SPORTS INJURY TREATMENT: WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER A CHIROPRACTOR in Raleigh NC

When it comes to sports injuries, chiropractors in Raleigh NC provide healthcare services with many beneficial outcomes and treatments. Chiropractors have an understanding of the body's biomechanical principles, and not only treat sports injuries, but focus their practices on injury prevention, functionality, stability, strength, and flexibility.

Chiropractic care is often used by world-class athletes for sports performance enhancement, injury recovery, injury prevention, and treating pain. Chiropractors are on staff with all of the NFL football teams and some estimates by experts have shown that 90% of all world-class athletes use chiropractic care. 72% of PGA golfers use chiropractors, as well as the majority of the NBA, MLB, and NHL teams.

Most chiropractors in every state are licensed to perform physical therapy. Some treatments for sports injuries in chiropractic offices include:

• Bracing and taping
• Ultrasound therapy for injury recovery
• Electrical muscle stimulation for pain management
• Spinal manipulative therapy for joint care and function
• Prescribing and supplying DME (durable medical equipment) such as back braces, knee braces, shoulder braces, and tens units
• Nutritional and supplement advice
• Cold laser therapy
• Ice and heat therapy
• Stretching and strengthening protocols
• Muscle tissue work to break up scar tissue

Spine injuries make up 3% of all athletic injuries, and while the chiropractor is well trained in managing shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow, and wrist injuries, he or she must be well prepared to deal with spinal injuries from sports-related accidents too.

Can chiropractic care in Raleigh NC improve athletic performance?

An injured or misaligned spine can interfere with the body's ability to perform in athletics. Spinal adjustments and chiropractic treatments keep the spine working properly, which can aid in performance enhancement.

In one study, athletes had a 6.12% increase in performance after receiving chiropractic treatment. Another study found a 30% improvement in hand-eye coordination after 12 weeks of chiropractic care.

Studies from the annals of internal medicine and British Medical Journal both found that for shoulder pain, adding shoulder manipulations or adjustments to traditional rehab techniques improved the outcomes and reduced pain associated with certain shoulder injuries.

For ankle injuries, a similar study by the JMPT (Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics) found that chiropractic care of ankle sprains helped increase motion, lessen pain, and provide better ankle function.

Many musculoskeletal injuries and complaints are the results of a sports injury. For most athletes, even the weekend warriors, the body is undergoing constant stressors from running, jumping, twisting, lifting, contact, and competing.

Some of the common injuries experienced in sports include:

• Ligament tears
• Sprains and strains
• Contusions
• Herniated discs
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Torn muscles
• Joint pain
• Tendinitis
• Headaches

Many times, knee and back problems are coming from sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Sacroiliac joint imbalances, that, when treated, lead to a decrease in repetitive stress and pain in the knees, feet, ankles, and lower back.

In summary, chiropractors specialize in the body's biomechanical structure/function, and successfully treat and manage athletic-related conditions and injuries. Chiropractic joint manipulation, combined with physical therapy, custom orthotics, and nutritional management is used successfully to treat the weekend athlete as well as many of the world's top athletes.

In health,

Dr. Jeffrey Gerdes, D.C.