As the weather improves in Chicago, lake front sports and activities will explode, allowing Chicagoans to take advantage of what makes summers great.  As one participates in sports leagues, continues to weight train, or increases their biking/running regimens, injury can occur due to overuse.  Sports chiropractors help athletes reduce injury, improve mobility, enhance their strength and power, and increase one’s flexibility.  Often, professional athletes use a variety of health care providers to maintain a high level of performance during the season that include a massage therapist, chiropractor, and nutritionist to ensure they stay mobile, and allow injuries to heal faster (should they occur) from consuming the proper foods.  Understanding how a sports chiropractor helps athletes is paramount to their success.

Visiting a sports chiropractor improves athletic performance by aligning the spinal and non-spinal joints properly.  Chiropractic manipulation reduces inflammation, improves movement in a restricted body region, and improves reaction time.  As reaction time is such a critical aspect to any sport, having proper alignment allows for improved communication between one’s brain and body to execute any command increasing one’s success.  Exhibiting healthy joints often works to an athlete’s advantage when competing/training with being able to react quicker, move faster, and reduce the risk of injury.

Also, soft tissue manipulation comes in many forms, but one of the more popular forms includes Active Release Techniques (ART).  ART treats soft tissue injuries efficiently by increasing flexibility and function in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and around nerves that are impacting one’s range of motion.  ART will loosen up the affected soft tissues allowing for faster recruitment of the muscle or muscles involved in your injury for power and strength purposes.

Most importantly, corrective exercises will reduce risk and/or recurrence of re-injury by retraining the muscles involved in your injury or nearby to create more stability.  The sports chiropractor will provide you these targeted exercises to ensure that you heal correctly.  The degree of difficulty with your exercises should increase gradually as you gain more stability and strength through your rehab program.  It may take a few weeks for these changes to begin to take effect, but ask questions through your rehab & treatment program to your sports chiropractor to be educated about your injury.

Sports chiropractors treat an array of sports injuries and is helpful to consult with one if any injury occurs to avoid missing serious time.  They will help get you back into the game and keep you healthy and sharp as you continue to compete and play while you have fun!