Did you know 90% of elite athletes use chiropractic care? That’s no accident. Chiropractic care offers a holistic way to relieve pain, speed up recovery, and enhance performance. And when you push your body to its limits, you need every bit of strength you can muster.
Decades ago, the benefits of chiropractic care for athletes were overlooked. But times have changed. Today all 32 NFL and 30 NBA teams have an on-staff chiropractor. Chiropractors have been in Olympic athletes’ training toolkits since 1976.
So why do so many athletes view chiropractic care as their secret weapon? Keep reading. We’ll cover 7 reasons athletes of all levels can benefit from chiropractic care.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Athletes
1 – Speeds up recovery time
Sports injuries are painful and can leave you on the sidelines for months. Luckily, chiropractic care can speed up your recovery to get you back in the game faster.
Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to help athletes recover from injuries and exertion. This includes:
- Spinal manipulation to improve spinal movement and ease body pain
- Mobilization techniques to improve joint function
- Soft tissue therapies including myofascial release, dry needling, and tools to break up scar tissue
- Rehabilitative exercises to help athletes regain mobility
- Electrical muscle stimulation like TENS therapy to relieve pain
These treatments lower inflammation, which can reduce swelling and promote rapid healing. Plus, having your spine in proper alignment relieves pressure on your spinal cord. This increases circulation, allowing oxygen and nutrients to flow more freely to damaged tissues.
Chiropractic care may also improve sleep quality, which can take your recovery into the fast lane. While you sleep, your body releases growth hormones that help repair your muscles and tissues. Meaning, the better you sleep, the quicker your body can recover.
2 – Relieves pain
When you’re an athlete, you’re bound to experience pain at times. The good news is chiropractic care offers athletes a safe, non-invasive option to relieve pain.
Prescription painkillers are the traditional treatment for pain relief. And if that doesn’t work, surgery. The trouble is, prescription pain meds only mask the pain for a short amount of time. Plus, they’re highly addictive. Surgery, while sometimes necessary, can leave athletes on the bench for months.
Chiropractic treatments like spinal and extremity adjustments offer a holistic way to increase endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers. Instead of masking the pain, chiropractic care treats the root cause. As spinal alignment is restored, inflammation decreases. This can reduce pain and help you get back in the game sooner.
3 – Prevents injuries
Chiropractic care not only helps athletes heal from injuries. It can prevent them from occurring in the first place. Former professional bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger agrees:
“I found out the best way of going is to use chiropractors not only after injury but before the injury.” -Arnold Schwarzenegger
That’s because chiropractors correct structural imbalances in the body before they result in injury. When your spine is out of alignment, it can create pain and stiffness in other body parts. This can restrict your range of motion, and impair balance. If left untreated, this can set the stage for injuries.
Chiropractors ensure the spine is properly aligned. This can, in turn, ease muscle tension and improve range of motion so you’re less prone to injuries.
4 – Boosts athletic performance
Think you need pricey performance-enhancing supplements to step up your game? Try visiting a chiropractor instead. Research shows regular spinal adjustments can improve athletic performance by 6.12% in just 12 weeks.
Chiropractic care’s benefits cover a wide range of sports. It’s shown to increase runners’ training mileage, improve basketball players’ speed and agility, and even help golfers improve their swing.
Your nervous system can function at peak performance when your spine is aligned. This can impact your balance, coordination, and posture, giving you a competitive edge.
Take it from former NFL quarterback Tom Brady:
“Chiropractic just makes you feel so much better. When I walk out of the clinic, I feel like I’m about 3 inches taller, and everything’s in place. As long as I see the chiropractor, I feel like I’m one step ahead of the game.” -Tom Brady
5 – Improves flexibility
Flexibility is a key piece of athletic performance. It enhances muscular strength and endurance and helps prevent injuries like strains and tears. Unfortunately, many athletes’ flexibility suffers due to previous sports injuries. This can leave behind scar tissue that shortens and tightens muscles, restricting movement.
Chiropractors use techniques like trigger point therapy and manual tools to break up scar tissue that can hinder flexibility. Chiropractic treatments like massage therapy and spinal manipulation also help release muscle tension. This can help muscles stretch, lengthen, and contract better, improving flexibility.
6 – Increases range of motion
There are over 350 joints in the body. The more freely and easily they move, the better your athletic performance.
Chiropractors help restore normal function to your knees, shoulders, elbows, and other joints. This can improve your range of motion, enhancing athletic performance and reducing your risk of future injuries.
7 – Enhances nervous system function
Your speed, power, and agility depend on your nervous system. That’s why when the nervous system is functioning optimally, it can give athletes a competitive advantage.
Chiropractic care helps balance the nervous system. This can, in turn, enhance athletic performance. When the spine is properly aligned, nerve signals travel more freely. This can result in quicker reaction times and improved coordination.
Even basketball legend Michael Jordan credits chiropractic care for giving him a boost:
“Since I’ve been in chiropractic, I’ve improved by leaps and bounds both physically and mentally.” -Michael Jordan
How Often Should Athletes Go to a Chiropractor?
There aren’t any hard and fast rules here. It’ll vary depending on your training schedule and how well you respond to treatments.
If you train hard every day, you’ll likely need more frequent visits. But, if you exercise less often, you may only need an adjustment every few weeks.
If you have an injury or are dealing with pain, going to a chiropractor 2-3 times a week may help speed up your recovery. As you heal and the pain lessens, you can extend the time between visits.
But remember, chiropractors don’t just treat acute pain and injuries. Getting regular chiropractic care enhances your overall health – whether you’re an athlete or not!
Step Up Your Game with Chiropractic Care in Orland Park, IL
All athletes dream of reaching their full potential, whether it’s on the field, court, or track. And chiropractic care can help you get there! Regular chiropractic care can improve your flexibility, range of motion, and athletic performance.
If you’re an athlete who lives in the Chicago area, Anchored in Health is here to help. Our holistic chiropractor has been helping athletes optimize their performance for over 20 years.
So if you’re a Chicagoan ready to uplevel your fitness goals, follow these steps:
- Contact us with questions.
- Schedule your first chiropractic appointment here.
- Experience how regular chiropractic care can give you a competitive edge!
Other Holistic Health Services Offered at Anchored in Health in Orland Park, IL
At Anchored in Health, we offer a wide range of services to help you achieve optimal health. This includes functional medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, and the Shape ReClaimed program. We also offer holistic assessment tools like genetic testing and thermography to help you gain valuable insights about your health.
Contact us to find out how we can help you reach your health and wellness goals!