As Canada’s National Winter Sport, you don’t have to go far to find someone who plays hockey. And whether it be at a highly competitive level, or just for fun on a backyard rink, injuries from playing the sport are extremely common.
For many hockey parents, having your child suffer a hockey-related injury can be stressful, especially when playoffs or tournaments come up. But did you know that a chiropractor can not only help after an injury, but may prevent injuries from occurring in the first place?
Here are just some of the reasons how chiropractic treatment may help keep you or your kids before hitting the ice.
Increase range of motion
Whenever joints are restricted, the range of motion may be reduced, causing unnecessary stress on surrounding muscles and other joints nearby. This can make these areas more vulnerable to injuries that may have been avoided if the joints were moving properly.
Chiropractic care focuses on restoring movement to the body, not only in the spine but in your arms and legs too.
Improve balance and coordination
Your nervous system is the key to all of your body’s activities, and this includes your ability to balance and coordinate movements. When your nervous system is compromised by misalignments and restrictions in the spine, which can occur after a bad fall, or contact with another player, your balance and coordination can be affected. And we all know the importance of good coordination and balance when on the ice!
Chiropractic adjustments can help remove these misalignments and restrictions, allowing the nervous system to properly send signals through the body.
Prescribe stretches and strengthening exercises
How many times have you or your child gotten on the ice without warming up your muscles and joints first? While we’re often eager to start playing, not warming up (especially in a cold rink) can increase your risk of injury.
Your chiropractor can provide proper stretches to get your body moving before the game, and also prescribe strengthening exercises for muscle groups that may be weaker and more prone to injury in the future.
And if an injury does occur, chiropractic care can be helpful not only to reduce pain and promote healing, but also get you or your child back in the game faster.