Whether a weekend warrior or a professional athlete at the top of their game, opro which promotes health and overall well-being. They also recover from injury much quicker and are able to perform at a higher level.

Even minor misalignments or restrictions in the spine can cause interference with proper messages being sent through the nervous system. Since proper nerve impulses control and direct things like balance, strength, co-ordination and speed, the effects on an athlete’s performance can be devastating. Often, only minor adjustments to the spine can have very positive effects on the nervous system and overall ability. Only when the brain and nervous system are able to freely and efficiently communicate with the rest of the body, can athletes reach their full potential.

As any athlete knows, with sports, injuries are part of the game. It is how these injuries are diagnosed and cared for which dictates speed and success of recovery. Chiropractic care can speed recovery from injuries ranging from ankle sprains, separated shoulders, low back pain and any other soft tissue or joint problem. As an athlete it is important to find a chiropractor that is well versed in sports injuries. For athletes there is nothing worse than to hear a doctor say, no more sports or training until this resolves. Most athletes will not heed this advice any way and continue to try to work through the pain. The correct approach is to diagnose and actively treat the injury. This includes modifying training to help the body support the injury and increase strength in the area. This may include home stretching, exercise, and creating a return-to-full-activity program to set the athlete on a path back to full activity. At Synergy Health Centre in Victoria, BC we’ve been the go-to centre for professional, Cyclist, MMA fighters, MLB players and many more. Our diverse range of practices and multi-use facility allows us to diagnose and rehabilitate athletes all under one roof. An athlete’s rehab may consist of chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, and personal training to name a few.

Athletes have been benefiting from chiropractic care for many years, however it is only recently that it has been getting lots of attention as virtually every professional sports team has a chiropractor on staff and individual athletes have been publicly singing the praises of chiropractic care. Chiropractors are now a staple on the sidelines, in the locker room and even at the Olympics

One man in particular has been a leader in developing fitness and wellness for NHL players. After almost a decade playing in the National Hockey League, Gary Roberts feared that his days as a professional athlete were finished.

Thirty years old at the time and a left winger for the Calgary Flames, Roberts suffered a neck injury that left him with severe nerve damage and numbness in his arms. Repeated surgeries and rehab had little effect.

“I couldn’t hold a steak knife to cut my food,” he recalls. “My career was over. I was a pretty lost soul.”

But then, after a visit to a sports chiropractor in 1996 to relieve stress and reduce scar tissue in his upper spine and neck, Roberts regained his strength and mobility. He returned to the ice to play professional hockey for another 13 years.

“It saved my life,” says Roberts, who eventually retired from the NHL six years ago. He is now an advocate of chiropractic treatment as a complement to proper nutrition and training techniques and runs the most highly regarded training program in pro hockey. Gary trains roughly 30 NHLer’s every year including James Neal, Steven Stamkos, Tyler Seguin, and PK Subban.

 World-class athletes seek chiropractic because it is a drug free way to better health and performance. It can be the last little tweak to a system to allow for optimal performance.

It is always a pleasure treating athletes because in general, they have a better understanding of the benefits of training, they have more motivation to get well, they are more likely to follow treatment protocol and as they are usually physically fit they respond even better to chiropractic care. It can also increase resilience to injury and give you the edge you need.

If you know a an aspiring or professional athlete click here to contact Synergy Health Centre for an assessment.