Athletic Care in Orange City, FL

Did you know?

Experts estimate that 90 percent of all world-class athletes use chiropractic care to prevent injuries and increase their performance potential.  All National Football League (NFL) teams rely on DCs in varying capacities, and 77 percent of athletic trainers have referred players to a chiropractor for evaluation or treatment.

Our office is located close to Debary Golf and Country Club, Glen Abbey, The Deltona Club and Victoria Hills Golf Club. Dr. Grainger treats several of the avid golfers from the area. We are also down the street from Rob Sullivan Park, Bill Keller Park, West Volusia Youth Baseball Complex and Dewey Boster Sports Complex where we have many young baseball players being treated.

How Chiropractic Can Help

1. Optimized Performance

Chiropractic treatment improves the motion of the spine, thus improving the function of the nervous system it protects. Proper spinal motion leads to better sensori-motor integration (allowing the brain to take in and appropriately respond to sensory input), thus boosting the body’s overall performance. In a study by The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, athletes demonstrated a 6.12 percent performance increase after treatment. Another study (Lauro A. Mouch B. Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation. 1991; 6:84-87) showed a 30 percent improvement in hand-to-eye coordination after only 12 weeks of chiropractic care.

2. Injury Prevention

The best way to deal with injuries is to prevent them! Chiropractic, by helping maintain proper motion, balance, and coordination of the musculoskeletal system, this will help to prevent injuries related to poor function. A simple example of this would be a pelvic deficiency causing an imbalance in the knees and feet leading to ankle sprain/ strain, ACL / MCL tears, hamstring tears or shin splints. A recent study (Hoskins and Pollard) examined two groups of semi-elite Australian Rules football players. All players continued to receive their usual medical care, but half of the group also received chiropractic care. When chiropractic care was added to conventional care, there was a significant reduction in lower limb strain injuries, time missed from knee injuries, and lower back pain. The players receiving chiropractic treatment also reported feeling a general improvement in health.

3. Pain Reduction

Research has shown that chiropractic care can have a significant impact on pain, even in healthy young adults. Reducing pain associated with injuries allows athletes to return to more normal movement patterns. This, in turn, leads to faster and more complete recovery, with less chance of the relapses associated with poor movement patterns.

4. Healing & Recovery

Misalignment of the spine can hamper the healing process by not allowing the nerves and signals from the brain to flow properly. Much of the pain felt after an injury comes from the body trying to protect itself through muscle guarding and inflammation. These intelligent responses are part of the body’s protective mechanisms. They are designed, in the short-term, to prevent re-injury. Sometimes these mechanisms persist, and when they do, they prevent your return to the normal activity that is associated with healing. Chiropractic care, by helping to restore normal function, can help speed up the recovery process. Chiropractic care in addition to cold laser therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, trigger point therapy, cupping and Kinesio taping will get you back in the game faster!

5. Non-Invasive/ Drug-Free

Invasive treatments such as drugs and surgery are perfect for serious, life-threatening, or non-responsive (too conservative measures) injuries. If you receive a compound fracture of your arm from a bad fall, your best friend is modern medicine. Outside of this type of scenario, the chiropractic approach is a great fit to help you get well and get active again. With a focus on restoring proper function through care of the spine and nervous system, in addition to postural, exercise and dietary advice, chiropractic care can help many people get back to being their best. When you are functioning at your very best, you are more able to enjoy whatever level of activity you are into – whether that’s advanced golfing, baseball, surfing, or just going for a walk with your dog.

If you are an athlete, either a high level or weekend warrior, Ultimate Spine & Wellness offers the following advice:

1. Consult your chiropractor or doctor before starting a new exercise program
2. Warm up gently before stretching – and always stretch after working out/playing
3. Take it slow, particularly if you are at the beginning of a training session, especially so in cold weather
4. Exercise regularly. On-Off type exercise is a common way to injure yourself.
5. Rest when your body needs it, particularly as you get older. Over-training does not allow enough recuperation time.
6. Change up your game — cross-train to avoid overworking individual areas
7. Pay attention to your form to avoid injuries like ‘tennis elbow’. Practice the posture as part of the movement.
8. Listen to feedback from your body – don’t ignore the signals that are trying to tell you something.
9. Get good nutrition daily taking a multivitamin or mineral supplement if nutritional support is needed
10. Stay hydrated – water is an athlete’s friend – everything works better when hydrated.