Yorba Linda, Orange County
Are you an athlete? Did you get injured playing sports? Spine therapy also known as chiropractic treatment can help you get back in the game.
Approximately 15% of all spine injuries occur during sport-related activities, making sports the fourth most common cause of spinal injuries.[i] The main reasons athletes suffer sports injuries include forceful impacts, repetitive motions, over-training and failure to warm up properly. These types of injuries effect athletes of all ages – from children playing at school during gym class to professional adult athletes.
Back injuries in the young athlete are a common phenomenon, occurring in 10% to 15% of participants.[ii] Sports that have higher rates of back pain include gymnastics, diving, weight lifting, golf, American football, and rowing.[iii] For example, in gymnastics, the incidence of back injuries is 11%, it may be as high as 50% for football linemen, and 90% percent of all injuries of professional golfers involve the neck or back.[iv]
Back pain is a symptom and has many causes. Chiropractors can help athletes by relieving their pain and helping them heal faster after an injury. Chiropractic work may offer patients alternative treatments without the risks of invasive surgery and/or medications. Chiropractors can help realign your skeletal system and reduce the inflammation associated with sports injuries. Seeing a chiropractor may also be able to help prevent sports injuries.
Muscle strains, ligament sprains, and soft tissue contusions account for as much as 97% of back pain in the general adult population.[v] While these injuries effect athletes of all ages, injury prevention and recovery gets harder as you age.
Although the entire spine is used when playing sports, it is estimated that 5-10 percent of all athletic injuries are related to the lumbar (lower) spine.[vi] Defects of a vertebra’s pars interarticularis (spondylolysis) and the slippage of one vertebra in relation to another vertebra (spondylolithesis) are common causes of lower-back pain in athletes.
A stinger, also called a burner or a nerve pinch injury, occurs when nerves in the neck and shoulder are stretched or compressed after an impact. These injuries are common in contact or collision sports, and are named for the stinging or burning pain that spreads from the shoulder to the hand.
Herniated, or “slipped” discs, can occur from prolonged pressure throughout the spine; an individual disc can tear out of its normal position and begin pressing against the spinal column causing numbness, pain, and tingling in the limbs.[vii]
A spinal fracture’s severity depends on the location of the fracture and whether surrounding ligaments were also injured or dislocated. Symptoms vary in accordance with the severity of the fracture but can include back or neck pain, numbness and tingling, muscle spasms or weakness, or paralysis.
As the leading experts in the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are many athletes’ top choice for ongoing preventative and performance-based care. At Divine Spine, we specialize in providing gentle, consistent computerized spine and joint therapy. Our computerized treatment system, performed through electronic vertebral alignment, offers a non-invasive procedure consisting of a precisely directed movement to help relieve pain and discomfort, and restore range of motion in the spine.
Used widely across many sports, the chiropractic work can help to boost overall performance, decrease downtime due to injury and keep athletes in top shape. It is safe and helpful for athletes of all ages.
When it comes to sports and spinal injuries, it’s always best to play it safe; make sure helmets, padding, and other protective gear are worn and properly fitted. All initial consults are complimentary at Divine Spine, if you have a sports injury make an appointment today.
[i] Clarke KS. Epidemiology of athletic neck injury. Clin. Sports Med. 1998; 17: 83–97.
[ii] d’Hemecourt PA, Gerbino PG Back injuries in the young athlete. 2nd, Micheli LJ. Clin Sports Med. 2000 Oct; 19(4):663-79.
[iii] Trainor TJ, Trainor MA. Etiology of low back pain in athletes. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2004; 3:41-46
[iv] Duda M. Golfers use exercise to get back in the swing. Phys Sportsmed. 1989; 17:109-113
[v] An HS, Jenis LG, Vaccaro AR. Adult spine trauma. In: Beaty JH, editor. , ed. Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 6. Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 1999:653-671
[vi] https://www.umms.org/ummc/health-services/orthopedics/services/spine/patient-guides/low-back-pain-athletes
[vii] https://methodisthospitalforsurgery.com/news/more-than-a-crickcommon-spinal-injuries-in-sports-