How Chiropractic Care Benefits Competitive Swimmers

Tennessee pools are ready for competitive swimming this season, and we want to remind you that competitive swimmers can greatly benefit from chiropractic care. Chiropractic care is designed to keep the body in overall peak condition by maintaining spinal alignment. When the spine is aligned, muscle imbalances are less likely to become an issue. The key to this care, however, is consistency of treatment and consistent at home performance of the exercises we teach.

There is a tendency among swimmers to experience overextensions in the lower back and neck due to various swimming strokes. Shoulder injuries are also common among swimmers due to the repetitive nature of the sport. With proper mechanics and preventative chiropractic care, such injuries can typically be avoided.

At Knoxville Spine and Sports, we will address the entire spine and overall spinal alignment. Dr. Bert will complete a comprehensive evaluation, noticing any imbalances or weaknesses which may predisposition the swimmer to injuries. Once we determine injuries or potential injuries, we will design a treatment plan that is unique to you and your needs. We will use a variety of modalities as necessary; these may include dry needling, active release technique, active isolated stretching, or even myofascial cupping with movement.

We also work with our athletes to develop strengthening plans specific to their sport. Swimmers who struggle with shoulder injuries or weaknesses may need a strengthening plan focusing on the rotator cuff musculature or may need to work on stretching and opening up their pectoralis muscles. Regardless of the needs of the swimmer, we will work specifically with them to design a plan to get them back to normal. We can also work with the swimmer on proper swimming technique to prevent future injury.

Even though swimming is considered a lower impact sport, swimmers are still susceptible to injuries as with any other sport. The different swim strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly) all produce different injuries of the shoulders, hips, back, neck and knees. As an athlete, you can’t maintain peak condition while you have an injury. Don’t be one of those athletes who “works through the pain”. If you do that, your neck, back or shoulder injury will only worsen, and one day, you may not be able to swim at all. Come into Knoxville Spine & Sports and we’ll have you back in the pool in no time. We see swimmers of all ages—from teenagers to competitive adult athletes.

We are Together for Health and are looking forward to helping to prevent or treat your injuries from the pool!