No matter which sport you participate in, proactive health care helps boost your performance. Many athletes find that they benefit from seeing a chiropractor both before and after they compete. Learn below what to expect from sports chiropractic care and why it’s such a popular practice, and then decide if it’s right for your regimen.

A Basic Guide to Sports Chiropractic Care

What It Is

Sports chiropractic has risen dramatically in popularity among athletes of all types. This practice takes a multidisciplinary approach that provides both short- and long-term benefits. A chiropractor will use spinal manipulation and adjustments to limber up an athlete before a performance. They also provide care after competition or in the case of sports injuries to promote a speedy recovery.

The players in the National Football League (NFL), for example, use chiropractors regularly. Approximately one-third of NFL teams have a chiropractor on staff to treat their players, while many of the others refer their players for outside chiropractic care. They typically seek help with treating lower back pain and musculoskeletal injuries.

Why It’s Important

Athletes put a lot of pressure on their bodies, straining muscles and stressing joints, often leading to stiffness and pain. Seeing a chiropractor before and after a game, race, or match relieves the stress on the joints and surrounding muscles by ensuring everything is properly aligned. This improves range of motion, provides pain management, and reduces the chances of injury. If an athlete is injured, the alignment will encourage healthy blood flow to the injury while reducing inflammation. This shortens the healing times and reduces the number of prescription drugs or invasive treatments required to heal the injury.

Investing in your health is key to improving your quality of life and success as an athlete. A certified chiropractor at Rosemount Chiropractic in Dakota County, MN, will build a custom treatment plan to maximize your potential. Learn more about their treatment options on their website, and call (651) 423-2251 to schedule a free initial consultation.