When Should an Athlete See a Chiropractor?

Most athletes are used to some soreness after training. It comes with the territory. Persistent pain or changes in strength, mobility, or performance, however, may warrant a closer look.

Signs It’s Time to Get Checked Out

Pain that persists, keeps returning, or starts affecting strength, mobility, performance, or everyday activities is worth having assessed rather than simply waiting it out. Ongoing back or neck pain, joint stiffness, muscle strains, and movement limitations are among the concerns Lethbridge chiropractor Dr. Brad Parascak commonly assesses. The goal is to better understand what’s contributing to the problem and determine an appropriate treatment or rehabilitation plan.

The Injuries We See Most Often

Concussions are among the most common sports-related concerns seen in the practice, followed by neck and shoulder injuries, spinal pain and dysfunction, and pelvic or hip pain and movement imbalances. These can affect athletes across many different sports.

Assessment looks at musculoskeletal factors that may be contributing to an athlete’s symptoms and whether chiropractic care may have a role in their rehabilitation and return to sport.

Care Doesn’t Have to Wait for an Injury

Some athletes and weekend warriors also choose chiropractic care when they aren’t currently injured. Performance-focused visits may include functional movement testing, posture assessment using Kinetisense, nerve scans, and spinal X-rays when clinically appropriate.

These findings give Dr. Brad more information about an athlete’s movement and function and can help guide recommendations based on their individual needs and goals. Research supports this approach: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials on chiropractic care in sports found meaningful benefits in three of the four studies examined, including grip-strength gains of nearly 7 to 17% among judo athletes following chiropractic adjustment.

Knowing When to Refer Elsewhere

A thorough history and assessment looks at symptoms, movement, strength, posture, and overall function to help determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate.

If there are signs of a more serious injury, a neurological concern, a concussion requiring medical management, or something outside the chiropractor’s scope, the athlete may be referred to a physician, physiotherapist, or other healthcare professional, with care coordinated when needed.

Hockey Runs in the Family

Dr. Brad’s son, Terik, began receiving chiropractic care as a young hockey player and is now a professional hockey player. Over the years, his care has included assessment of movement, posture, and spinal and pelvic alignment, along with individualized care based on his needs at different stages of his hockey career.

For Dr. Brad, working with athletes means considering more than the immediate complaint. How they move, the demands of their sport, their current symptoms, and their goals can all help inform the care plan.