Chiropractic Care Helps Athletes Perform At Their Best

While long heralded as champions of neck and back pain, many elite athletes have also found chiropractic to be vital for their training and performance.    “A proper biomechanical structure allows athletes to achieve and maintain their optimal level of performance—safely and naturally.”  In the never-ending quest for improvement, more athletes are turning to chiropractic to help them.  Exercise Physiologist, Sean Atkins, PhD, estimates “in excess of 90% of all world-class athletes use Chiropractic care to prevent injuries and to increase their performance potential.”  Heightened media attention to the benefits athletes are experiencing, led to more research on the topic.  Multiple studies have found what the athletes already knew – chiropractic works!

In a Canadian study, chiropractic was added to the rehabilitation program for 16 long distance runners.  The runners recovered quickly.  Additionally,   “seven of them actually scored “personal best” performances while under Chiropractic care”.

In a separate study, 50 athletes were divided into 2 groups.  Baseline tests were performed on all of the athletes.  The control group then continued training as usual.  Meanwhile the other group added chiropractic care to their normal training routine.  When the athletes were tested six weeks later, there was a significant difference.  The control group showed less than 1% improvement in reaction time.  The group that had chiropractic care displayed reaction times that were more than 18% faster than initial their initial scores.

Another study conducted by the New Zealand School of Chiropractic and the University of Auckland assessed reaction times with and without chiropractic care.  The control group received a short period of rest while the other group received spinal manipulations.  The control group exhibited 8% faster reaction times after their rest period.  In contrast, the group that had received chiropractic adjustments exhibited a 14.8% faster reaction time.

Together, these studies provide empirical evidence to back up what many athletes had experienced.  Chiropractic care is an effective tool for improving overall reaction time.  This enables provides “added performance enhancement benefits for athletes, who rely on optimum reaction reflexes to perform at their maximum competitive capacity.” If you don’t already, consider adding chiropractic care to your training regimen.  Keeping your body working properly will help reduce risk of injuries and help you perform your regular tasks, both in the gym and out, with greater confidence and ease.

 

SOURCE: “Chiropractic and Athletes” in Pathways Issue #07, Chiropractic for Life, Author Keith Wassung  01 September 2005 http://icpa4kids.org/Wellness-Articles/chiropractic-and-athletes/All-Pages.html