Blending traditional chiropractic care with exercise, namely strength training, can more effectively give athletes, as well as the general population, added health benefits.
It is well understood that spinal joint dysfunction or misalignment commonly called a subluxation can cause weakness, not only in the spine but also in the extremities. Furthermore, neurological insult causing ill health elsewhere in the body is multifold when spinal subluxations are not corrected.
The primary therapeutic procedure employed by chiropractors is called a spinal adjustment or manipulation. The result of the procedure is increased movement and/or alignment restoration within the joint complex. This is important in regard to spinal and extremity joint function, as many times misalignment and its aberrant motion may be a primary pain generator or retardant in a person’s functional performance. Correction helps return normal neurological physiology and biomechanics, thereby reducing pain, increasing range of motion and decreasing potential for injury.
Since its inception in 1895, when the first chiropractic adjustment helped restore a man’s hearing, chiropractic care has been documented in medical literature to provide benefits ranging from functional performance in athletes, to resolution of pain and physical disability, and even the restoration of sight and infantile colic. Muscle testing before and after chiropractic manipulation has demonstrated greater strength in both athletes and non-athletes. Many athletes report significant enhancement with sport application when using spinal and extremity manipulation.
Nearly every professional and collegiate sports organization now employs a sports chiropractor. As well, the United States Olympic Medical Staff employs chiropractors specifically trained in sports medicine. Chiropractors are the only health care providers who have over 300 hours of manipulation training in their formal medical studies and perform over 90 percent of all spinal manipulations in the United States. Surprisingly, there is significantly more scientific research, both here and abroad, validating that chiropractic care has been shown more effective than traditional care for the treatment of low back pain.
As an adjunct to traditional chiropractic adjustments, many chiropractors use the same or similar therapeutic procedures as performed in physical therapy settings, such as the use of exercise, strength training and physiotherapy. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans affirms that regular physical activity reduces the risk of many adverse health outcomes. These guidelines also state that additional benefits of physical activity increase through higher intensity, greater frequency, and/or longer duration.
Regular exercise has been shown to increase the average life span by approximately 14 years. It has proven effective in reducing the symptoms of depression, reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease. Exercise is advised for older Americans to help reduce fall-related fractures. The National Institute of Health states that exercise is the closest thing to an anti-aging pill that exists.
With all the benefits of exercise, it only makes sense that chiropractic care is employed with aerobic and anaerobic exercise as part of a holistic approach to natural health and wellness. A recent study demonstrated nearly 100 percent of patients who received both chiropractic adjustments combined with exercise remained pain free after a three-month follow up versus 90 percent still reporting pain with exercise alone. Non-athletes in the older population report more confidence in performing activities of daily living such as walking stairs, which many of us take for granted. Patients in general state they feel better longer with this combined approach, which can reduce the dependency or need for other costly procedures.
Many elite athletes are collectively looking for an edge with regard to sport-specific enhancement. Blending chiropractic care with exercise is just one of the many combinations that can help achieve that goal, as is evident with professional, collegiate, and high school teams employing chiropractic care today. Professional athletes such as Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Emmit Smith, Tiger Woods and others have used chiropractic care extensively throughout their career.
Non-athlete patients are looking to enhance their health, longevity and quality of life naturally by combining chiropractic with exercise as well. However, many elderly feel uncomfortable with working out at public fitness centers, as “fitting in” may not come naturally. They may also be intimidated by not knowing how to use the machines or they are afraid of getting hurt. Many feel more secure by coming to a medically supervised facility to exercise where the doctor and staff know their health history.
According to the most recent evidence, the combined prescription of chiropractic spinal manipulation and exercise offers individuals synergistic effects that are instrumental in regaining and enhancing functional capacity, activity tolerance, confidence, and control of one’s health. To put it in the simplest of terms, the goal is to minimize pain and maximize function in the athlete and general population.
Dr. John Schutz is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician with over 16 years experience and has been the on-site chiropractic physician at over 300 amateur and professional sporting events. His comprehensive approach to his patient practice, Waverly Chiropractic Specialties, combines traditional chiropractic therapies and nutrition with optional no-cost circuit training on-site. Dr. Schutz can be reached at 352-2425 or www.waverlychiro.com .
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