Katherine Mullen, Chiropractic Intern
Athletes have a higher demand placed on their body over time, especially when they are at a high performance level. Increased load or stress over time can eventually result in pain and even injury due to the distribution up the chain. So how can a chiropractor help athletes become ready for competition and even prevent injury? Well, getting adjusted regularly throughout the season can help improve overall function, mobility, and even performance. This is because adjustments can help keep the body moving without restriction or limitations. A literature review in 2010 reported that athletes who received chiropractic care over the course of 6 weeks showed an increase in their overall performance by 6.12% as well as improvements in hand-eye coordination.
There are many other tools that chiropractors utilize to help athletes get ready for the season. This includes nutritional supplement recommendations to help prepare their bodies and rehab exercises that can ultimately help prevent season ending injuries. By teaching athletes how to move in a more biomechanically sound way, it keeps them on the field rather than in the training room. Examples of this range from being able to properly pick something off the ground to breathing and even better lifting form. Keeping the body mobile and strong is essential for optimal performance.
Reference:
Miners A. L. (2010). Chiropractic treatment and the enhancement of sport performance: a narrative literature review. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 54(4), 210–221.
Katherine Mullen is a Doctor of Chiropractic student from University of Western States in Portland, Oregon. She is also pursuing her Masters in Sports Medicine in conjunction with the Chiropractic program. She will graduate in September of 2019. She plans to specialize in the treatment of athletes through chiropractic and rehabilitative care. She also plans on expanding her knowledge in pediatric treatment.
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