How Can a Chiropractor Help After a Sports Injury?

A chiropractor is a professional healthcare physician specializing in diagnosing and treating neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Parts of the neuromusculoskeletal system include your ligaments, tendons, nerves, bones, and muscles. 

Chiropractors also help in managing neck and back pain by employing spinal adjustments for good alignment. They may encourage you to exercise and improve your nutrition. This helps put your body on the path of self-healing. Some chiropractors may specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries that relate to sports or athletics. They have special training in preventing and rehabilitating such injuries.

Advantages of a Chiropractor in Sports

A major benefit of receiving treatment from a chiropractor for a sports injury is not using drugs. Some of the sports injuries include sprains and strains to joints and muscles. A professional chiropractor can also assist in disc injuries. 

Your body responds differently to different injuries. When you have an injury in a joint or muscle, your body may tighten muscles or joints as a response. It is your body trying to maintain balance and protect itself. The scenario calls for a chiropractic holistic approach.

You may underestimate the toll your sport has on your body. Running, stopping, or contact in the sport may put a lot of strain on your neuromusculoskeletal system. This includes your spine.

Chiropractic Treatment of Sports Injuries

After getting a sports injury, you may wonder how long you should receive chiropractic care. The truth is that there is no definite time for all injuries. Each injury is unique, as is the treatment. 

Your chiropractor will consider several factors before starting treatment. The severity of your injury and your response to treatment are major concerns.

Chiropractic treatment for sports injuries fall under three categories:

• Ongoing Care

This involves semi-regular chiropractic treatments based on scheduled appointments. They help keep your body in proper alignment. It ensures your joints do not lock up. One such treatment is a chiropractic adjustment. 

This treatment enhances spinal movement. It improves the physical functions of your body. It is common with athletes trying to stay in tip-top performance.

• Acute Care

This type of treatment is for pain occurring from a recent injury. If you can easily point to where the pain is as a result of an injury, then this is the treatment for you. It may happen in the middle of a sport and it is crucial to receive treatment and hopefully get back to it. 

Treatment may involve icing and resting the limb or area of injury. You may also need some exercise, treatments, or adjustments depending on your chiropractor’s diagnosis.

• New Care for Past Injuries

This involves a past injury that you either ignored or did not receive proper treatment for. Such injuries may either flare-up or bring other complications. Some of these injuries may even stay dormant for decades. In such a case, the chiropractor will require you to remember everything you can about the injury. The treatment can only start after proper examination and a good understanding of the injury. 

For more on how a chiropractor can help after a sports injury, visit Cooper Chiropractic and Wellness Center at our office in New York, New York. You can also call (332) 205-9073 to schedule an appointment today.