Dr Rachel Compton / Pringle Chiropractic
Many of the top athletes around the world use Chiropractic as a way of keeping at the top of their game.
What is Chiropractic good for?
Chiropractic care is not just a quick fix solution to acute low back injuries. Chiropractors are specialists in the care and management of spine including sports injuries and more chronic problems. This may include the treatment of low back pain, headaches, sciatica, hip pain to name but a few. Many patients also use chiropractic care as a form of wellness health care. They no longer just want to be free from pain but to be as healthy as they possibly can be. They come and get their spine and nervous system checked on a periodic basis to prevent many ailments developing into a chronic problem. This allows players to reduce time off for injury and get you back playing at 100% ASAP.
Injuries sustained on the rugby pitch may be from heavy impact or repetitive strain. The fast paced nature of the game also means that in many cases the adrenaline is pumping and players may not initially notice the severity of an injury, if the injury is not dealt with quickly then this may lead to secondary compensations elsewhere. This may predispose the player to further injury and discomfort. Our body is designed to cope with stress on a daily basis but when the adaptation becomes too much to cope with on our own symptoms arise. Injury to the nerves in the back can give rise to a host of symptoms including fatigue, changes in digestive function, stomach upset, decreased co –ordination, and pain in the hips, knees and ankles. All of these can impair a player’s ability to perform at their best.
Chiropractic care is aimed at relieving the pressure on the nerves as quickly as possible, however we also appreciate that for the best results health care needs to be active and therefore we are trained in areas such as nutrition, postural care and rehabilitative exercise so that we can advise individuals on how to look after themselves both on and off the pitch.
However it is not just the spine that may be affected. In many rugby players’ knee and shoulder injuries are also common. This can either lead to time off playing or changing their ability to play. In order to protect the injury site we often adapt our posture to ease the pain but this may in turn place undue stress on another area. I am also aware that in some cases regular use of painkillers just to keep playing is commonplace. This may mask some of the symptoms and further allow injury to become chronic. Chiropractic care takes a holistic approach to the treatment of injuries. We look at the body as a whole to ensure the optimum performance.
Chiropractic care is not exclusive to any age or stage of life. We assess patients from only a few weeks old to the more senior individuals. Many parents now bring children in for a range of ailments including colic, asthma, growing pains, sports injuries and many more. Many older rugby players may remember having shin splint / growing pains etc when they were just starting to play. Young people are very responsive to care and in many cases only take a fraction of the time that adults take to recover. This allows preventative care to start from a much younger age and may lead to improved performance. I have treated several teenagers now who are keen rugby players and all have reported improvements in speed and stamina beyond their pre injury performance.
If you would like any more information please do not hesitate to call Pringle Chiropractic Centre – 02890 202003 or check out our website www.pringle-chiropractic.co.uk
