Chiropractic treatments can help with a variety of injuries, especially those that involve muscles, bones, and joints. Many of the treatments are effective for people who experience injuries during martial arts practices and competitions.
Like all athletes, martial artists are not immune from injuries. Due to the nature of the practice, martial artists experience injuries to feet, ankles, knees, hamstrings, groins, backs, necks, shoulders, necks, jaws, and more. Martial arts training, especially competitions, is tough on the body, and chiropractors are prepared to help athletes recover from their injuries.
How Chiropractors Help Athletes
In fact, athletes from all types of competitive sports turn to chiropractic care for relief from their injuries and to improve their performance. Studies show that chiropractors use spinal manipulative therapy to help athletes with issues relating to:
- Reduction of muscle inhibition
- Altered muscle electromyographic activity
- Muscle strength modulation
- Cognitive/motor reaction time and motor training improvement
Other studies show that chiropractic care can help reduce injuries. In fact, chiropractors are on all NFL and MLB staffs to help keep professional athletes on the field. To treat injuries and prevent more from happening, chiropractors offer several therapies for athletes under their care. They include:
- Dynamic exercises
- Spinal manipulation
- Hip alignment
- Soft-tissue mobilization
- Massage
Chiropractors can also help martial artists understand how injuries happen and what they can do to prevent them. Because of their training, chiropractors understand when athletes should take time to rest and recover, and they know when athletes should do preventative and therapeutic exercises. Since martial arts require daily, disciplined practice, it is important that martial artists are able to get on their mats everyday.
How Chiropractic Care Helps Martial Artists
When martial artists work with chiropractors, martial artists learn how to work with their bodies. They develop a stronger connection between their minds and bodies so they can improve their balance, power, and coordination. Because chiropractors work on the spine and joints, they help martial artists tune their nervous systems so their reflexes become fully functional.
Why Martial Artists Should See a Chiropractor
Any athlete who has repetitive motions in their practices often suffer from stiff joints. Chiropractors are experts at unlocking the stiffness and helping athletes regain full motion in their joints. Because martial artists need to have fluidity in their practice, they should see a chiropractor to help them keep their knees, hips, ankles, wrists, and more moving with precision.
Some martial arts include movements that result in impact to the body. Whether breaking a board or striking a partner, those impactful movements affect not just the hands, arms, feet, and legs. The spine can be affected, which is where chiropractors excel; they can help martial artists with spinal manipulation and massage to help them with recovery so they can get back to the mat.
Chiropractors can help martial artists restore their strength and flexibility in their bodies while they also provide advice on rest and relaxation. The goal is avoid having the injury again, especially since martial arts of all types involve so many repetitive movements. Chiropractors do not prescribe medication, but they might prescribe exercises for the areas of the body that need the help.
What Happens at a Chiropractic Office
At the first visit, chiropractors evaluate the physical status of their patients. Some will take X-rays to see how joints align. They also do a physical that involves evaluating flexibility and strength. They look at the body’s status quo so they can see how the body progresses during and after treatment.
After the evaluation, the chiropractor will recommend that the patient come a certain number of times to get the most out of the treatments. Like martial arts, chiropractic care is more effective when it is repeated. Studies show that repetition is one of the keys to successful treatment.
Some chiropractic appointments are quick adjustments. Others might include a short roller massage to give the spine some flexibility before the adjustment. Some appointments might include a 30- or 60-minute massage with a therapist. The chiropractor will recommend options that will best help treat the martial arts injuries. Martial artists visit their chiropractor to reestablish good spinal alignment.
Common Martial Arts Injuries Treated by Chiropractors
Martial arts involve the entire body. The repetitive movements train the muscles and joints to behave in a certain way. The practice also helps strengthen the mind, too. And, as martial artists are so used to the physical strain on their bodies they may not realize that they have injuries. Their strong minds help them tolerate pain differently than other athletes.
Chiropractors often see martial artists with these injuries:
- Sprains to sacroiliac, lumbar or cervical facet, or cruciate ligaments
- Piriformis syndrome
- Rotator cuff tendonitis
- Temporal-mandibular dysfunction (TMJ)
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel issues
- Torn or injured meniscus
- Disc injuries
- Hamstring injuries
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Rib, pectoral, or intercostal strains
Chiropractors can help with all of these injuries, even if they are chronic. The old adage of “no pain, no gain” is not something chiropractors believe. Tiring the body is one thing, but making it hurt is another. Chiropractors can help martial artists stay on the mat by educating them about the signs that their bodies need recovery rather than more recurring injuries.
Reasons to See a Chiropractor
Keeping the body strong and flexible are reasons to see a chiropractor. But, there are several other reasons to see one.
Concussion Protection
Martial artists’ bodies take a hit at each practice. With chiropractic care, martials artists learn how to protect their bodies when they fall on their mats. Chiropractors can help keep the spine strong to help prevent concussions and head injuries.
About Dr. Wells
Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab and has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. His practice has treated thousands of patients from different health problems using services designed to help give long-lasting relief.
Dr. Wells is also the author of over 700 online health articles that have been featured on sites such as Dr. Axe, Organic Facts, and Thrive Global. He is a proud member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians. And he continues his education to remain active and updated in all studies related to neurology, physical rehab, biomechanics, spine conditions, brain injury trauma, and more.
Increased Body Awareness
Chiropractors help patients build their own body awareness. For martial artists, increased body awareness improves response time, agility, balance, and reflexes.
Adding Suppleness to the Body
Martial artists need to be able to move with fluidity. With regular chiropractic care, martial artists will notice their bodies move in a smooth, fluid nature.
Heal Faster
Older martial artists often complain that their bodies take a long time to heal. Studies show, with chiropractic care, healing time improves, because of spinal alignment.
About the Author:
Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. founded Better Health Alaska and has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. His practice has treated thousands of Alaskan patients with physical therapy, chiropractic care, and massage therapy designed to help give long-lasting relief.
Dr. Wells is also the author of over 700 online health articles that have been featured on sites such as Dr. Axe, Organic Facts, and Thrive Global. He is a proud member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians. And he continues his education to remain active and updated in all studies related to neurology, physical rehab, biomechanics, spine conditions, brain injury trauma, and more.