Hockey is a rough sport, one in which a main form of defense
is checking another player. As such, hockey players suffer a wide range of injuries,
including those that affect the spine. Athletes who play hockey can benefit
from chiropractic treatments to help with those injuries. Keep reading for the
benefits chiropractic treatments can give to hockey players.
Adjust Injured Spines
One of the most common injuries that hockey players suffer
are to the spine. Cervical spine injuries are especially common. They suffer
these injuries because of the high-speed nature of the sport as well as the
environment - ice is hard, and the boards around the rink are stiff. When they
fall or get checked, their neck often flexes, which causes the cervical injury.
Chiropractors can use two techniques to treat cervical spine
injuries. One is cervical spine manipulation. This technique is the traditional
method of adjusting the neck at a high velocity. The other method is cervical
spine mobilization, which is a less forceful method of adjusting the neck. Both
techniques help heal the cervical spine injury.
Increase Range of Motion
Hockey requires a wide range of motion, both in skating and
maneuvering the puck. However, a misaligned spine and the attendant pain can
limit that range of motion. Part of the issue is that the misalignment causes
weakness in the muscles and tendons near the joints. A limited range of motion
can even lead to more injuries.
One of the first actions chiropractors take is to perform a
test of the athlete's range of motion. The goal is to observe the player's
range limits. Chiropractic care based on that test can help re-align the spine.
That alignment then helps strengthen the areas that are causing weakness around
the joints. The athlete can then enjoy a wider range of motion when playing.
Enhance Balance and Coordination
Balance and coordination are critical in the sport of hockey
as the players are flying around on the ice and hitting each other while trying
to maneuver a puck with a stick. While the eyes and ears are the main balance
components of the body, the nervous system plays a role.
Chiropractic treatments help rebalance the spine, which is
the center of the nervous system. When the spine is in alignment, the nerves
can do their job sending signals to the rest of the body. These signals help
hockey players maintain their balance and coordination even while engaged in a
fast-paced sport.
Boost the Healing Process
Hockey players don't just suffer from injuries that take
them out of the game. They suffer from a lot of minor injuries that yield aches
and pains. These injuries can result in chronic inflammation from scar tissue,
which slows down the healing process.
In the same way that chiropractic care helps the body's
central nervous system, it also supports the body's internal healing process.
Regular chiropractic treatments can even boost the healing process so that the
scar tissue is reduced over time. As a result, the athletes suffer from fewer
aches and pains.
Improve Performance
As noted, spinal misalignment can interfere with several
body functions. Besides the nervous system, the misaligned spine can also
affect the muscular system and, obviously, the overall skeletal system. If
these systems aren't running at their optimal level, hockey players are going
to find it difficult or even impossible to perform at their own peak level.
Regular chiropractic care can get the spine back into
alignment. Indeed, hockey players are susceptible to that misalignment because
of the physical nature of the sport. If they get regular adjustments, though,
all of their systems will be running better. They should see an improvement in
their performance both when training and playing.
Don't let injury or general pain prevent you from playing
hockey. Consult with Corner
Chiropractic Center
about how chiropractic care can help you get back on
the ice.
