Participating in athletic endeavors is a vital part of many people’s lifestyle. As a lifelong athlete, and active person with an active family, Dr. Erik knows that feeling your best can mean the difference between enjoying, and participating in your favorite sports & athletics activities and watching from the sidelines or couch.
It’s true that chiropractic care is a vital part of the care that many professional athletes have chosen to receive. But whether you’re going to the Olympics, aiming to play for a professional sports team or happy to be a weekend warrior, all athletes’ health and performance can benefit from chiropractic care.
What causes sports and fitness injuries?
What it boils down to with sports injuries is that improper stretching, muscle weakness and poor training put you at risk for injury. To make matters worse, if an injury is left untreated it may result in further or even permanent damage. It is critical to get proper care for any sports injury, so that you can deter these injuries from becoming a chronic issue.
What types of sport and fitness injuries can affect us?
There are two basic types of sport and fitness injuries; the first is the result of a trauma. Great examples of these are collisions, slips and falls. The second type is an overuse injury of a muscle or joint which involve the repetitive movement of the same area which then causes inflammation and/or injury.
How can we try to avoid sport and fitness injuries?
The main goal for all athletes is to strive to obtain their peak athletic performance. In order for this to occur, athletes must have proper conditioning, muscle function, stability and range of motion of all their joints. Most injuries are caused by these imbalances and can easily be avoided. They can also be the result of an injury you’ve had in the past or insufficient conditioning.
Any sporting or fitness activity should begin with a sufficient warm-up session. It is best to increase the frequency or duration of workouts slowly when you feel you are ready, as strength and fitness levels increase. Hydration is always important.
At the Back to Health Chiropractic & Acupuncture Wellness Center, we’re well trained and experienced in the biomechanics and muscle function of the human body, which make us the best in understanding and treating sports and fitness injuries. We can instruct you on the best ways to heal from an injury and how best to prevent the injury from recurring. Treatment ranges from specialized muscle treatment to joint manipulation to acupuncture, or specific exercises that target problem areas and strengthen previously injured or weakened muscles and joints.
If you have an injury that you are trying to “tough out” or are interested in learning how to prevent injuries from occurring or recurring, come see us before an injury develops or becomes more serious. We are all for being active and in more cases than not, you can maintain your daily activities while going through treatment.
Call the office today for your evaluation, consultation and treatment plan!