5 Ways a Student-Athlete Could Benefit From Chiropractic Care

From better sleep to improved lung function, have an active lifestyle has many positive impacts on the average person’s life. Sports teach a wide variety of life lessons and help students develop life skills. They also provide a healthy outlet for many students.

It is not uncommon for student-athletes to develop spine problems, especially those students who participate in contact sports. Many student-athletes with spinal injuries turn to chiropractic care to help manage and alleviate their condition. Chiropractors use a combination of hands-on spinal manipulation and other therapies to treat musculoskeletal disorders.

Here are some ways that student-athletes in Santa Rosa can benefit from the best chiropractic care.

Prevent Injuries Before They Occur 

You do not have to wait to sustain an injury before seeing a chiropractor. The best chiropractors in Santa Rosa can not only help treat injuries and also prevent them in the first place.

A misaligned spine can impact athletic performance and increase your risk of injury. Spinal misalignment can cause recurring, debilitating pain, discomfort, tension, and stiffness. It is also a common cause of a reduced range of motion.

If unaddressed, mild pain caused by spinal misalignment can increase in severity, interfering with everyday activities.

Spinal misalignment isn’t always obvious. Your chiropractor will ask you several questions about your overall health and symptoms, order different tests, and perform physical tests to diagnose your condition.

An experienced chiropractor will ensure that your spine is aligned properly. If you’re experiencing symptoms of spinal misalignment, your chiropractor will create a treatment plan to realign your spine. The professional may incorporate nutritional counseling into the plan and recommend lifestyle changes to improve your overall health.

Some areas are more prone to injuries than others. A chiropractor is trained to target those areas to reduce the risk of injuries.

Shorten Recovery Time

When a student-athlete sustains an injury, they are eager to return as soon as possible. Returning to your favorite sport before making a complete recovery could prove to be a costly mistake. Your condition could take a turn for the worse or you could sustain an additional injury that compounds upon the first.

The best chiropractors in Santa Rosa use a combination of different therapies including heat and ice therapy, spinal decompression therapy, and massage therapy. These therapies can help fast-track injury recovery by reducing inflammation and swelling.

Chiropractic care is effective because it focuses on getting to the root cause of a problem rather than just masking the symptoms of the underlying issue. Chiropractic care can help promote blood flow to the affected part of the body, speeding up recovery.

Pain Relief 

Pain can linger long after an injury. In severe cases, pain may negatively affect mobility and cause balance problems.

There are several pain medications that are available over-the-counter or by prescription. Unfortunately, many pain medications have long-term side effects and are addictive. Some pain medications mask the symptoms of pain instead of treating the root cause.

The best chiropractors in Santa Rosa take a holistic approach to patient care. Chiropractic care addresses the root cause of a problem without medication.

Your chiropractor will use hands-on spinal manipulation to reduce inflammation, relieve pressure on joints, and improve nerve function. A Health and Nutrition Coach and healthy spine communicates effectively with other systems to keep them working correctly, helping relieve pain.

Improve Range of Motion and Flexibility  

Limited range of motion and muscle stiffness can affect athletic performance.

Chiropractors use spinal manipulations and adjustments to realign the bones and joints to alleviate pain, restore range of motion, and improve flexibility.

With regular chiropractic care, a student-athlete may notice a significant improvement in their flexibility and range of motion.

When you develop flexibility, your body is able to withstand more physical stress. This decreases your risk of injuries. Chiropractic care also reduces muscle tension, helping improve athletic performance.

A 2001 study involving 105 participants concluded that chiropractic care could help improve range of motion.

Participants were divided into three groups. The first group did not receive any adjustments, and the second group received sham adjustments. The third group received standard adjustments.

Participants in the third group reported a significant improvement in range of motion. Participants in the first and second groups did not report any significant improvements.

Prepare You for Competitions and Games 

A chiropractor can play an important role in keeping your body in top shape. In addition to treating injuries, chiropractic care can help strengthen muscles.

Chiropractic care promotes good posture and reduces stress on joints, discs, and spinal nerves. It protects the spine by stabilizing it. When your spine is aligned properly, you can put your best foot forward.

Are you grappling with back pain? Toth Chiropractic can help. Dr. Toth has extensive experience helping patients manage chronic back pain. Whether you sustained an injury or were born with a deformity that caused your spine to go out of alignment, he can help. To book a consultation with him, call (707) 526-1390.