Nothing represents fall better than bundling up in a warm sweatshirt and sitting under stadium lights as the home football team takes the field. As football and other fall sports are in full-swing, keeping our young athletes healthy and moving is as important as ever. In our clinic we see young athletes every day with acute injuries and for proactive health. In my experience, there are some basic things athletes can do to help keep themselves healthy and in-the-game. This is by no means an exhaustive list... but its a great place to start.
#1-Strengthening the Neck and Shoulders
The muscles of the neck and shoulder support and protect the spine. They also are used heavily in football for tackling and blocking. Building strength in these muscles helps support the head and neck during impact which can reduce concussions as well as protects the spine from injury. In addition to strength, chiropractic adjustments help restore proper alignment and mobility of the joints and flexibility of the soft tissue which can help prevent injury.
#2- Don’t Neglect Mobility
Young athletes spend their days sitting in a desk all day at school and their afternoons and weekends playing sports. This combination is hard on soft tissue and joints and leads to a ton of tightness. In addition to chiropractic adjustments to help restore proper motion, I also recommend learning a few basic yoga poses: “thread the needle” and “standing yoga seal” are both great movements to encourage mobility through the rib cage. “Cat-cow” is a simple but effective movement for all athletes for low back health.
#3- Think Holistically
Don’t neglect sleep and nutrition. As a holistic practitioner, I am always reminding people that everything is connected. Mental stress impacts your physical body and vice-versa. If you aren’t sleeping well or getting proper nutrition, it will impact muscle and joint health and can lead to injury. Chiropractic care is all about helping support your body from the inside-out for less pain and better function. To make an appointment, give our clinic a call at 952-443-9000.