Professional sports figures are consistently reaching new heights in their professional careers. With each passing year, new records are shattered, and the human body is pushed to its limits. Everyday athletes follow suit by pushing themselves harder, choosing rigorous training patterns and taking their diets to a new level. Despite the meticulous care and training that athletes take, they experience musculoskeletal injuries.
Chiropractors are to athletes, just as Cardiologists are to those who suffer with cardiovascular disease. Chiropractors have specific training in evaluating and treating the injuries and ailments of athletes. Chiropractors can often treat an injured athlete very effectively with chiropractic manipulation and mobilization techniques, physical therapy modalities and specific rehabilitation exercises. In addition to treating athletic injuries, the chiropractor is skilled in aiding the athlete in injury prevention.
Athletes who do not receive the correct treatment for their injuries find themselves frequently benched and on the sidelines. Others play and then spend hours after the game with ice packs and taking pain medication. Many treatments for sports injuries do not treat the body as an integrated system and only focus on each individual injury, which can result in not properly treating the cause of the problem.
It has been said that chiropractic care most closely relates to the needs of the athlete because special attention is given to the spine, joints, muscles, tendons and nerves. Chiropractic ensures that all pieces of the musculoskeletal system are working in harmony and in their healthiest, most natural state.
Professional athletes see such a great value in chiropractic treatment that they regularly have chiropractic well visits to prevent injuries. If you are an athlete or weekend warrior, chiropractic care will enable you to reach peak performance without breaking yourself. Make an appointment with a chiropractor today.
REPETITIVE MOTION IN SPORTS
Most sports involve repetitive motion such as the repetitive swinging of a racquet, the repetitive swinging of a club, the repetitive throwing of a ball or repetitive running and squatting movements. Repetitive motions can cause reduced range of motion, inflammation, calcium buildup and scar tissue formation. Common terms associated with these types of problems include, “tennis elbow”, “frozen shoulder”, “runner’s knee”, “achilles tendonitis” and “carpal tunnel syndrome”. The impaired function of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, knee, ankle and foot can often be helped with proper joint mobilization. Joint mobilization can help to restore normal range of motion to joints that have become injured or “locked up” or “jammed” and can speed the healing process, reduce scar tissue and improve blood circulation.
Bezak Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Treatment
Treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation and examination in order to determine specific muscle injury, ligamentous injury, range of motion deficiency, vertebral segmental dysfunction, nerve injury and other problems. X-rays may be taken at our facility if necessary. After your initial evaluation, our doctors will explain your exam findings, diagnosis, treatment plan and prognosis. A typical treatment plan involves a series of treatments at a frequency of 3 visits per week over a period of weeks. Repetitive treatments are important in order to make changes in the muscles and joints. A time commitment on the patient’s end is necessary in order to accomplish the treatment goals. Our office will provide you with any necessary paperwork for work or school in order to ensure that you keep your appointments so that you can achieve the best results. The treatment goal is to decrease pain, decrease inflammation, increase range of motion, strengthen damaged soft tissues and increase activities of daily living.
HOW DO CHIROPRACTORS WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY PRIVILEGES TREAT SPORTS INJURIES?
Physiotherapy modalities: electric muscle stimulation, ultrasound, traction, moist heat, cold packs, trigger point therapy
Stretching and range of motion exercises
Specific rehabilitation or strength exercises using manual resistance, exercise tubing, exercise balls, balance boards and wobble boards
Joint mobilization or manipulation techniques
Ergonomic and lifestyle advice
IS THE TREATMENT PAINFUL?
The initial phases of the treatment are quite relaxing. However, there is always a possibility that a patient can develop mild soreness after treatment. Any soreness experienced or lack thereof will give our doctors the best information about how to proceed with your treatment from visit to visit. Treatment for these injuries is not a “no pain no gain” strategy. If anything, slight discomfort is the most discomfort you should experience if you are receiving appropriate therapy.
QUESTIONS:
Please feel free to ask our doctors any questions that you may have at any point during your treatment.
If you have a sports injury and would like to schedule an appointment or speak with one of our doctors prior to starting treatment, please call our office at 301-220-0496!