As a family-centered wellness practice, Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic provides the care and advice your child needs for a safe, fun and successful athletic experience.

Sports and Your Child’s Musculoskeletal System

As the saying goes, children aren’t simply smaller versions of adults.

Because their muscles and bones are still growing, kids are at a higher risk of injury from impacts or overuse than the typical adult. At the ends of young bones are areas known as growth plates. These have weaknesses that can intensify injuries, even interfering long-term with normal bone growth.

Common Injuries in Youth Sports

Children are typically injured in two major ways during sporting activities:

Acute injuries (such as broken bones, sprains and bruises) occur suddenly, from a fall, twist or impact.

Overuse injuries (such as tendinitis or shin splints) happen gradually from repetitive motions, especially when the child’s body doesn’t get enough rest time between activities.

Parents and coaches should be alert to signs that a child may have an overuse injury. These include swelling, pain, and reduced performance or interest in practicing.

Common sports injuries in children include:

• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Lower back or neck pain
• Knee injuries
• Shin splints
• Achilles tendon injuries
• Sprains or strains
• Swollen muscles

Tips to Help Your Child Prevent Sports Injuries

The good news is that lots of injuries are preventable with good safety practices, such as:

• Scheduling a sports physical exam for the child before starting a sport
• Using the correct protective gear, such as padding, helmets or shin guards
• Playing a variety of sports, with rest breaks, to avoid overuse injuries
• Doing proper warmups, stretches and cooldowns for physical activities
• Performing strength, aerobic and flexibility exercises that are appropriate for the child and the sport
• Not playing if in pain or fatigued

Also, be sure to encourage healthy habits:

• A balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and fewer processed foods
• Plenty of sleep—at least 8 hours nightly
• Good hydration—especially before, during and after sports

Helping Children Reach Their Best Fitness Potential with Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors work with athletes of all ages and even professional sports teams, providing treatments that align the spine and promote:

• Improved posture
• Reduced chance of injury
• Improved joint function, flexibility and range of motion
• Less pain and inflammation
• Faster recovery
• Better athletic performance

Your child’s chiropractor provides care that is noninvasive and safe. They diagnose and treat the source of pain and coordinate with other medical professionals for your child’s care.  Spinal adjustments are gently modified for children, using only light pressure.

As a bonus, you’ll find that many overall benefits of children’s chiropractic care–such as better immunity, stress relief, and optimized brain development–also carry over to your child’s success in whatever sports they choose.

Contact Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic to Schedule Your Free Consultation

To get your child started on achieving their best physical fitness potential, call our Broken Arrow office at 918-940-4630 today.

The post Chiropractic Care for Kids Who Play Sports: Why It’s Important first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Injuries may throw your life and health out of balance, but knowing how to prevent and heal them can make all the difference. We diagnose and treat a variety of sports injuries at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic to help you get back in the game as soon as possible.

Common Types of Sports Injuries

Sports injuries happen frequently in the United States. Among children and teenagers, according to Stanford Children’s Health, more than 3.5 million are hurt playing sports every year.  Young people are more prone to be injured because they’re still growing, are less coordinated, and are more likely to overestimate their abilities.

No matter your age, many injuries happen due to preventable factors, such as overuse/repetitive strain, starting a new sport after being inactive, not warming up, poor technique, or even wearing the wrong shoes.

Typical injuries include:

• Fractures and dislocations
• Swelling of muscles
• Strains (affecting ligaments) and sprains (affecting muscles or tendons)
• Damage to joint areas such as the knee or rotator cuff

What to do if You Suffer a Sports Injury

Many injuries can be prevented by warming up, cooling down, and stretching. When muscles are cold, they lack flexibility and can’t respond as well to sudden movements.

Chiropractors understand the value of noninvasive treatments. If you suffer a minor injury, you can start treatment using the RICE method:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

Be alert to signs that you need immediate medical attention:

• Inability to put weight or pressure on the injured area
• Major pain and swelling
• Lumps or protrusions through the skin
• Feeling weak, dizzy or unstable
• Trouble breathing

The Role of a Strong Spine in Protecting Your Joints and Muscles

Whether your injury is mild or serious, or even before you’re injured, you can benefit from ensuring that you have a healthy, strong core and spine.

A well-aligned spine is at the core of all the movements your joints and muscles make. It helps to keep your entire body moving properly and your nervous system and reflexes functioning at their best. Achieving good core strength and alignment is essential to avoiding injury, as well as having a successful recovery if you do get hurt.

How Regular Chiropractic Care Helps Prevent Sports Injuries and Relieve Pain

Pro sports teams know the value of chiropractic care and commonly have chiropractors as part of their training programs.

With their expertise in the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are valuable contributors to standard medical care. They provide a variety of safe, non-invasive, drug-free therapies that minimize pain and swelling, improve joint function and promote healing.

Whether you’re an elite athlete or an everyday sports enthusiast, chiropractic care improves your mobility, strength and balance. Your customized treatment plan will help to prevent and minimize injury, boost performance, and keep you out there engaging in the sport you enjoy.

Contact Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic for Your Complimentary Consultation

Give our Broken Arrow office a call at 918-940-4630.

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Most of the greatest benefits achieved with Chiropractic adjustments go well beyond the alleviation of pain in the back, neck, or extremities. Many photographs capture Usain Bolt, the fastest person in the world, receiving Chiropractic care during warm ups or shortly before competition. Bolt and other athletes representing the highest levels of worldly competition make Chiropractic care a staple of their training regimen. Golfers, basketball players, wrestlers, and athletes in virtually every sport utilize the unique benefits of Chiropractic care. In addition to improving motion and reaction time, chiropractic adjustments also aid in recovery and allow athletes to push themselves in training sessions to achieve greater gains in preparation for the spotlight of competition. Coaches in all sports love Chiropractic because they know that Chiropractic care helps their athletes prevent injury and recover more fully and quickly.

Other benefits of regular Chiropractic adjustments include improved nervous system function, mobility, balance, and reaction time. These assets help maximize athletic performance in professional and recreational competitors. A study published in 2015 split a group of female athletes into two groups. One group received specific adjustments to areas of misalignment in a pelvic bone. The other group received functional muscle stretching to relieve soft tissue imbalances in the lower back. The results showed that elite female athletes receiving a Chiropractic adjustment to their pelvis experienced an increase in vertical jump height when compared to a control group. The group receiving additional stretching exhibited no change in vertical jump height while the group that received Chiropractic spinal adjustments experienced an average increase of 3.6 centimeters to their vertical jump height. Evidentiary studies continue to mirror previously produced evidence that Chiropractic adjustments unlock kinetic potential in the body.

Chiropractors do not seek to treat a condition, pain, or vertical jump height impairment. The purpose of Chiropractic adjustments focuses on restoring motion in the bones and joints of the spine. By improving movement and joint integrity, the health of nervous system impulses from brain to body improve due to the intimate connection between the spine and the brain. Appropriate alignment and movement in the spine alleviate pressure and negative feedback into and out of the brain. The brain better perceives internal and external needs as the spine becomes more well-adjusted. Every athlete of every level of competition, both professional, and recreational, deserves to understand the positive impact of whole-body health which comes from Chiropractic care. Access to regular spinal adjustments improves function and performance. Unlock greater potential with Chiropractic.

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New research helps explain why Chiropractic uniquely benefits short and long-distance runners.

Research published in January proved that an adjustment increased muscle strength and corticospinal excitability to muscles in elite athletes.  The increased muscle force and the increased corticospinal excitability helped athletes gain an edge over their competitors. Utilizing Chiropractic spinal adjustments as part of training also enabled athletes to train harder and with greater strength and precision.

Chiropractic care helps runners in a multitude of ways.

The component that the majority of athletes and coaches understand involves the improvement of motion and biomechanics. Chiropractic adjustments improve motion in the spine and joints, increasing the ease of movement and efficiency of body biomechanics. Greater mobility and range of motion minimizes the risk of injury within the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Chiropractic also improves postural and spinal alignment. The improvement of alignment minimizes unnecessary wear and tear on joints like good axel alignment on a car. Research also indicated that Chiropractic care maximizes muscle strength and corticospinal excitability. This means that an adjustment improves the amount of electrical activity from the brain to the body by improving alignment and movement of the spine. The increased electrical activity produces greater strength in the muscles of the leg.

The spine maintains an intimate relationship with the brain and central nervous system.

Proper alignment and movement help maximize the function of the spine and nervous system. The rigorous training involved with daily running creates a need for routine nervous system maintenance. Wear and tear on the spine and body biomechanics from hitting the pavement necessitate proper care for the spine and posture.

The most foundational aspect of training involves the body’s ability to continually work, recover, and improve on the previous day, week, and month. Passionate runners deserve every opportunity to maximize training and recovery while limiting the risk of injury. Healing and repair between long runs or short bouts of intense training require the body to be functioning at optimal levels. Key components like nutrition, sleep, and running biomechanics become more enhanced and productive when combined with Chiropractic. Running for recreation or competition become metaphors for longevity and endurance on both the track and in real life. Chiropractic offers the opportunity to not only perform at peak levels but also maintain a long-term lifestyle that allows runners to maintain their passion and their health into advanced age. Whether training for a race or for the long-term life experience, Chiropractic helps finish the race well.

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It is the end of summer and children returning to school represents a time for check-ups and annual measurements. Children usually take an annual trip to a physician for baseline monitoring of blood pressure, heart, and physical wellness. Older student-athletes undergo mandatory physicals to participate in athletics and activities.  They also receive guidance on nutrition, training, exercise, and sport-specific issues.

What about Chiropractic as the kids go back to school?

These annual exams represent the same reasons a parent would take their children to a Chiropractor for an evaluation. The health and wellness of the family begins with preventative measures. Prevention is designed to maintain health through proactive measures which actively prevent the onset of sickness, disease, and injury. The same parents who invest such care in pediatric and athletic exams often overlook the importance of spine and nervous system care. Preventative care plans begin with Chiropractic.

How does chiropractic help children and how does it pertain to back to school?

The spine intimately connects to the function of the brain and nervous system. Also it regulates the overall health of the body. A misaligned spine that does not move appropriately alters feedback in the central nervous system. This will set off a cascade of hormones that lead to or contribute to unwanted symptoms that present as sickness and disease. A compromised nervous system decreases function and performance in the brain and body.

Spine and postural health remain as important to health, function, and quality of life as good nutrition and exercise.

Research done by medical doctors and published in the reputable Spine medical journal revealed the influence of posture on overall body health and well-being. Studies evaluated spine and postural health using x-rays and plumb-line measurements along with other health measurements and recorded subjective data. Patients listed specific, unwelcome symptoms or ailments that went along with objective measurements of blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. Research authors found that every recorded aspect of health deteriorated as measurements of posture deviations (shifts in posture) got worse.

This study further details the importance of healthy posture, spinal alignment, and spinal movement. Abnormal posture or small shifts in the spine referred to as a subluxation, operate like cavities in the teeth. They slowly and painlessly form in the back and neck and take root before ever festering with symptoms that declare a problem exists. The intimate relationship between the spine and nervous system makes subluxations a critical component in altering mood, hormones, and function. Poor alignment results in loss of focus, inability to concentrate, less energy, and issues with immunity and digestion. This is because the central nervous system regulates organs and functions. Maintaining a healthy spine serves to only enhance the health and well-being of every member of the family.

Annual checkups to the physician and athletic staff represent routine landmarks on the path to a healthy year. Chiropractic care provides a key element that enhances the physical, mental, and emotional health potential of the entire family. The start of a new school year offers new possibilities and new beginnings. Chiropractic offers the beginning of a healthier future.

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These counterparts even exist in the world’s most popular sport. More professional and amateur athletes participate in soccer than in any sport in the world. Soccer requires both physical skill and mental strategy to work as a team with the singular objective of kicking the ball into the opposing team’s goal. The most interesting and unique aspect of soccer involves players pursuing their objective without being able to touch the ball with their hands. The rules make soccer both challenging and fun while also subjecting players to significant short and long-term health challenges and sports injury.

What makes soccer different?

Players compensate for their hands by advancing and scoring using their feet, chest, and head to kick, block, or pass the ball. One method of advancing a ball in flight involves executing a “header”. This is when a player impacts the ball by using their head and forehead to impact and direct the ball. Such collisions do not occur without consequence.

Just how much damage happens with a header?

Research showed the amount of force generated while completing a header averages as much as 450 lbs. on the head, neck, and spine. The study revealed that the cervical spine absorbs a significant amount of force when a player uses their head to strike the ball. Degeneration of the cervical spine (neck vertebrae) for some soccer players occurs as much as 10-20 years earlier in than that of the normal population. The advanced health deterioration originates from the high impact trauma to the neck vertebrae caused by heading the ball. Other significant pathologies found in the spines of soccer players included disc bulging, bone spurs, disc protrusions, loss of the normal neck curve, and spinal cord compression.

These traumatic consequences originate from heading a soccer ball regularly.

The forward movement of the head towards the ball creates a collision which poses significant long-term health risks along with sports injury. Many soccer players establish and maintain a health-restoring relationship with a Chiropractor for the sake of their long-term performance and wellness. All soccer players need to understand the importance of proactive care and prevention for the trauma inflicted by repeated collisions to the head and neck. Waiting until pain and symptoms surface usually indicates the already existing presence of degenerative damage. Chiropractic adjustments keep the spine in alignment and moving properly to avoid the buildup of adhesions which lead to scar tissue and degeneration. The spine also provides stress-reducing side effects from each adjustment that removes stress from the central nervous system.

Other precautions and action steps that accompany Chiropractic care to mitigate long term spinal damage from soccer include: 

• Insist all players learn and implement proper heading techniques.
• Engage with a Chiropractor regularly to ensure that every athlete maintains proper alignment and movement throughout the spine.
• Utilize neck extension exercises and use a proper pillow.
• Strengthen and stretch the extensor muscles of the back on a regular basis.
• Consume a diet filled with anti-inflammatory foods and spices. Excellent food choices include avocados, coconut oil, green leafy vegetables, and turmeric.

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The likelihood of enduring a concussion decreases as a person ages. High school aged individuals tend to maintain some of the most active schedules and face an increased susceptibility to experiencing an incident of head trauma. An estimated 2.5 million high school students reported having experienced a concussion in 2017 related to athletics or activities during the preceding year. Concussions impact body structures and tissues and impact all facets of proper function. Younger people also require longer recovery times than adults and require proper attention to cognitive, effective, and behavioral symptoms.

Statistics 15.1% of students reporting a concussion believed they may have had more than one during the previous year. 6% reported experiencing more than two. Diving further into the statistics reveals that the likelihood of a concussion increases for athletes playing multiple sports (16.7%, 22.9%, and 30.3%, respectively). Yet, students not participating in athletics experience very similar chances of head trauma from Band, Dance, Cheer, and other noncontact activities.

Additional concern exists for the under-reporting of concussions. Approximately 40% of students experiencing a concussion reported that their coach or sponsor did not recognize the symptoms of the injury. Participating in activities after experiencing a concussion increases the likelihood of a repeat injury or a more severe condition. High school athletic associations mandate concussion education for high school coaches and teachers to help ensure injured participants do not engage in activities until receiving clearance from a healthcare provider.

Chiropractic plays an important role in the health and recovery of every person afflicted with a concussion. The body possesses established tissue injury thresholds. Excessive acceleration or deceleration of the head and neck usually produces concurrent injury to the joints and soft tissues of the cervical spine. Evidence-based research proves that injury and dysfunction of the cervical spine results in numerous signs and symptoms synonymous with concussions, including headaches, dizziness, and cognitive and visual dysfunction.

Clear evidence indicates that scientifically based spinal assessments and rehabilitation positively enhance the healing process following an incident of brain trauma from a concussion. Addressing cervical spine dysfunction continues to be a critical element in concussion recovery as evidence and data advocate for proper recovery methods. Chiropractic offers a pain free method for returning the body to a state of maximized function and restored health. Using a Chiropractic approach to concussion treatment does more than just treat symptoms. Chiropractic care revitalizes performance and restores quality of life.

The post Concussions and Chiropractic: Research Proves Chiropractic Plays a Pivotal Role in Concussion Recovery first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Being able to accurately assess the difference between these two sets of circumstances is crucial to your success and short- and long-term outcomes. An overlooked injury will get worse and, ultimately, the type and amount of treatment required will be more serious and the recovery time considerably prolonged.

Of course, pain itself does not necessarily mean stopping what you’re doing. Everyone who does strength training knows that performing the last couple of reps with heavier weights often involves some form of discomfort — occasionally intense discomfort. But in order to progress, it’s important to tolerate and work through the discomfort, and even pain, associated with temporary muscle fatigue and failure. Similarly, those doing interval types of cardiorespiratory training may experience the intense pain of anaerobic fatigue toward the end of a very fast sprint. But such pain is expected and temporary, and being able to work through such pain represents the training benefit. Working through the pain implies that your strength and endurance are improving. However, the blithe philosophy of “no pain, no gain” needs to be consistently contrasted with the intelligent ability to clearly acknowledge when the experienced pain represents a problem.¹

How are you able to recognize when the pain you’re experiencing is a problem? First, the pain you feel during intense effort is temporary and should subside fairly quickly as you move on to your next exercise activity. In contrast, pain that persists or increases during a workout or training session is probably not a good thing. If you continue to feel that pain throughout the course of the day and into the next day, then you should likely interpret that pain as an injury. In this context, it’s important to distinguish the pain of an injury from that of normal muscle soreness. Normal muscle soreness is generalized, not local. You feel such soreness in the entire muscle, rather than in a specific spot. Additionally, muscle soreness resolves within 24 to 48 hours with most usually resolving within a day. Pain that persists beyond 48 hours should be reasonably interpreted as an injury.

Importantly, not all injuries require treatment. Less severe injuries such as mild muscle strains may heal on their own with appropriate rest. In general, any injury that persists beyond seven days should be evaluated by a health care professional. Your family chiropractor will be able to accurately assess your health problem and answer questions regarding the nature of the injury and the recommended course of care.^2,3  

¹Gisselman AS, et al: Musculoskeletal overuse injuries and heart rate variability: Is there a link? Med Hypotheses 87:1-7, 2016

²Faizullin I, Faizullina E: Effects of balance training on the post-sprained ankle joint instability. Int J Risk Saf Med 2015;27 Suppl 1:S99-S101. doi: 10.3233/JRS-150707

³Cools AM, et al: Evidence-based rehabilitation of athletes with glenohumeral instability. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24(2):382-389, 2016

As always, if you ever want to sit down and discuss your current condition, we are just a phone call away at 918-940-4630.  Thank you for allowing us to be your chiropractor.

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