Whether you are a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, there’s no question you aim to improve your skills and push the boundaries of athleticism. As the science of Sport increases, so do our performances. Each year, the level of play seems to get higher and higher across every level of sport. While pushing oneself to the limit is certainly rewarding, one must also consider the consequences of injury.

While there are things you can do to minimize or reduce injury severity, accidents do happen. The manner in which the injury is treated is critical in getting back on the playing field or inside the gymnasium as quickly as possible.

First and foremost, it is important to warm-up before playing any sport. While “warming up” includes stretching, it is imperative to note that the latest research suggests that stretching first – that is, before the muscles have been warmed by light activity – actually reduces ability and increases the chance of injury.

Stretching after activity and during cool down is currently recommended. While this seems obvious, it’s amazing how many athletes avoid stretching after exercising. Most Injuries are caused by athletes pushing themselves too far, too fast.

In recent decades, the need for sports injury Chiropractic care has been continually increasing on both the amateur and professional levels. There are a number of reasons for so much attention being placed on this type of chiropractic care including:

• Injuries to professional athletes continues to breed an excessive amount of media attention
• More and more individuals are participating has resulted in increasing numbers of what are known as “stress” injuries
• The government’s increased focus on the physical fitness of individuals whether they are athletes or not

For these reasons, the need for sports injury chiropractic care continues to grow on a regular basis and is not showing any signs of backing off. Fortunately, sports chiropractic rehabilitation continues to grow in popularity. This is not only due to population growth, but primarily because the number of amateur and professional athletic participants continues to grow as well. Luckily, Dr. Hinz at Cool Springs Chiropractic is both an athlete and chiropractor. He knows the demands a athlete’s body endures.

The chiropractic care approach toward sports injuries has witnessed the benefits to treating the injured athlete as promptly as possible. Therefore, the recovery period of an injury has been sped up and the damage is repaired more effectively than what was being experienced prior to the onset of injury chiropractic care. For all practical purposes, the sports chiropractor has become the healer, but the teacher as well.

Sporting activities play an important part in the society today. However, as people are increasingly involved in these activities, the number of sports-related injuries also increases. Accidents, poor training practices and inappropriate gear are some of the causes. Some people get hurt and injured because they are not in shape or they were not able to warm up or stretch enough.

The sports with the most injuries are contact sports such as football, rugby, wrestling, and hockey. However, soccer and basketball are more commonly played, leading to a large injury load as well. Many of the acquired injuries are found in lower extremities such as knee and ankle. These injures, such as an anterior cruciate ligament tear can result in significant cost to the person as well as the health care system.

The most common sports injuries are: sprains and strains, knee injuries, swollen muscles, Achilles tendon injuries, pain along the shin bone, fractures, and dislocations. When a person gets hurt, he/she should stop playing. Continuing to play or exercise while injured can cause more harm. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) method is used as an initial treatment to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and speed up healing.

Chiropractic care offers a balanced approach to the treatment and healing of sports injuries. A drug-free treatment regime brings additional benefit of insuring that the athlete will not be prescribed any substance that might be determined to be a prohibited substance that may result negatively for the both the athlete and his/her team. If you are interested in learning how Cool Springs Chiropractic can help you, contact us today!

Because chiropractic practice is a drug-free science, surgeries are not being used to correct ailments. Chiropractors use adjustments to return spinal segments to their normal movement and by using physical therapy to help the supportive tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Many athletes have been receiving benefit from chiropractic adjustments as a part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Dr. Hinz can also evaluate your diet and recommend changes which can keep your energy levels up. Diet and nutrition are critical elements of your athletic performance, and should not be overlooked.

Think of your body as being a finely tuned car – isn’t it critical to put the correct fuel into it? Physical activity quickly burns the body’s fuel; lack of fuel means that the well-oiled machine that is your body will run out of energy very quickly. Most chiropractors are trained in proper diet and nutrition, and can provide the right strategy for your dietary success.

Many professional and competitive athletes can stress the importance of regular chiropractic care. Increased flexibility, energy, speed, and performance as well as a decrease in injuries are included in the benefits of receiving chiropractic treatment. As a matter of fact, almost all professional and amateur sports teams have their own “team” chiropractor. Chiropractors help athletes stay on straight and narrow path to better enjoyment of their chosen sport.

Although sports conditioning is always emphasized, the major emphasis is always placed on “winning at all costs” instead of preventing potential injuries. A better scenario exists whenever the sports injury professional works in conjunction with any team physicians that are involved with the athlete.

Athletics are great for the mind, body, and soul. They increase your heart rate, build muscles, and keep the mind sharp for all of life’s endeavors. Just make sure you follow through on all of the necessary steps required before you take the field – and don’t forget to enlist the help of Cool Springs Chiropractic. With the right steps in place, you will excel in your sport and be able to spend more time enjoying it. Contact us today.

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