injuries are common and can linger for weeks, even months. A recent study showed that chiropractic helps reduce some of the constant shoulder instability common to hockey players.

Helps Relieve Symptoms of Sports Hernias

A sizable number of sports injuries involve the groin, often caused by athletic pubalgia (otherwise known as a sports hernia). Chiropractic care can be used to help alleviate some of the discomfort caused by these types of injuries. A recent study suggested that soccer players experienced relief from discomfort related to their sports hernias after eight weeks of combination therapy consisting of chiropractic treatments and rehabilitation exercises.

Increased Grip Strength

Popular consensus is that chiropractic care is best for relieving or preventing discomfort in tense muscles and bones. One lesser-known benefit of chiropractic was brought up by a recent study that suggested chiropractic sessions helped augment patients’ physical strength. More specifically, judo athletes competing on the national level showed a notable (16%) improvement in grip strength after just a handful of treatment sessions.

Chiropractors in the NFL

Even when NFL athletes avoid major injuries, the days after a brutal Sunday game are often plagued with body stiffness and soreness. As the season wears on, these physical ailments only get worse. Treating those nagging problems is often the job of the chiropractors on staff. According to a 2002 survey, one-in-three NFL teams reported having a chiropractor on staff. As a testament to chiropractic’s effectiveness, many of the athletes surveyed reported receiving treatment frequently.