How a Chiropractor Can Help You Manage a Sports Injury

Injuries that result from exercise and competitive sports are unfortunately a somewhat common experience for anyone who leads an active lifestyle. However, plenty of treatment options can support your path towards making a full recovery, including chiropractic care and physical therapy. A sports injury chiropractor is a specialized professional who can help you reduce recovery times, minimize pain, and keep your muscles in good shape without any risk of reinjury. Regardless of the sport that you play or the exercise that’s part of your routine, you will likely benefit from speaking with a chiropractor following an injury.

One of the most common misconceptions about chiropractors is that they can only support you with managing back and neck injuries. While these injuries are, of course, one of the most frequently occurring situations where you might want to speak with a chiropractor, they are far from the only situation where chiropractic care may prove beneficial. In this article, we’ll review how chiropractic care works, discuss some of the potential treatment methods for your injury, and answer some of your most frequently asked questions about how this type of service works.

Chiropractic Care Methods for Treating Sports Injuries

Chiropractic care aims to reduce pain and promote joint and muscle function by providing reliable, safe, and non-surgical treatments. Whether you’re dealing with a back or neck injury, or you need assistance in managing a sprain or strain, a full-service chiropractor can help you with a variety of care options. All treatment methods are non-invasive and can sometimes allow you to avoid the side effects of medications and surgery. Here are a few types of chiropractic care that your chiropractor can deploy to boost your recovery and overall wellbeing.

Adjustments and Spinal Manipulation

Chiropractic adjustments are the most common form of chiropractic care. Moving your joints and applying pressure to trigger points around the affected area helps to release tension and relieve pain. The methods for these adjustments vary depending on the practitioner, but they all offer the same results. You may hear a popping noise as the air in and around your joints is released, but this is completely normal. Although it might sound like this treatment option is painful, it’s usually just the opposite.

Acupuncture and Dry Needle Treatments

Acupuncture and dry needling both help relax tension in your musculoskeletal system and consequently can help to relieve pain for a variety of sports-related injuries. Each care method involves inserting small needles in and around the affected area. However, the two practices vary somewhat in their application.

Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Eastern medicine and has been used to relieve pain and tension for going on two thousand years. The treatment interacts with the nervous system to release endorphins and balance your chi. Dry needling, by comparison, targets trigger points in your muscles and joints to release tension, which can consequently result in less pain. Whereas acupuncture can stand on its own as a treatment option, dry needling is typically only applied by your chiropractor in conjunction with other forms of care.

Massage Therapy

Depending on the location of your injury and the severity of the pain you’re experiencing, your chiropractor may choose to recommend massage therapy. Massage therapy helps relax your entire musculoskeletal system but primarily targets the back and neck. By improving your wellness from a general, holistic standpoint, you can often decrease recovery times for acute injuries. If your muscles are pinching a nerve, particularly in the area of your lower back, massage therapy can be beneficial and offer simple yet effective relief. For athletes or active individuals, a superior sports massage can enhance muscle flexibility and reduce soreness, making it easier to recover after intense physical activities. This targeted approach helps alleviate deep muscle tension, promoting better alignment and reducing the risk of future injuries.

Physical Therapy

If you’re managing a long-term sports injury, such as a fracture or intensive muscle strain, physical therapy is the most effective method for supporting your recovery. If you received a surgical or formal medical procedure on account of your injury, you might also want to seek chiropractic care. Physical therapy usually requires repeat visits and continuing appointments, which means your chiropractor will be with you every step of the way towards making a full recovery.

Unlike other forms of chiropractic treatment, physical therapy helps to improve the health of your entire musculoskeletal system by keeping you moving. Your chiropractor or physical therapist will guide you through a series of exercises and stretches that are tailored to your injuries so that there’s no risk of reinjuring yourself in the process of receiving this type of care. For many athletes, therapy is the most effective option for managing a long-term sports injury while maintaining as much of your physical ability as possible.

Initial Appointment and Evaluation

Your first visit with a chiropractor will usually center around an evaluation of your injury and other physical symptoms. X-rays and other formal medical practices for reviewing your injuries will usually take place at this time. By performing this in-depth evaluation of your current health status, your chiropractor will develop a customized treatment plan based on the nature of your injury and the level of pain you’re currently experiencing. You can expect to get a reliable estimate of what recovery times you might be looking at in the upcoming days, weeks, or months.

Paying for Chiropractic Care

Many chiropractic care providers offer treatment plans that allow you to pay for your services over the course of a few weeks or months. Most of the time, your chiropractor will also accept health insurance, which can significantly lower the associated costs. If you’re not sure how much it will cost to get care, don’t hesitate to reach out to your chiropractor’s office directly.

Conclusion- How a Chiropractor Can Help You Manage a Sports Injury

Chiropractic care is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment option that can support your recovery from a range of sports-related injuries. From adjustments to acupuncture and massage therapy, there are plenty of opportunities for customizing your treatment plan to ensure you can get back in the game as soon as possible.