Sport and Chiropractic

What the research is saying:

• Chiropractic addresses biomechanical imbalances and optimises neuromuscular function.
• Enhanced performance helps you to compete more effectively.
• Chiropractic reduces injury rates.
• Chiropractic can increase the longevity of your playing career.
• You will enjoy better recovery times.

Based on:  Unlocking Athletic Potential: The Integration of Chiropractic Care into the Sports Industry and Its Impact on the Performance and Health of Athletes and Economic Growth in China and Hong Kong [Open Access Review Article DOI: 10.7759/cureus. 37157]

Sports Chiropractic helps you to prepare for the sporting season by:

• Correcting joint misalignments (subluxations) that interfere with your performance
• Reducing energy loss due to unnecessary muscle spasm
• Providing sports massage to relax your muscles
• Minimising the risk of hamstring strain
• Offering postural advice for on and off the field
• Providing training tips for injury prevention
• Giving age-specific advice (young players have different requirements to older players)

Especially for Footballers:

Why do I need a pre-season check-up?

• Common injuries such as hamstring stains can be caused by pelvic misalignment, something a chiropractor can identify and manage.
• Pre-season is the time to work on fitness and preventive treatment without the pressure of upcoming games and training sessions.
• Joint, spine and muscle problems cannot be treated by stretching. In fact stretching can aggravate untreated problems.

Regular check-ups throughout the season

• These are important for monitoring your progress and ensuring everything is staying on track.
• As you progress through the season, minor issues you may be ignoring can be signs of potential major issues and as such, should be addressed.

Dr. Sharon Wardle: FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine

• According to FIFA, there are over 300 million footballers (all levels) worldwide.
• FIFA Football Medicine has developed the FIFA 11+ training manual for warm-up, strengthening, stretching and endurance exercises.
• It is designed for footballers by football medicine experts, requires little or no equipment and is the safest and most effective regime for footballers of every level. It has been adopted by the world's top teams, as directed by FIFA, and is available to you.

Request an online copy of FIFA's 11+ training manual

• Please get in touch if you'd like a copy of this free FIFA resource.  
• There is a PDF of the entire manual and YouTube links which provide accurate demonstration of the exercises.

Sports Medicine Australia's Adult Pre-Exercise Screening System

Please answer the following questions:

•  Has your doctor ever told you that you have a heart condition or have you ever suffered a stroke?
•  Do you ever experience unexplained pains in your chest at rest or during physical activity/exercise?
• Do you ever feel faint or have spells of dizziness during physical activity/exercise that causes you to lose balance?
• Have you had an asthma attack requiring immediate medical attention at any time over the last 12 months?
•  If you have diabetes (type I or type II) have you had trouble controlling your blood glucose in the last 3 months?
• Do you have any diagnosed muscle, bone or joint problems that you have been told could be made worse by participating in physical activity/exercise?
•  Do you have any other medical condition(s) that may make it dangerous for you to participate in physical activity/exercise?

If you answered NO to all of these questions you may proceed with light to moderate physical training, but if you answered YES to any of these questions please see a health professional for further screening.