Sports Chiropractors Sydney
Chiropractor for Sports Injuries
Author: Dr. Paula Basilio (Chiropractor) B.Chiro.Sci (Macq), M.Chiro (Macq)
Welcome to My Back Relief Clinic! Many people only know Chiropractors to treat the back and neck, what they don’t often know is that our 5-year university degree has equipped us to deal with every joint in the body, be it shoulder, hip or toes. Let our Sports Chiropractors get you back into the game today.
- Rated 5/5
- 20+ Years Experience
- 2,000+ Patients Helped
- Dulwich Hill
What Can a Chiropractor Do For Sport Injuries?
A Chiropractor is trained to treat almost every joint in the body, be it in the spine, knee, hip or ankle. We are trained to stretch muscles and mobilise/ adjust joints that would have spasmed and stiffened from the injury. We also assess which muscles may need strengthening to rehabilitate the joints back to pre injury state. We look at the body as a whole and make sure we treat other appropriate joints that may have been indirectly effected by the injury.
Whether you go to a specific sports injury clinic or a chiropractor who helps treat sports injuries, many of the treatment methods will be similar.
Initial Injury Management
Anytime you have an acute injury that happens during playing sport or doing physical activity, the safest strategies to use is R.I.C.E.
- Rest – Stop doing the activity that caused the injury
- Ice – This reduces any swelling/inflammation that may be causing pain. Heat will increase inflammation
- Compress – you can use the ice pack to compress the area to reduce blood supply
- Elevate – reduce the swelling and get the fluid from swelling back to the heart e.g if you sprained you lie down and elevate the ankle above chest height.
How Does An Injury To The Leg And Arm Joints Affect The Spine?
One concept that is sometimes new to people is that the body works as one. For example, Joints such as the hips and the shoulder joint attach almost directly to and share the many muscles with the spine. Therefore, when treating sporting injuries, it is important to look at the patient as a whole and assess not only the joint that is in pain but the structures surrounding it.
Commonly, a single joint injury can cause adaptive changes in the body putting stress on the surrounding joints. For example, a patient that has sprained their ankle compensates for the pain by limping around, which in turn can put extra pressure on the knees, hips and low back. Thus it is sometimes important during recovery after a sporting injury to treat the joints/muscles above and below the injury site.
Sports Injuries FAQs
Yes, chiropractors can help with many sports injuries. Chiropractors complete five years of university training covering the whole musculoskeletal system, not just the spine. That means we can assess and manage injuries to the back, neck, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles. Care focuses on restoring movement, easing pain and rebuilding strength so you can get back to your sport safely.
- lower back and neck strains
- ankle sprains
- shoulder pain
- hip and knee pain from running
- muscle strains and tightness from overuse
Both chiropractors and physiotherapists treat sports injuries, and many of the methods overlap, including joint mobilisation, soft tissue work and rehabilitation exercises. At My Back Relief Clinic, we focus on how your spine and joints move together, which is especially useful when an injury has led to compensation elsewhere in the body. The most important thing is getting properly assessed and following a plan that suits you.
For most strains and sprains, it’s worth getting assessed within the first few days. Early advice helps you know what to do and what to avoid. In the meantime, rest the injured area, use ice to help manage pain and swelling, and avoid heavy activity. If you think you may have a fracture, dislocation or concussion, see a GP or go to the emergency department first.
It depends on the type and severity of your injury, your sport and how your body responds to rehabilitation. Going back too early is one of the most common reasons injuries recur. We’ll guide you through a gradual return, checking your strength, movement and confidence before you get back to full training and competition.
Many athletes see a chiropractor to help keep their body moving well between seasons or during heavy training. We assess your posture, joint movement and muscle imbalances that may put you at risk, and we give you exercises and advice to address them. No treatment can prevent every injury, but staying on top of small issues can help stop them from becoming bigger ones.
Sports Chiropractor Sydney
If you’re looking to see a chiropractor for sports injury treatment, feel free to contact our clinic today.