If you are an athlete of any caliber, you know how important your body is to your performance: preventing injury, performing at your best, and recovering from setbacks you didn’t anticipate.
Sports chiropractors work with athletes and have an understanding of the physical demands, injury prevention, how to help achieve top performance, and how to protect the body along the way.
Check out our guide to sports chiropractic care for athletes so you can perform at your best, whether you workout on the weekends or are training for a professional level.
Articles on elitechirosport.com are not medical advice; always consult with your primary physician or a chiropractor in person before completing any new exercise or stretching routine.
What is Sports Chiropractic Care
Traditional chiropractic care focuses on general well-being and, oftentimes, a holistic approach to caring for the body. Patients seek chiropractic care for back pain, pain related to the spine, neck pain, sprains, or other injuries to do with the muscles, bones, ligaments, or nerves.
Chiropractic care for athletes is about using chiropractic knowledge and coupling it with an understanding of sports performance and the high demand an athlete asks of their body. This is a deeper knowledge of injury prevention, injury recovery, and helping the body reach top performance.
As an example, traditional chiropractic care may be about alleviating back pain through in-office treatments and light at-home physical therapy. Chiropractic care for athletes will examine the sport, the training schedule, and provide appropriate treatments in office paired with at-home therapies that complement the training schedule.
In short, we work with you, not against you, to enhance your training.
How Can a Sports Chiropractic Help Me
Chiropractic Care for Athletes of All Levels
You do not need to be a professional athlete to benefit from sports chiropractic care. Chiropractic care for athletes is about personalized treatment. Sports chiropractors will learn about your athletic goals, your current athletic training regimen, injuries you’ve had or are at risk for, and how to improve training while mitigating risk.
At Elite Chiropractic and Sport, we learn about your personal goals and lifestyle to create a training program for you. We’ve worked with high-level professional athletes to weekend runners who want simple guidance.
Everyone can benefit from professional knowledge on how to protect their body while working towards their athletic goals.
Cutting-Edge Techniques to Complement Sports Performance
A sports chiropractic office will be knowledgeable and informed on the latest sports treatment techniques. This may include a musculoskeletal ultrasound for assessing injuries, Graston Technique for getting to the root of knots and muscle scarring, ice therapy to speed along injury recovery, and compression boots to maximize training time and minimize time spent recovering after an intense training session.
Elite Chiropractic and Sport in Columbia offers many sports chiropractic treatments for the high-training athlete – contact us today to learn more.
Enhanced Performance with Injury Prevention
Every athlete, of any level, wants to perform at the top of their game. Sports chiropractic care can get you there.
By working together with your sports chiropractor, you can form a training regimen that complements your body’s natural abilities and helps to prevent injuries at weak points. If you’re prone to ankle sprains, tennis elbow, shoulder injuries, or knee conditions, professional sports chiropractors can help you strengthen and protect these areas.
When your weakest points are strong and protected, you can reach the top of your game and enjoy peak performance.
Healthy Injury Recovery
Injuries happen. Accidents occur, the body is overworked, or something goes wrong. The key to training with an injury is to respect the injury and work with a sports chiropractic professional who can help you get back into the game safely.
Sports chiropractors will help you with injury recovery that takes into account your sport and your performance. They will advise on how to recover quickly without straining the injury or getting back on the field too soon.
You want a professional who respects your sport, your dedicated time, and won’t take risks when it comes to your recovery but helps you get there.
Benefits of Sports Chiropractic Care
- Work with athletes of all disciplines and ages
- Treat strains, sprains, elbow injuries, shoulder treatments, knee pain, ankles, and more
- Experienced knowledge of high-end treatment techniques
- Consider the body as a whole to pinpoint the root of the injury
- Physical therapies that complement training regimens
- Improved flexibility and range of motion
- Better balance and coordination
- Boosted strength and endurance
- Faster recovery
- Injury prevention
Sports Chiropractors in Columbia, MD
Elite Chiropractic and Sport is proud to be a sports chiropractic center for athletes of all disciplines. With knowledgeable chiropractors who can provide the Graston Technique, MSK Ultrasounds, dry needling, compression treatment, ice therapies, and more, we make athletes our focus.
It isn’t just about injury treatment but injury prevention and optimized performance. When you have flexibility, coordination, balance, and endurance that work with your sport for overall wellness, you perform better and feel better.
Work with professionals who are invested in your journey. Because you deserve to feel your best and perform your best – we help make it happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sports chiropractic care?
Sports chiropractic care is specialized chiropractic treatment designed to help athletes improve performance, prevent injuries, and recover efficiently. It combines traditional chiropractic techniques with a deep understanding of sports performance and injury prevention.
How does sports chiropractic care differ from traditional chiropractic care?
Traditional chiropractic care focuses on general well-being and treating pain, while sports chiropractic care tailors treatments to athletic demands, incorporating injury prevention strategies, sport-specific therapy, and performance optimization.
Can non-professional athletes benefit from sports chiropractic care?
Yes! Athletes of all levels, from weekend runners to professionals, can benefit. Sports chiropractors personalize treatments based on training goals, injury history, and risk factors.
What techniques do sports chiropractors use?
Our Columbia sports chiropractors’ techniques include musculoskeletal ultrasound for injury assessment, the Graston Technique for muscle recovery, ice therapy for healing, and compression treatments to speed up recovery and enhance training.
How does sports chiropractic care help with injury recovery?
Sports chiropractors guide athletes through safe recovery, ensuring they heal properly without re-injury. They create customized rehabilitation plans that respect the athlete’s sport and performance goals while minimizing downtime.
What common sports injuries can a chiropractor treat?
Sports chiropractors treat a variety of injuries, including sprains, strains, tendonitis, muscle imbalances, joint dysfunction, herniated discs, and conditions like runner’s knee, tennis elbow, and rotator cuff injuries.
How often should athletes see a sports chiropractor?
Frequency varies based on the athlete’s needs. Some visit weekly for performance optimization, while others seek care only for injury recovery or maintenance every few weeks. A chiropractor will recommend a personalized treatment plan.
Can chiropractic care help with muscle recovery after intense workouts?
Yes, chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue therapy help reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and enhance the body’s natural healing processes, leading to faster muscle recovery.
Is sports chiropractic care safe for young athletes?
Yes, when performed by a trained professional, chiropractic care is safe for young athletes and can help prevent injuries, correct postural issues, and support overall athletic development.
Do professional athletes use chiropractic care regularly
Yes, many professional athletes, including those in the NFL, NBA, and Olympics, use chiropractic care to enhance performance, prevent injuries, and recover from physical strain.
Can chiropractic adjustments improve reaction time and coordination?
Yes, chiropractic care optimizes nerve function, which enhances reaction time, coordination, and neuromuscular control, benefiting athletes in sports requiring agility and precision.
Does sports chiropractic care include nutrition and exercise recommendations?
Yes, our sports chiropractors in Columbia provide guidance on nutrition, hydration, and exercise to support recovery, enhance performance, and maintain overall health.
Can chiropractic care help with chronic pain from past sports injuries?
Yes, chiropractic care can help manage chronic pain by addressing underlying biomechanical issues, improving joint mobility, and reducing inflammation.
How does chiropractic care complement physical therapy for athletes?
Chiropractic care works alongside physical therapy by improving spinal alignment, reducing pain, and enhancing mobility, allowing athletes to perform rehab exercises more effectively.
What should athletes expect during their first visit to a sports chiropractor?
The first visit typically includes a consultation, physical assessment, movement analysis, and an initial treatment plan, which may involve spinal adjustments, soft tissue work, or corrective exercises.
About the Author
Dr. Bross is the owner of Elite Chiropractic and Sport. He serves as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner (CCSP) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. His unique approach to individualized patient care is based on the evaluation and treatment of the “whole” person.
Dr. Bross is a leader in the promotion of health and wellness. He has accumulated an extensive knowledge of the musculoskeletal and nutritional components of the human body. He is skilled in the Graston Technique, Active Release Technique, and Sports Medicine.
