Teens and Sports

Teen chiropractic care... 

Chiropractic and Sports
THE ATHLETE'S CHOICE FOR SPORTS CARE


Many amateur and professional athletes are sidelined with injuries that could be avoided. Others sit it out on the bench because their injury does not respond to ordinary treatment. Still others are playing, but at less than peak efficiency, simply because their structural system is not balance.


Progressive coaches, athletes, and doctors are realizing that pain-killing drugs are not the answer. They merely cover up the symptoms, deceiving the athlete into actions which could make the injury more serious. Probably more than any other health profession, Chiropractic's approach to health closely relates to the needs of the sports participant.


Most sports involve body contact, fast starts and stops, and positioning that places an unusual amount of strain on the back and structural system. Doctors of Chiropractic consider a person as an integrated being, giving special attention to the spine, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Chiropractic is a natural health care method that stresses the importance of keeping all the systems of the body functioning efficiently so the player enjoys peak performance, a minimum injury risk, and fast recuperative powers.


Many world class and Olympic athletes, as well as professional stars and teams, have retained sports chiropractors to provide care. Joe Montana, Nolan Ryan, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jubbar, and Carl Lewis all utilize chiropractic care. The Players Association of the NFL has officially incorporated sports chiropractors as a regular part of care. Chiropractors have been selected as attending doctors at the Olympic Games and at national and world championships in track and field, cycling, volleyball, powerlifting, aerobics, and triathlons.


By Steven M. Horwitz, D.C




Stress Fractures Among Teen Girl Athletes - Exercise, Genetics or Both?


Previous studies, such as one published in Pediatrics, have suggested that too much high-impact activity may increase the risk of stress fractures in adolescent girls. However, a recent study has found that a family history of bone density issues (osteoporosis or osteopenia) may also be a predictor of stress fractures in adolescent girls.


The first study found that girls who participated in 16 or more hours of high impact activity (running, gymnastics and cheerleading) per week were 88 percent more likely to have a history of stress fractures that girls who reported 4 or less hours of high impact exercise per week. These high-risk girls were also more likely to have an eating disorder.


The second study looked at menstrual irregularities, the amount of total physical activity (which averaged 7-8 hours) per week, and family history of osteoporosis or osteopenia. They found that family history was the only factor independently associated with stress fractures in girls.


Parents, coaches and teens simply need to be mindful of the amount of high impact exercise being done. And if there are family members with bone density issues it's even more important to pay attention to the warning signs of stress fractures which is predominately leg pain that can not be relieved, and modify training routines to prevent problems.