Chiropractic Care Benefits for Youth Athletes

Youth sports is big business in our country, and it’s hard not to get caught up in at as a parent. I haven’t met many families that don’t have children in sports year round. Many families have children in year-round sports on top of club or recreational level sports that run seasonally. While sports lead to great opportunities, they do put a lot of strain on the body. Many school-aged children and teen athletes are experiencing injuries and chronic pain early in their sporting careers. Most traditional treatments for these complaints only place a bandaid on the underlying issues and may include addictive medications. Chiropractic care works to find the root of the problem and heal the issue itself - as well as preventing chronic pain from ever occurring. Today’s young athletes work harder, spend longer hours, and work through injury more than the generations before. Over 30 million children participate in organized sports in the United States, and close to 775,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries. According to the Journal of Neurological Science, more sports-related, non-fatal injuries are treated in hospital emergency rooms than any other type of unintentional injury. While traditional doctors treat the immediate damage done, many children leave the hospital with undiagnosed spinal stress.Young athletes are still growing, leaving them less coordinated and more susceptible to injuries due to slower reaction times than adults. Many injuries result from repetition and overuse, which places stress on the musculoskeletal system. This can be from practicing imperfect techniques, wrong shoes, improper equipment, etc - all of which makes the bodywork harder and creates greater demands on the body.The American Chiropractic Association states chiropractic is a “form of health care that focuses on musculoskeletal and nervous systems disorders and numerous studies support their assessment.” It is common in sports medicine, but typically isn’t discussed until an athlete is at a professional level. Youth, high school, and college athletes can all benefit from seeing a chiropractor regularly, too!Chiropractic care decreases recovery time.After practices or after a game, an athlete can benefit from soft tissue techniques such as massage or instrument-assisted soft tissue techniques. These make the tissue more moveable and relaxed. They decrease lactic acid and improve blood flow.Chiropractic care aids in injury repair. Enhancing mechanical motion by adjusting joint segments with soft tissue techniques can improve muscle tone and blood flow to injured areas. aAN adjustment can help to reduce inflammation and lower pain levels. Kinesiology tape can also be used to provide support and increase blood flow to the injured area.Research shows a supportive link between chiropractic care and athleticism. A study of athletes by the Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation announced that athletes receiving 12 weeks of chiropractic care showed 30% improvement in reaction time. Taking care of a young athlete’s body should not begin the first day of practice or after the first tournament of the season. Athletes should focus on body awareness and health - all year long, and with young athletes, parents need to take on this responsibility. Chiropractic care can improve a child’s game.Keeping the spine in proper alignment is a great way to ensure your child is gaining the most from their sport. The non-invasive techniques performed by a chiropractor shorten recovery time, prevent strains/sprains and encourage body strengthening. Flexibility can also be increased to help prevent injury.One of the greatest benefits of utilizing a chiropractor is avoiding medication. By helping kids build strong bodies and take in the right nutrients, chiropractors can enhance an athlete’s ability to perform. Regular adjustments can keep a child healthy, happy, and at the top of his game! Resources:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4717651/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3400421/http://medbooksfree.com/handbook-neurological-sports-medicine-pdf-download/https://www.physioroom.com/research/journals.phphttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/sports-injury