Many people are aware of the numerous benefits of chiropractic care for common soreness and injuries, but did you know that it significantly benefits athletes, including hockey players? Chiropractic care is regularly used to treat both amateur and professional hockey players, and it changes the way that they play incredibly. Our chiropractic professionals in Chicago at Advanced Spine & Sports Care are familiar with chiropractic care for hockey players at all levels. All of our experts can attest that chiropractic care will speed the recovery and enhance the game of hockey players in Chicago.
Hockey in all its forms is intense and fast paced. It involves many movements that are quick, precise and high velocity and injuries are within its nature, especially in ice hockey where impacts can be sudden and fierce. Impact sports pose the biggest risk to the spine and safeguarding this part of the body has undergone much research over the years to improve preventative care and outcomes for spinal injury. Spinal injury can be career ending or worse, leading to paralysis and in extreme but rare cases, fatality.
Top Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Hockey Players
- Reduce pain from a back or spine injury – A hard fall or hit with another player can easily trigger a misalignment in the spine. Adjustments with a professional chiropractor will reduce pressure on nerves, thus eliminating pain and restoring normal feeling in the arms, legs, back, and neck.
- Promote healing – Chiropractic care will align the spine and promote healing. At Advanced Spine & Sports Care, we will ensure that there is a healthy flow of oxygen-rich blood to the injured tissue reducing inflammation and pain.
- Increase range of motion – Following an injury, the range of motion in hockey players is compromised. Our specialists will analyze the situation and determine the appropriate course of treatment to increase the range of motion.
- Improve balance and coordination – As all hockey players know, balance and coordination are the main assets for their game. When your spine is misaligned, the transmission of the nerves communicating to the rest of the body will not respond. We help athletes with their balance and coordination, whether it be to avoid an injury or help fix one that has already occurred.
Though any player is at risk, forwards have the highest rate of injury, followed by defense and then goalkeepers. Injury can occur during training but is far more common during the actual game, in fact, it’s 8 times higher and this is due to the physical contact. Injuries most frequently occur to the lower extremities like in the pelvis and hip but also occur to the head, back neck and face. Many types of injury occur, cuts and bruises and contusions are the most common but sprains, strains and breakages are more serious.
Over the years, chiropractors have been viewed as increasingly important to ice hockey and other hockey games to provide routine adjustments to the back to increase performance and flexibility as well in rehabilitating injuries. Ice hockey players play the game quite bent over and over time, this will cause lower back issues in most people without adequate preparation. Chiropractors are adept at keeping this area of the body strong and flexible so lower back issues occur less often and disappear more quickly.
Strengthening the back and neck is vital for preventative care and over time, chiropractic techniques have developed in order to better prepare athlete’s core strength, in turn reducing back and neck issues that stem from muscle weakness. Strengthening the most important structures to core stability reduces the stress on all sorts of structures within the body, helping our resilience to injury greatly.
In the event of injury, chiropractors have an in depth knowledge of how to stimulate the nervous system to heal an affected area more efficiently. This is often achieved through techniques which aid blood flow to the area, supplementing it with additional nutrients to accelerate its healing process. A few adjustments can make huge differences and many players report that minor gripes as well as more major issues have been rectified through frequent chiropractic visits and thus, chiropractic care has become very important to the game and many professional teams include chiropractors to make frequent adjustments as well as be involved in diagnosis and rehabilitation of more serious injuries.
The neuromusculoskeletal system plays a huge role in chiropractic care and focusing on improving mind body connections has been established as a way to prevent injury and improve performance. Pro players or amateurs can benefit hugely from chiropractors and those who have existing issues should make it a priority to visit a chiropractor for a core strength check and preliminary assessment and adjustment to prepare them for the sport.
Wide Range of Ways Hockey Players Benefit From Chiropractic Care
Hockey Players are some of the most dedicated athletes in the world, constantly putting their bodies to the test in practice and games. As they know all too well, the game that they love is rough, and throughout the game, they are exposed to difficult situations that challenge their body. Hockey players are exposed to a wide range of injuries, and some of the most common include those that affect the spine. Athletes not only will benefit from chiropractic treatments to help with injuries, but it will undoubtedly improve the way that they play and perform on the ice. Whether you want to treat an injury that you have suffered or simply want to prevent one from happening, chiropractic care should be the go-to option for any and all hockey players in Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area.
Ice Hockey Injuries – Did You Know?
- Between the 2009-2014 period, men and women suffered 226 and 97 back/neck/spine injuries.
- Men and women experience back/neck/spine injuries at a rate of 56 and 65 per 100,000 athlete exposures.
- It is estimated that 11,510 neck and cervical spine injuries took place over the 5-year period for all NCAA sports.
Most Common Types of Injuries Caused By Hockey
The amount of back-related injuries that hockey players suffer has been constant over time, but the number of younger players experiencing these injuries is rapidly increasing. In the game of hockey, there is intense stress and wear and tear on the body. Whether you are a professional hockey player or just coming into the game, it is crucial that you are aware of the common injuries.
Muscle, Back, and Hip Injuries Caused by Hockey
Muscle Strains
The muscles in the lower back are often the most common areas of strain and sprains resulting in back pain for hockey players. They often occur due to the different mechanical movements that are required during play. The intense amount of bending and twisting results in muscle fibers being abnormally stretched, causing limited mobility and life-altering pain.
Stress Fractures
A stress fracture, also known as spondylolysis, affects one or more vertebrae in the lower back. It is the result of overuse and repetitive activities, especially affecting hockey players because of their numerous practices and games. These fractures occur where there is a small crack in the bone and result in swelling, tenderness, and pain when moving.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disk is when the intervertebral discs become injured or irritated. These discs are rubbery cushions between the vertebrae; they act as a shock absorber and provide flexibility to the spinal column. When these discs deteriorate, they will become prone to rupture and bulging. When this happens, it will cause a piece of the disc to move out of place and pinch a spinal nerve. Though a herniated disc is common in the lower back and neck of hockey players, they cause intense pain that will eventually radiate into the leg or arm.
When Suffering from a Hockey Injury, Contact Advanced Spine & Sports Care
At Advanced Spine & Sports Care, we do whatever it takes to work with recreational, competitive, and professional hockey players to assist in preventing and recovering from injuries while assisting them and improving the way they play. If you want to learn more about how chiropractic care will help you, contact the best chiropractic care clinic in Chicago!
Last Updated on 13 December, 2022 by Chiropractic Sports Care