Sports Chiropractors are huge but invisible players on and off of the field in the National Football League (NFL). Football can be a dangerous sport due to the rough body contact that leads to various painful injuries. When an injury is detected early, chiropractic care treats the damage and can resolve the root of the pain. Professional chiropractic adjustments can also provide prevention to common NFL injuries, including herniated disc pain.
According to a 2002 survey, 31% of NFL teams have a chiropractor as an official member of their staff. According to the same study, 77% of trainers have personally recommended some of their players to a chiropractor for further care.
Why does the NFL need Sports Chiropractors?
Healthcare is essential for NFL players and their teams. The teams usually cover all medical care costs for their players since the more a player is on the field, the more money can be earned. NFL players have a high injury risk, so teams research treatment that does not require any healing time, and that takes them off the field for any longer than necessary. That is where chiropractic care comes in to play.
Chiropractors can heal a myriad of issues and usually just within one treatment without any recuperation period. Although the NFL has had a noticeable presence of sports chiropractors since 2002, the foundation of the Professional Football Chiropractic Society (PFCS) has continued to encourage the growth of importance of chiropractic care in a sports environment. According to the PFCS, the average NFL chiropractor has around 30 to 50 treatments per week in-season to treat different injuries or to provide preventative care.
What role do Sports Chiropractors serve in the NFL?
Sports chiropractors help professional NFL players in many ways, usually in the direct and preventative treatment of injuries. At each game, you can find at least one chiropractor ready to treat minor injuries or bursts of pain right away so the player can get back on the field as soon as possible. If the injury is more serious, treatment will begin on the field but continue after the game.
1.Relieve shoulder and lower back pain
Some of the most common non-serious injuries that NFL players sustain are to the joints, shoulders, and lower back muscles. If the injury happens toward the beginning of the game, the issue can generally be resolved by half-time.
Like many other professional sports, the NFL believes in treating the cause of the pain, not just providing a short-term solution. By really addressing the root of the issue, the player will experience more relief and is less likely to obtain an injury during their next game.
2.Treat musculoskeletal injuries
Musculoskeletal injuries cover trauma to the body relating to repetitive movements affecting the muscles, bones, tendons, blood vessels, nerves, and other softer tissues within the body. Although each game is different, the same kind of motion is repeated at every single game.
Preventative chiropractic care helps to reverse any minor damage already caused by repetitive movements and prevent further pain.
3.Provide general body maintenance
Even if the player can avoid serious injuries, body stiffness and soreness are common occurrences that chiropractic treatment can help alleviate. By eliminating feelings of stiffness or soreness helps NFL athletes stay on top of their game by promoting flexibility and pain-free movement. Stiffness elimination also helps prevent future injury since players’ bodies can practice their full range movements.
Final thoughts
Chiropractic care within the NFL has been rising due to former concerns of painkiller abuse. The tightknit relationships between players, trainers, teams, and chiropractors facilitate open conversations about injuries caused due to football and provide medicine-free healing alternatives. The regular adjustments carried about by professional sports chiropractors help keep our national superstars on their top-performance so we can see our favorite players on the field every single week.
