Sports Injury Prevention, Treatment and Relief

Most people have heard that chiropractic care can help low back pain, with or without sciatica, and many know that it can also help relieve neck and upper back pain, even headaches or pain going into an arm (radiculopathy.) However, it may not be the first thing that pops into your head when you think of a sports injury. Chiropractic treatment is a natural, non-invasive and often very effective way to treat musculoskeletal issues. Most professional sports teams, from the NFL (National Football League), MLB (Major League Baseball) and NBA (National Basketball Association) as well as almost all colleges have a chiropractor as part of their team to keep their athletes healthy and functioning at their optimum level. The USA Olympic team has a group of chiropractors that are in high demand for their drug-free and effective outcomes from their care, both preventing injury and treating it if it occurs.

The good news is you don't have to be a world class athlete to benefit from chiropractic care. Many people of all ages are trying to become healthier and one of the main ways to do this is through exercise, whether it’s through an organized league, playing various pick up games or being a do-it-yourself weekend warrior. Who doesn’t want to get in better shape, have more energy, endurance and less fatigue, win the battle of the bulge, have stronger muscles and bones and remain as youthful feeling and looking as you can? We all do!

The problems occur when our brains think we can do something but our bodies aren’t quite up to the challenge. The younger version of ourselves may not be able to do what it had in the past. Lifting weights without thinking too much about form and breathing and having a back spasm or shoulder pain….Biking with a pack of more experienced riders and pushing too hard causing a quad tendon or hamstring injury…running on uneven ground resulting in an ankle sprain…wanting to get that last volley and causing an ACL or achilles tendon tear. The list goes on and on.

Did you know that Dr. Christian is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP) which is an additional specialty degree which less than 5% of all chiropractors have. It is in addition to her Doctor of Chiropractic degree, and together required 9 years of college. She also is part of the National registry of certified concussion assessment specialists and can diagnose and treat as well as formulate a return to play protocol for a concussed individual. Unfortunately, these injuries often happen to athletes of many types while enjoying a sporting or exercise endeavor. She can also help prevent injuries and down time in your exercise routine. Dr. Christian may suggest stretches, better options to get stronger and healthier (especially in the core,) and even exercises to avoid because they could lead to injury or re-aggravation of an existing already damaged area.

Why Chiropractic Treatment is Important for Athletes:

1. It leads to greater range of motion. In practical terms this means more movement, less spasm and allowing your body to perform at its highest level of function.
2. Alignment of the spine and other joints (shoulder, knee, ankle, wrist) causes less wear and tear and can slow degenerative changes in these structures.
3. It’s great for pain relief. Manipulation has been shown to lessen the need for OTC or prescription medication A study by the National center for Complementary and Integrative Health found “participants who used spinal manipulation, personal instruction and exercise had less pain after 12 weeks and used less medication a year later than participants who only received personal instruction and exercises.”

We offer many non-drug and non-surgical treatment options that you may not be aware of! Besides amazing foot, ankle, wrist, shoulder and elbow manipulations, we have cutting edge technology at Chagrin Chiropractic and Wellness. Class IV laser is a pain free treatment which helps reduce inflammation almost immediately and accelerates healing by stimulating the small organelles inside of the damaged tissues. We also have a Magnetolith, an EMTT machine, also pain free, which has been proven to reduce pain in joints through using a powerful oscillating magnetic coil. Dr. Christian is always looking for the best way to get her patients back in the game or help them to return them to their favorite exercise endeavor.