It’s easy to think that top-shelf athletes have some secret ingredient for performing at a high level. Okay, so having amazing athletic talent is part of it, too, but a big portion of their success is understanding their body’s biomechanical function. Athletes seek continuously to preserve and maintain their health by paying attention to what their body is telling them and doing the things they know will power their success.
Today, the idea of maximizing range of motion, reducing injury recovery time, and eliminating pain in natural ways is both logical and possible.
Chiropractors lead patients toward better health through exercises, nutritional and dietary assistance, lifestyle counseling, and seek ways to maintain proper spinal and joint biomechanics through skilled manual assessment and correction.
3 Tips to Improve Your Health
Whether you’re an athlete already or dream of becoming one, here are three things you can do now that are fundamental to optimal physical and mental health:
1. Don’t skimp on sleep
Many people see surviving on minimal sleep times as a bragging point. Still, from a physiological point of view, this habit often can lead to other problems, such as chronic fatigue.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night, and teens and young adults need more rest to allow proper growth and development. Adults over age 65 need 7 to 8 hours per night.
To achieve the maximum effects of sleep’s recuperative powers, experts recommend:
A high-performance mattress and pillow
The right mattress and pillow combination supports your back and neck. Don’t settle for less than what feels right for you.
Keep it dark
Excess light exposure can interfere with your rest and disturb your body’s circadian rhythm. If needed, close the curtains over windows or use a sleep mask to block light and prevent it from seeping into the room.
Quiet is Key
If you can’t eliminate bedroom noise, consider a white noise machine, or use earplugs or noise-reducing headphones.
Go for the Cool
For most people, a cool room produces more restive sleep.
Disconnect
It may be difficult at first, but disconnecting electronic devices will lead to more restive sleep.
2. Nourish Your Body
Of course, eating well (or least better) is a challenge with today’s various choices. Have a goal, though, of daily consuming choices from these areas:
As an athlete, when you eat certain types of matters, too. For example, athletes can turn to their chiropractors for nutrition guidance about what to eat before a game or performance, as well as what to eat to help their bodies recover from workouts.
What’s one nutritional piece of advice a chiropractor is likely to recommend for all athletes and chiropractic patients? Eat a healthy breakfast.
3. Keep Moving
Staying mobile gets more difficult as a person ages or suffers a chronic health condition, but regular visits to the chiropractor can help. Walking, yoga and today’s many options for low-impact cardio are great activities to keep you going.
Not up for that? Try the simple act of stretching for 10 minutes a day. Stretching as an exercise helps your body stay flexible and permits a greater range of motion for your body’s joints.
Many people with mobility issues combine stretching with pressing their body against a roll of thick Styrofoam found in many gyms today – sort of like a large swimming pool noodle. This is called “foam rolling.”
When combined with static stretching, foam rolling can be a low-impact way to improve flexibility, according to a recent study in the Journal of Sports Rehabilitation.
Exploring the Field of Chiropractic Care
Doctors of chiropractic are uniquely trained in assessing, diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders of the spine and other parts of the neuromusculoskeletal system.
The American Chiropractic Association reports that approximately 90% of world-class athletes engage in chiropractic care to prevent accidents and injury and improve performance. Athletes aren’t the only people who rely on chiropractic care for improved wellness.
People of all ages and backgrounds can benefit from chiropractic care. If you’re interested in sharing the benefit of health with others, it may be time to consider earning your doctor of chiropractic degree.
Learn more by requesting information and downloading this free eBook: Your Comprehensive Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
