The speed, forces, and regular occurring contact associated
with football during both practice and within games, make some type of
football-related injury almost unavoidable. Injury prevention and treatment for
any athlete starts with optimal health in both nutrition and musculoskeletal
alignment.
Chiropractic care focuses on the health and function of
the entire body, with particular emphasis on the skeletal system, muscular
system, and central nervous system. When the body’s central nervous system is
optimized and 100% healthy, all systems within the body perform properly and at
their full potential. When there are interferences (known as subluxations)
within the central nervous system, the systems of the body are not able to
function at peak levels, which leave them susceptible to illness and injury.
The majority of catastrophic football injuries occur
secondary to axial (downward) compression of the cervical (neck) spine. This
mechanism of injury occurs most often when a player drops their head down when
tackling or blocking an opponent. This flexes the cervical spine, flattening
the natural Lordotic curve, which bypasses the shock absorbing capacities of
the spine and the associated muscles and ligaments. It is very important that
these young athletes practice proper training from an early age to avoid
initiating contact with their helmet.
Concussions have received an increasingly amount of
attention in the press lately because we are all aware now of just how harmful
they can be. If not dealt with properly, concussions can have lasting effects
on the individual’s brain function. Concussions occur when there is a traumatic
blow to the head, neck, or body. This trauma can cause a whiplash-type injury
to the neck, which is a term used for the association of tearing of the
muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This type of injury will result in loss of
normal function in the spine immediately, and will progress even more in the
future if not treated properly. Recent studies have found that the Chiropractic
adjustments of the upper cervical spine, increases performance of the central
nervous system due to the precise x-rays, gentle technique, and direct
relationship on the central nervous system.
As much as we teach our youngsters principles like “no
pain, no gain”, athletes, their trainers, and Doctors understand the
consequences of disabling the pain mechanism and have come to realize the
benefits of the Chiropractic perspective - treat the cause of the pain. It is
also important to note that a misaligned spine does not always produce pain.
Typically pain is one of the last symptoms to appear, which means that damage
has been going on long before seeing a Chiropractor.
Dr. Catherine Kuiken
with Andrew Kossack
Here at The Chiropractic Villa, we serve our patients and
clients with whole-body health by utilizing upper cervical Chiropractic,
massage, nutrition, acupuncture, and e-stim therapy. Make sure your child is
properly prepared for a future in sports and stays as injury free as possible!
