Playing sports is a great way to stay in shape, connect with friends, and enjoy life to the fullest. Athletes, however, put themselves at risk every time they play the game. Nonetheless, the passion to play outweighs the possible risks and athletes go out and hope for the best.

Athletes experience injuries at higher rates than non-athletes. They bend and stretch their bodies in ways that push them to the limits. Injuries weaken the muscles, ligaments, and joints, paving the way for future injuries and reducing future game performance.

Furthermore, injuries cause an athlete to miss games and sit on the bench as they wait to pass the healing process. Serious injuries can put athletes out of the game for weeks or months at a time. Once injuries heal, they are still vulnerable to injury, especially if the correct treatments aren’t part of the healing process.

Sports chiropractors in Lafayette help athletes recover from injuries using non-invasive treatments that actually heal the injury and improve recovery time. Athletes want to be in the game but that is impossible when suffering an injury.

Chiropractic care improves strength, flexibility, and range of motion, and ensures the injury does not affect future performance. Visiting a sports chiropractor can actually be one of the best treatments an athlete uses to aid in their recovery.

Sure, warm downs, stretching, sleep and nutrition therapy, and hydrotherapy are beneficial in recovery but these treatments cannot compare to those offered by a sports chiropractor in Lafayette who works to correct alignment issues that cause aches, pains, sprains, and leaves the body weakened and at risk of injury.

Sports chiropractors use non-invasive treatments to get to the root cause of the problem. Once they find the source of the problem, they correct the problem so it does not bother the athlete for the rest of their days. Chiropractors shy away from surgery and medication in most cases since they tend to cause more problems and typically only cover up the injury and pain.

Athletes with the MLB and NFL visit sports chiropractors to keep their bodies game-read, pain-free, and injury-free. They also appreciate the treatments chiropractors offer to aid them in recovery after an injury. It happens to the best of athletes!

Let’s look at three of the most common sports injuries treatable with chiropractic care.

1) Strains, Sprains, and Tears

Strains, sprains, and tears are among the most common types of injuries athletes experience. Athletes can strain, sprain, or tear a muscle or tendon, putting them in extreme pain and on the bench for indefinite periods. Strains in the back and hamstring occur more than other types of strains. Sprained ankles and torn ligaments are also common painful injuries experienced by athletes.

Spains happen when you stretch ligaments too much from the normal position. The body’s ligaments connect bones. The flexible tissue can easily tear and cause injury in the joints. The ankle and wrist are the most common areas of injury for athletes. Sprains cause pain and swelling as well as the inability to move the joints.

Sports injuries become more severe after torn ligaments and muscles. Torn ACL injuries are one of the most common types of sports injuries that happen. These tears cause the joints to become unstable so putting weight on that area of the body is painful if not impossible.

The chiropractor helps athletes recover from strains, sprains, and tears. In addition to teaching proper stretching techniques -which can help prevent future injuries- chiropractors use a variety of treatment options to help speed up recovery time and improve performance in future games.

In addition to joint manipulation techniques designed to ease pain, chiropractors offer numerous other treatments to help athletes stay in the game, including low-level light therapy, nerve reducation techniques, laser therapy, and trigger point therapy. Best of all, chiropractors teach proper stretching and strengthening strategies that aid in recovery.

2) Knee Injuries

Excruciatingly painful, knee injuries range from sprains to runner’s knee to ACL tears. Knee injuries are common amongst athletes. Not only do they cause intense pain, but they also make walking, running, and jumping difficult, especially if the injury does not correctly heal.

Damage to the cartilage and ligaments, as well as bruising, can seriously injure the knee and cause debilitating injuries. Some knee injuries are severe enough that they require srgery. For others, chiropractic care in Lafayette is the best solution. Once the surgery is completed, we can help speed up recovery and strengthen muscles so future injuries are not part of your game day.

3) Dislocations & Fractures

A dislocation happens when there is a separation of the joints. This type of injury is most commonly associated with high-impact sports. Dislocations often cause permanent pain and debilitations for athletes.

Since repositioning the dislocation back in place is an important part of the recovery process, a chiropractor is one of the best doctors to provide care for this common injury.

It’s true that chiropractors can treat a fracture but they can provide a care plan that supports healthy bones and pints, which helps prevent future fractures.

Chiropractors use several treatments for fractures and dislocations. Those treatments include adjustments, therapeutic massage, and rehabilitative treatments to support the healing process and to help athletes regain strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Bone fractures can really affect mobility, flexibility, and strength, but chiropractic care helps restore healthy functioning.

Other Sports Injuries Treated by a Chiropractor in Lafayette

The three injuries above are just the start of issues treated by the sports chiropractor in Lafayette. No matter what kind o soft tissue injury an athlete experiences, a chiropractor can likely provide great treatment.

Other injuries treated by the sports chiropractor include:

  • Shin Splints
  • Sciatica
  • Achilles Tendon injuries
  • Back and muscle pain
  • Pinched nerve

What to Expect When You Visit a Sports Chiropractor

Put your fears aside and realize that a chiropractic care visit is life-changing. Chiropractic care is gentle and designed to comfort patients with care. Chiropractic treatment isn’t painful nor does it carry risks to your health. It is a safe, fast, and effective way to heal from the injuries above and many others.

At your visit, the Apex Chiropractic team will assess your injuries. X-rays may also be needed, depending on the type of injury. The next step is discussing your goals and the available treatment options to create a plan that matches your needs.

The next step is performing the treatments chosen for your sports injury. Don’t worry; treatments do not hurt. In fact, most patients leave the office feeling much better than when they walked in the door. The chiropractor will discuss with you the options to learn which you prefer. Remember, your comfort is a top priority when receiving care from the sports chiropractor in Lafayette.

How Often Should I Visit the Sports Chiropractor in Lafayette?

The type and severity of the injury impact the number and the frequency of visits a person needs to the sports chiropractor in Lafayette.

Minor injuries usually require chiropractic treatment frequently for several weeks. Serious injuries need more frequent visits for best results. Doctors recommend subsequent visits during the week for a period of several weeks to treat serious injuries.

Talk to the Lafayette sports chiropractor at your visit to learn the frequency of visits best suited to your particular injury and recovery needs.

Play the Game With Help From a Lafayette Sports Chiropractor

Don’t push your way through pain and risk serious injury when treatment from a sports chiropractor can improve recovery time without the use of medication or surgery. Learn what athletes playing in professional organizations know already and make that call to our team of sports chiropractors!