In general, most people will experience their “physical prime” during their younger years. Because of this fact, a lot of young athletes might not initially see the value of engaging in physical therapy or chiropractic care. As time goes on, we continue to witness the benefits of chiropractic care in people of all ages, especially those who are athletes. Bottom line? You don’t need to be injured or older to benefit significantly from chiropractic care. Many of the world’s premier athletes routinely undergo adjustments from chiropractors, cementing the treatment as an invaluable resource for people of all ages.
In this article, we’ll outline the many reasons why young athletes should consider engaging in pediatric chiropractic care. From injury prevention to helping athletes achieve peak performance, chiropractic care is often an underutilized, yet extremely helpful asset when it comes to strengthening and conditioning the body.
Is Chiropractic Treatment and Adjustment Safe for Young People?
“Is it safe?” is undoubtedly one of the most common questions that people ask about young people and children when considering chiropractic care and treatment. Incidentally, not only is chiropractic care safe for young people, but various analyses indicate that up to 18% of chiropractic patients are minors. While far from the majority of patients, 18% still indicates that young people are a sizable minority.
In reality, almost all types of treatments have potential side effects and risks. This is why patients need to find reputable clinics where experienced chiropractors practice. Ultimately the safety of patients has far less to do with age and far more to do with finding a reputable practitioner who has been well-trained in the art of executing safe adjustments.
In many circumstances, young people seek out chiropractic care as a way to help mitigate pain stemming from a lot of different sources and underlying issues. Despite the deep relationship between sports and chiropractic adjustment, it’s not just a treatment that young athletes can benefit from. Chiropractic care can help with lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, and even ear infections, which are very common in children.
Chiropractic Adjustments: A Lesson in Injury Prevention and Personalized Care
Across the board, chiropractic care has been known to be extremely beneficial for athletes of all ages. Even young athletes in the best shape of their lives are not infallible and can easily succumb to injury. Chiropractic adjustment is therefore a popular treatment amongst athletes because it can help prevent injury, both major and minor. Even though young people are known for their impressive physical resilience, some injuries can be aggravating at best and career-ending at worst. This is why it’s vital to protect young athletes and preserve spinal alignment, which is precisely what chiropractic adjustment aims to achieve.
All young athletes, regardless of their chosen sport, are encouraged to train. Training can range from moderate to rigorous, and as we know, physical training often has a direct impact on the musculoskeletal system. The largest class of sports injuries stems from damage to the musculoskeletal system. This is why so many people with musculoskeletal injuries turn to chiropractors because chiropractic adjustment directly targets the musculoskeletal system.
One of the benefits of chiropractic care is that it can be modified to meet the needs of the individual, especially as it pertains to age. While the approach often remains fundamentally the same, a reputable chiropractor Cornelius NC will know how to properly modify the course of treatment to account for injury and age. Important elements like force of thrust and technique are often discussed and decided on beforehand to ensure the patient is receiving the best type of care for their specific circumstances.
Chiropractic Care and Athletes: Why the Two Go Hand-in-Hand.
Cornelius chiropractors play a key role in treating athletes of all ages, which is often why you see them utilized by sports teams and professional leagues of all types. There are a lot of potential benefits that one can experience as a result of implementing chiropractic adjustment into their wellness plan and athletic training regimen. These benefits include (but are not limited to) the following:
Improved performance: Athletes are conditioned and encouraged to constantly improve their stamina and skill. For most athletes, this is achieved by undergoing rigorous training. While training helps you hone your craft, it’s important to also remember that rigorous training can be very hard on the body and mind. Chiropractic care is one of the most effective ways to remove joint dysfunction in the spine and elsewhere, ultimately helping the body jumpstart its healing process. Young athletes are often in need of more support and healing than they may realize, and this is why pediatric chiropractic adjustment can be instrumental for young athletes in their quest for excellence.
Increased Mobility and Range of Motion: Many sports require athletes to be limber, which is often rooted in their ability to access their body’s full range of motion. While the type of movement might change, movement is the common denominator in all sports. We know that limited range of motion and mobility can be detrimental to performance, which in turn, might make the athlete vulnerable to injury. We always want to work hard to prevent injury, especially for young athletes who often have long careers ahead of them. Chiropractic care reinforces range of motion by reducing muscle stiffness and increasing flexibility.
Pain Relief: Rather than treat young athletes with potentially habit-forming medications, chiropractic care is natural and drug-free. It treats the underlying issue rather than masking it.
Improved Recovery Time: Every athlete needs to carve out time to recover and relax, especially considering that many injuries stem from overuse. Chiropractic care helps eliminate roadblocks to natural healing and recovery, which is necessary for performance and injury management.
The Verdict: Should Young Athletes Engage in Pediatric Chiropractic Care?
If you are a young athlete, it is worth your while to research and explore the potential benefits of chiropractic adjustment. While you can certainly glean a lot from the internet, it’s always preferable to meet with a reputable chiropractor, who can create a personalized plan that stems from the athlete’s specific needs and goals.
At Lakeside Sports Chiropractic and Physical Therapy, Dr. Jennifer Lidstrom and her team of experts are here to help answer all your questions. Please feel free to contact us today.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Lakeside Sports Chiropractic and Physical Therapy or its staff. Lakeside Sports Chiropractic and Physical Therapy does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment, product, procedure, or opinion mentioned in this blog post.
Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk. Lakeside Sports Chiropractic and Physical Therapy and its staff will not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages arising out of the use of, or reliance on, the content provided in this post.
While we make every effort to ensure that the information provided in this article is accurate and up-to-date, we cannot guarantee its completeness or accuracy. The information in this post may be subject to change without notice.
Any links provided in this post are for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement or sponsorship of the linked website or its content.
By reading this post, you acknowledge and agree to the above disclaimer. If you do not agree with this disclaimer, please refrain from accessing or using the information provided in this post.
