The Benefits Of Chiropractic Therapy For Young Soccer Players
Many chiropractors appreciate soccer as a less injury-prone alternative to football, giving kids a chance to grow strong and flexible without quite so many high-speed collisions. But even soccer comes with its inevitable fair share of wear and tear, and repeated injuries or strains can have a lifelong impact on your child's skeletal health. As the soccer season progresses, you can help protect your child's growing bones and joints through routine visits to your local family chiropractic center.
Minimizing the Stresses of Running
Most of a soccer player's time is spent on the run, dashing up the field and then down again while twisting to kick at the same time. Although children and teenagers may seem to have an endless stream of bouncy energy to keep them on their feet, extensive jogging, kicking and dribbling can still cause gradual damage to the legs and spine and possibly increase your child's risk of injury. Your chiropractor can help keep your child's spine in alignment and improve his or her posture to slow down the gradual deterioration that comes with any heavy exercise.
Improving Injury Recovery Rates
Soccer is a relatively safe game to play, but sometimes accidents and falls do occur. A bad kick or an unexpected bump can be all it takes for an injury to take place, ranging from scrapes to breaks. Typically, soccer injuries heal quickly and without complications, but you may find that your child continues to experience soreness around the area for weeks or even months afterward. Through gentle massage and joint alignments, a family chiropractor can encourage healing in short-term injuries and minimize the discomfort of lingering ones.
Increasing Coordination and Kicking Speed
There is some evidence that chiropractic therapy may also simply make your child a better soccer player. A 2013 study has shown that soccer players undergoing chiropractic therapy showed significant improvements in their kicking speed and range of motion compared to control groups. Besides fighting injuries, the increased flexibility and nerve function associated with chiropractic care may yield measurable results on the field.
Encouraging the Healthy Growth of Bones
Young, developing bones need hard exercise to become strong and durable, reacting to stress by growing thicker and tougher. Soccer can be an excellent way to encourage strong bones and keep your child moving, but injuries can still damage the cartilage, joints and growth plate needed to keep them expanding in their proper alignment. A chiropractor will work to ensure that your child's bones stay healthy and sound even after the hard falls and knocks, possibly avoiding nagging old injuries in adulthood. Before your young soccer players steps into a new pair of cleats, call your family chiropractor to set up an initial appointment.