Each year we see athletic performance draw closer to the limits of human potential. In the pursuit of breaking barriers of athletic greatness, many youth, amateur and professional athletes have experienced a time when they are sidelined with injuries that could have been avoided. They sit-out on the bench because their injury does not respond to ordinary treatment, and some athletes are even forced to retire. Still others continue playing despite a nagging injury, but at less than peak efficiency, simply because their structural system is not balanced.
Progressive coaches, athletes, and doctors are realizing that tapes, braces and pain-killing drugs are not the answer. They merely cover up the symptoms, deceiving the athlete into actions possibly making the injury more serious, or perhaps they begin the development of long-term chronic conditions. More than any other health profession, a chiropractor’s approach to health and body function most closely relates to the needs of a young athletes, correcting little problems before the become big.
Most sports – especially basketball – involve body contact, fast starts and stops, and positioning that places an unusual amount of strain on the back, hips, knees, ankles and the entire musculo-skeletal system. In a healthy body, every muscle in the body works in sync with the others and movement is fluid. On the flip side, if the body is out of balance, then movement is labored and difficult, some muscles become over-worked, while other muscles are not working at all. Overall, when the body is aligned, the chance of injury is significantly reduced and athletic performance is efficient, accurate, and free flowing.
Chiropractic is a natural health care method that gives special attention to the importance of keeping all the systems of the body functioning efficiently so athletes enjoys peak performance, a minimum risk of injury, and faster recuperative powers. Many world class and Olympic athletes, as well as professional stars and teams, have retained sports chiropractors to provide care. Joe Montana, Lance Armstrong, Nolan Ryan, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jubbar, and Carl Lewis all utilize chiropractic care. If you or your young athlete would like an evaluation to determine if chiropractic care will help improve athletic performance, I’m pleased to offer a free 10-min consultation.
Dr. Lizie Pilicy, sports chiropractor & former professional women’s soccer player, conducts Discovering Optimal Performance Seminars to educate athletes on techniques for achieving optimal athletic performance. Her passion for teaching is fueled by the success of the people and athletes who prosper and grow through discovering their peak athletic potential. Dr. Pilicy served as the chiropractor for the Dominican Republic Olympic teams and the Bolivia Men’s Olympic Soccer team at the Pan American Games in Brazil. She currently practices locally at Living Well Dallas, TX and may be reached via telephone at 972-930-0260. (http:www.LivingWellDallas.com)
