Athletes are supposed to be the ones making something look easy—that fastball pitch, wicked serve, or five minute mile. But in order to perform quickly, deftly, and expertly, athletes need to be able to perform painlessly.
One of the biggest setbacks facing many athletes is joint pain, and the risk only increases throughout your career. Years of impact can cause the the cartilage cushion between your joints to erode, or repetitive muscle contraction can pull bone structures out of alignment. Chiropractic care can not only reduce joint pain or help reduce the risk of joint injury, it can improve mobility and noticeably improve performance.
“I think it should be mandatory for athletes to see a chiropractor.”– former Major League Baseball player, Barry Bonds
Chiropractic Care and Sports Medicine
90 percent of world-class competing athletes are estimated to use chiropractic care to increase performance and prevent or treat injuries. Hundreds of chiropractors accompany Olympic teams to the games, and in 2012 chiropractic care became one of the core services offered by the host country to athletes. Chiropractors are a big part of sports medicine, and there are some things they’re especially capable of treating.
Tennis, Pitcher, or Golfer’s Elbow
Elbow pain, often known as either lateral epicondylitis (as in tennis elbow) or medial epicondylitis (as in golfer’s elbow), is usually caused by inflammation in the joints. Bending your wrist or gripping tightly with your hand—as you might in tennis, golf, baseball, and other sports—causes your tendon to contract against the bone. Overuse of the tendon injures it, and it either becomes inflamed or the cells of the tendon themselves begin to degenerate.
A chiropractor can not only help reduce the stress on the tendon and the bones of your elbow, but also give you advice for how to protect yourself in the future.
Runner’s Knee
Knee pain is extremely common among athletes because so many sports involve jumping, running, or bending at the knees. Though especially problematic for runners, who often expose their knee joints to daily exertion and pounding impact, “runner’s knee” can affect anyone.
The symptoms typically include knee pain when the joint bends, a popping or scraping sound or sensation, and pain directly behind or slightly above the kneecap. The pain is often caused by poor alignment in the hips or spine that cause the athlete to over- or under-pronate, putting unequal pressure on the joint. Realignment, combined with stretches, ice, and other treatments, will help get you back in your sneakers again.
We Can Help
If you are an athlete experiencing joint pain, contact us at Spencer Chiropractic Center! We’ve earned the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Community Leadership Award and have a staff that values and understands athletics.
Many of the area’s top amateur and professional athletes have trusted Spencer Chiropractic with their health, from weekend cyclists to Seahawks. We are the most qualified chiropractic center in Seattle to treat sports injuries or help athletes maximize their performance capacity. Contact us today to talk about what we can do to help!