No matter how they strive to keep themselves in shape, to keep bodies in tune, and to maintain their athleticism, there inevitably comes a time when, due to injury, stress, or a combination of both, athletes, both professional and amateur, find themselves in need of assistance. This assistance often comes in the form of sports chiropractic, the purpose of which is to provide management, rehabilitation, and the optimization of performance of the neuromusculoskeletal system for the athletically inclined.
Chiropractic is an alternative form of non-invasive, complimentary and alternative medicine, which may entail a variety of different techniques. Chiropractic practitioners believe the health of the body is directly related to the health of the spine, and its relationship to the body through the nervous system and the mechanical structure of the human frame. To maintain this healthy balance, many techniques are employed. Chiropractic is well-established in the United States, Canada, and Australia. It overlaps with many other manual-therapy professions, including osteopathy, physical therapy, and massage therapy, providing relief for many sufferers of tissue, muscular, and skeletal injuries.
Spinal manipulation, or spinal adjustment, is a system of where the hands of the chiropractor are used to massage, adjust, manipulate, stimulate, apply traction, or in any way possible, influence the spine and its related tissues. This technique is the most commonly used tool on chiropractic.
In addition, a sports chiropractor may advise the patient on lifestyle choices, enabling the patient to lead a healthier life enjoying activities which nourish the spirit as well as enhance the body. They may also offer nutritional counseling, help the patient maintain a condition of optimal health.
Damage to the health of the neuromusculoskeletal system may occur in many ways, not just through injury. Muscles and tissues may be put out of place, and injured and strained due to poor alignment and misuse. A series of exercises, either supervised in a chiropractic facility, or done in the privacy of your own home, may be prescribed to target a specific weakness, or injury.
Sports chiropractic may involve any number of techniques in treating sports injuries.
Ultrasound - Ultrasound is used as a non-invasive way to visualize the muscles, tendons, and other internal organs in order to detect and diagnose problems.
Electrical muscle stimulation - EMS is used as part of a regimen of physical to prevent muscle atrophy due to disuse caused by injury to the bones, joints, or muscles.
Microamperage electrical neural stimulation - MENS is the application of a very small charge of electricity to nerves in the affected part of the body through electrodes placed on the skin. This technique is often used to relieve pain in athletes, as it is drug-free and non-invasive.
Cryotherapy - Cryotherapy is the application of cold to the affected part of the body. It is used to decrease pain and inflammation, as well as spasm.
Laser therapy - Therapeutic healing laser therapy can shorten the healing times of sports injuries significantly. Most all professional sports teams employ laser therapy in the training room. Laser therapy can decrease inflammation, reduce scar tissue, relieve pain, enhance the quality of tissue repair on injuries to the back, neck ,shoulder , elbow wrist, ankle, knee or foot
Traction - Traction is basically the stretching of the skeletal systems to regain a normal alignment, to lessen or eliminate muscle spasms, and to relieve pressure on nerves, especially around the spinal column.
Moist heat therapy - Heat therapy, especially moist heat, has proved beneficial in the decrease of pain and stiffness in the joints and tissues, reducing muscle spasms and inflammation and edema (swelling), and aiding in increasing blood flow.
Sports Massage therapy - Massage involves working on the tissues of the body with pressure, tension, motion, or vibration to promote relaxation and well-being.
Physical Rehabilitation therapy - Rehabilitation therapy is aimed at returning your body to its previous level of function, and may consist of corrective mobilization or stabilization exercises in the spine extremities or more commonly prescribed to enhance movement dysfunction throughout chains of motion.
Sports chiropractors can provide an effective and non-invasive treatment, allowing the patient to return to the active and pain-free life of he or she deserves. Dr. Spallone also uses Trigenics mho-neural medicine to successfully treat chronic knee and shoulder pain.