Geelong Chiropractors- Enhancing Athletic Performance: The Role of Chiropractic Care in Football

Football (AFL, NFL and soccer), are sports that demands peak physical performance and places tremendous strain on the bodies of its players. From explosive sprints to bone-jarring tackles, footballers face many challenges that can lead to musculoskeletal issues. In this high-intensity environment, maintaining optimal physical health and performance is paramount. One avenue that has gained recognition for its role in supporting athletes is chiropractic care.

The Demands of Football

Football is not merely a game; it is a test of endurance, strength, and agility. Players push their bodies to the limit, subjecting themselves to repetitive motions, sudden stops and starts, and collisions that can jar the spine and joints. Over time, these demands can lead to a range of injuries, from muscle strains/tears to ligament tears and spinal injuries.

What is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care is a holistic approach to health that focuses on the relationship between the body’s structure—mainly the spine—and its function. Chiropractors use hands-on techniques to adjust the spine and other body parts to improve joint biomechanics, reducing pain and stimulating the central nervous system. This non-invasive practice emphasizes the body’s ability to heal itself without the need for medication or surgery.

*** Interesting facts:

Did you know that every American Football League team have chiropractic physicians on their rosters? Pictured below is every chiropractor featured in last year’s NFL season and form a part of the Professional Chiropractic Football Society. You can see more information on their website: https://www.profootballchiros.com/index.html 

Did you also know that chiropractic care is featured in the Netflix sports documentary “Quarterback”? or that quarterback Aaron Rodgers (considered one of the best in the game over the past 2 decades) Father is a chiropractor and relied heavily on chiropractic care to keep him moving and performing well.  Aaron Rodgers played for Green Bay Packers for a long time and this is who Dr Gooch supports! Our cover photo is of the great man.

A lot of professional soccer teams in Europe also employ chiropractors on staff and this is also the case with Australian rules football teams however we don’t currently feature on the sidelines on match day but are actively working on athletes at training sessions and during the week and form part of the medical teams.

Chiropractic benefits for footballers.

1. Injury Prevention

• Spinal Alignment: Proper spinal alignment is crucial for overall health and athletic performance. Chiropractic adjustments can help ensure the spine is in its optimal position, reducing the risk of injury.
• Joint Health: Footballers often experience wear and tear on their joints. Regular adjustments/mobilisation/manipulation can maintain joint mobility, decrease inflammatory change, break up joint adhesions or scar tissue formation and lubricate the joint surfaces for smoother joint glide.

2. Pain Management

• Non-Invasive: Chiropractic care provides a drug-free alternative for managing pain, which is especially beneficial for athletes who want to avoid relying on painkillers.
• Targeted Treatment: Whether it’s a sore back, neck pain, or shoulder discomfort, chiropractors can target specific areas of pain and address the root cause. This is mainly done with the use of joint mobilisation/manipulation but chiropractic care is also multi-modal; meaning we draw upon a lot of different techniques and approaches to achieve the best possible outcome for patients and athletes alike.

3. Enhanced Performance

• Improved Range of Motion: Proper joint mechanics can enhance flexibility and range of motion, allowing footballers to move more freely on the field.
• Better Recovery: Chiropractic care promotes faster recovery from injuries by improving circulation and reducing inflammation as well as stimulating the neurology which is the master control switch for all bodily functions.
• Improved reaction time: There is some initial, limited research in this area that does demonstrate that immediately following a course of spinal manipulation reaction times improve but these improvements don’t appear to be sustained over time. But you can imagine a player getting an adjustment on the side-line of a game may experience improved reaction time with a return to the field.

4. Holistic Approach

• Nutritional Guidance: Many chiropractors offer nutritional advice to support overall health and performance.
• Exercise and Stretching: Footballers can benefit from personalized exercise and stretching routines provided by chiropractors to improve strength and flexibility.
• Lifestyle advice and stress reduction techniques. 

Conclusion

In the world of football, where injuries are a constant threat and performance is everything, chiropractic care offers a holistic approach to health and wellness. By addressing the underlying causes of pain and dysfunction, chiropractors help footballers not only recover from injuries but also optimize their performance on the field. Whether it’s injury prevention, pain management, or enhancing overall well-being, chiropractic care has become a valuable tool in the arsenal of athletes striving for greatness.

Next time you see your favourite footballer scoring a winning goal or making a game-changing tackle, remember that behind the scenes, chiropractic care might just be one of the secrets to their success.

If you would like to look after yourself like a pro and stay ahead of the competition please reach out here or you can book online

Your’s in health

Dr Matthew Gooch (Chiropractor)