Sport Performance and Chiropractic Care By Dr. Timothy Wasmund

I don’t have back pain; I’m in good shape, why would I need to go to see a chiropractor? This is a question that many people could ask themselves. When it comes to an athlete of any caliber the answer is simple. Chiropractic care can help you improve your game, achieve your personal goals, and keep you in your sport longer allowing you to perform at your absolute best.

Athletes have discovered that chiropractic care allows them to achieve an optimal level of performance when training and competing in their respective sporting event. A proper biomechanical structure and function allows an athlete to train and perform at their optimal level safely and naturally. The 1996 Olympic Games are the perfect example. Chiropractors were a part of many of the medical teams that traveled with the athletes. In fact, they were in Atlanta and the surrounding area weeks ahead of the games treating athletes as they went through their final preparations. Further, all but one of the 32 teams in the NFL utilizes the services of a chiropractor as part of the triage in managing and preventing injuries. So the question is… why do so many athletes, professional and amateur alike, trust their most valuable asset to chiropractic? The answer… Enhanced Performance & Recovery! Just let the Research be you guide!

There are two great studies that show the benefits of chiropractic to athletic performance. The first measured college athletes in 11 different aspects of athletic ability including; agility, balance, power and reaction time. Chiropractic care was shown to increase athletic performance by 16.7% over 12 weeks1. One of the most amazing results was after only 6 weeks of care hand reaction time was increase by 18% alone!

The second study looked at changes in athletic performance and physiological measures of college baseball players undergoing chiropractic care. Not only did these athletes show a significant increase in muscle strength and long jump distance, but surprisingly they also showed a marked decreased in resting blood pressure and pulse rate2. One of the most interesting finds was the increase in Oxygen being delivered to the body though microcirculation. Similar results in decreased blood pressure where shown in a study done at Rush University. It showed chiropractic being as effective at two-drug blood pressure lowering therapy3.

That’s all well and good but how does any of that have to do with the pain I have in my body from training? Overuse injuries are the most common disorder seen by orthopedist and other sport docs. Overuse injuries can cause months of distress and lost valuable training time that keeps you competitive. Being that chiropractic care looks first at the intricate relationship between our muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones, chiropractic care is essential to preventing and treating many of the biomechanical overuse injuries that come from constant training. For example, Iliotibial Band friction syndrome (ITBFS), a common overuse injury in runners and cyclists is strongly connected to the biomechanics of the low back and pelvis. A case report4 showed that chiropractic care was effective in eliminating pain and allowing a 38-year-old marathon runner to continue the sport she loved.

Chiropractic care has been shown time and time again to help athletes perform their absolute best. Whether it’s a hall of famer like Jerry Rice or your weekend warrior chiropractic is one of the essential ingredients to athletic success.

Contact me today at 877-784-3667 to make your appointment and find out how chiropractic can help you!

1. Chiropractic Effects on Athletic Ability. Lauro A. Mouch B. Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation. 1991;6:84-87
2. Athletic Performance and Physiological Measures in Baseball Players Following Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care: A Pilot study. Schwartzbauer J, Kolber J, Schwartzbauer, DC Hart, JDC, Zhang J. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. 1997;1(4):7
3. Atlas Vertebra Realignment and Achievement of Arterial Pressure Goal in Hypertensive Patients: A Pilot Study. Bakris G, Dickson Sr. M, Meyer PM, Kravitz G, Avery E, Miller M, Brown J, Woodfield C, and Bell B. Journal of Human Hypertension. 2007 :1-6
4. Changes in Low Back Pain in a Long Distance Runner after Streching the Iliotibial Band. Kasunich N, Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. 2003;1(2):37-40