Chiropractic care for FUNCTION

It's a vicious cycle – you are training for a big competition or are just trying to stay in shape and during an early morning run, you feel the pull in the hamstring. You stop briefly but decide to train through the pain because “no pain, no gain,” right? WRONG. While it might boost your ego to be able to push through the pain to keep going, there are many changes that the body will make to accommodate the injured body part that may, in turn, result in further injury and more pain.

Chiropractors are often seen as the “quick fix” doctors. You're in pain, you go for treatment, and after so many visits, the pain is gone and you're back to training. But what if that was how we treated everything? You drive you car until it is completely out of oil, take it in for an oil change, and then go back to driving. It works, but the car will break down much faster than if it was in regularly for oil changes. In the same way, those quick fixes with the chiropractor may keep you in training and able to compete, but the lack of routine maintenance will limit how far you can go with your sport and result in a shorter athletic career.

Athletes of all levels want to be able to perform well and function at the highest level possible. So why is it that we wait until there is pain before we address the issue? Pain is not the problem, it is only the symptom of the problem. The actual source of the pain is the issue that needs treatment. Chiropractors are often seen only when there is pain with the goal of alleviating that pain. What if instead, the underlying cause of the pain was determined and treated?

Instead of being known as the “quick fixers,” chiropractors should be known as the “long-term function” doctors. Just as we take our cars to the shop for regular maintenance and take our pets to the vet for routine check-ups, when it comes to our body functioning well, it should be no less of a priority. Lew Hollander is an 81 year-old IronMan triathlete who strongly encourages all athletes not to assume everything is going well just because there is no pain. His advice, “If you want to be functional at 80, you better...pay attention at 40.”

According to the American Chiropractic Association, “Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health.” Training until the pain becomes unbearable before seeking treatment results in compensation imbalances and other issues that will limit function and performance.

Routine chiropractic care catches any potential issues early and allows the doctors to treat the source of the problem before the pain surfaces. All athletes, regardless of their level, want to be able to perform at their potential. Nagging injuries and pain limit their ability. Using chiropractic care to maintain health and function instead of “quick fixes” is a step in the right direction to achieve those fitness goals set for 2012!

Reference:

“It's Not About the Pain.” Celebrate Wellness! The Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association. 2 January 2012. <http://virginiachiropractic.org> 19 January 2012