sports injuries Archives - Hometown Family Wellness Center

Jan 30 2021

Sports Chiropractor in Freehold NJ

Many people are athletes at different levels and experience injuries. It’s important to find a sports chiropractor in Freehold NJ that has experience working on these problems.

Dr. Russell Brokstein at Hometown Family Wellness Center in Freehold, NJ has been working on athletes for over 22 years. As an athlete himself, Dr. Russell has found chiropractic to not only help in recovering from injuries but improve optimal functioning.

Sports chiropractor in Freehold NJ helps athletes — Athletes seek the benefits of a sports chiropractor

A sports chiropractor not only adjusts the spine, but will utilize therapeutic stretching, extremity adjusting, soft tissue techniques, stabilizing exercises and other therapies if needed. The important thing is the initial analysis to find the actually cause of the problem to know which techniques to use. It’s important to differentially diagnose if the problem is stemming from a strain or sprain, is there an underlying joint restriction, are the discs or nerves being affected and are there tight muscles contributing to the imbalances.

Too many practitioners just address the point of pain. As a sports chiropractor in Freehold NJ, I search for the imbalances leading to the dysfunction. You will get relief of your pain, but improve healing and increase range of motion. Studies have shown that athletes seeing a sports chiropractor improve in strength, faster injury recovery, injury prevention, increased flexibility, overall improved sports performance. The great thing is this is all without any dangerous, addictive medications nor surgery.

Dr. Russell has worked on children who play sports, high school and college athletes, pro athletes, weekend warriors and even a competitor in The American Gladiators. One of our patients recently shared his experience below:

If you are searching for a sports chiropractor in Freehold NJ give us a call at 732-780-0044 or you can always schedule an appointment with our online scheduler at www.chiropractorfreehold.com

May 11 2020

7 Ways Chiropractic Benefits Sports Performance

Improving sports performance is important to all athletes. Many look for an edge. Some look for natural while others reach for performance enhancement drugs (PEDs) which are banned at competitive levels. Staying active is important to maintaining health and graceful aging. Our Freehold Chiropractor has been helping athletes of all levels over the last 17 years remain active and healthy.

Chiropractic is perfect in helping keep the body functioning optimally. Getting adjusted improves range of motion,

Chiropractic Benefits Athletes — Chiropractic Improves Sports Performance

flexibility, strength and coordination. All of which are important to athletes. Most college, pro and olympic athletes take advantage of the natural edge this provides. Almost every MLB, NFL and NBA team has a chiropractor on staff. Chiropractors have been officially working with Olympic athletes since 1976 and the most recent London Olympics in 2012 had over 100 chiropractors for the US team.

So lets discuss 7 ways chiropractic improves sports performance naturally and legally.

Chiropractic Helps Reduce Sports Injuries

Chiropractic allows the joints and musculoskeletal system work in conjunction to reduce stress. The joints allow for motion and the muscle contractions move the joints. When a joint is moving properly, the joints don’t have to overwork or strain. One study of Australian football players was conducted in 2010. The players all received sports training but half of them also received chiropractic care. Those that received the chiropractic were less likely to experience lower limb muscle strains and missed less time due to due to non-contact knee injuries.

Chiropractic Reduces Low Back Pain

Back Pain is one of the most common problems suffered by people. It is also very common in athletes leading to missing games and disability. A study, Treatment Options for Low Back Pain in Athletes, shows chiropractic as the most evidence based supported treatment along with superficial heat compared to traditional medical treatments. NSAIDs and muscle relaxants are commonly recommended but just mask the symptoms and have severe side effects.

Chiropractic Helps Extremity Injuries

Many athletes experience injuries to their feet, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows and wrists. Some chiropractors work just on the spinal regions but sports chiropractors also work on the extremities. Sports performance improves when the extremities are corrected.

Ankle injuries are very common in athletes. Usually once injured, recurrent ankle sprains are common. A study of ankle sprains compared athletes receiving only rehab to another group that also received chiropractic adjustments. The chiropractic group showed quicker reduction of pain and improvement in joint motion. This is important in reducing inflammation and speeding up recovery for an athlete to get back to action.

Chiropractic Improves Performance

Speed, reaction time, jumping, coordination are all important to help an athlete perform at their best.

One particular study showed improvement in vertical jump height. 22 female handball players were split into a chiropractic treatment group and a control group. By improving talocrural joint dysfunction with chiropractic adjustments there was a noticeable improvement compared to the other group.

Do you think athletes would like to be stronger? When you get adjusted it removes interference to the nervous system. This allows your body to function at its best. Those nerves innervate every muscle in your body. If the nerves have pressure on them, there can be decrease in strength. A study of 18 Judo Athletes compared results of half of them receiving chiropractic adjustments and the others receiving sham treatment. Results showed those receiving chiropractic treatment had improved grip strengths.

Chiropractic Benefits Runners

Chiropractic helps the biomechanics of the body which improves sports performance. When there are imbalances in the legs, there are differences in strength and range of motion. One study was The Effect of Spinal Manipulation on Imbalances in Leg Strength. The runners under chiropractic care had increased hip extension and improved joint function as well as more balanced strength in their legs.

Another study in Canada included chiropractic care as part of the rehab program of 16 injured female long-distance runners. Now only did the runners recover more quickly but seven of them actually had their personal best times while under care, although other contributing factors could have helped.

Chiropractic And Golf

Hip and back pain are common in golfers. Golf swings are a repetitive motion which put added stress on the hips, lower back joints and discs.

A case study of a 49 year old golfer was in therapeutic treatment which included chiropractic care. She was suffering with osteoarthritis for 5 years. During the 6th treatment she reported her left hip being much better and by the 8th visit both hips were feeling good. After 6 months she reported no more pain.

An Article in Dynamic Chiropractic, Golf and Chiropractic, discusses golf swing myths and chiropractic intervention.

Chiropractic Is Non-invasive and Drug Free

Athletes like the fact that chiropractic addresses the cause of their problems to improve sports performance. There is no taking medications that mask the symptoms. There are no side effects. Athletes are able to recover more quickly and many times avoid surgeries which at times require long recovery periods. Some chiropractors utilize soft tissue techniques like Graston or FAKTR to break up scar tissue, therapeutic stretching and nutrition to help athletes recover, be more healthy and excel.

There is growing evidence of the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care for everybody, not just athletes. Would you like to improve your sports performance or recover more quickly from an injury without drugs or surgery? Our top rated Freehold chiropractor can get you back on track! Give us a call at 732-780-0044.

May 11 2020

Achilles Tendon Sport Injuries And Chiropractic Treatment

Professional athletes and individuals with a specific sport hobby suffer from a multitude of different injuries, contracted during the course of their activities. Some popular sports like football, soccer, baseball, golf, hiking, basketball, etc., while highly enjoyable, involve extensive exertions which result in various sports injuries in players. Chiropractic has become a popular mode of treatment for the different sports injuries and medical conditions, like Achilles Tendon injury, dislocated shoulder and spinal alignment.

What Is Achilles Tendon Injury?

The achilles tendon is one of the longest tendons in the body, which is stretched from the heel to the calf muscles of the human body. It assists in the engagement of different activities which require movement and flexible physical activity.

The Achilles tendon is used by sports athletes and enthusiasts for practicing and playing the different strenuous sports, like football, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, running, etc. Over-exertion on the Achilles tendon results in swelling and pain in the tendon which hampers an athlete from engaging in different sports activities. If too much pressure and exertion is put on the tendon, it causes it to tear partially or completely rupture.

Symptoms

An injured Achilles tendon becomes swollen and causes acute pain whenever the leg is stretched. The patient feels stiffness and tenderness in the affected area, which makes it difficult to engage in different everyday activities. If the tendon completely ruptures, then the patient experiences excruciating pain, and is unable to move around.

If an athlete experiences difficulty in flexing his legs or pointing his toes, he might have a partial or complete rupture in the Achilles tendon. Prompt medical attention is required for the diagnosis and treatment of the Achilles tendon injury, before the patient suffers more acute damage due to movement or strain.

Treatment

Achilles tendon injury requires prompt treatment from medical professionals to ensure that the affected area does not suffer further damage. A patient with a ruptured or injured tendon is required to rest his leg and apply ice to ease the swelling. Patients are also advised to use an elastic bandage on the leg to keep the swelling down.

Anti-inflammatory pills can be prescribed which tend to bring down the swelling of the tendon, and different exercises are advised for keeping the tendon in shape. But chiropractic treatment is quickly becoming the preferred mode to heal sports injuries, especially Achilles tendon injury.

Image Used under Creative Commons license. Photo Credit:03042012Ccm gamosuma juvenilA231.JPG

May 11 2020

Low Back Pain in Young Athletes

Young athletes experience many injuries in their sports. Loyola University Medical Center reports the 3rd most common

sports injury is low back pain in young athletes under 18 years old. They not only miss out on playing games during the injury but there is risk for more chronic problems down the road.

Dr. Neeru Jayanthi, a sports physician, and his colleagues presented the research at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando. 1,200 young athletes who sustained 843 injuries were in the study.

Low back pain in young athletes accounted for 15% of the injuries. The only more common injuries were knees at just over 31% and ankles at 16%. Other problems noted were concussions and headaches at 13.4%, shoulders 10.7% and hips 6.4%.

Most (61%) of the low back pain in young athletes were low risk injuries to the lumbar facet and sacroiliac joints. The other 39% were considered serious stress fractures or complications of stress fractures. If pain persists for more than 2 weeks it’s important to get checked immediately. When low back pain in young athletes is not treated properly it can lead to chronic back pain.

Dr. Jayanthi recommended several injury prevention tips:

One day of rest if there is pain in a high risk area such as the back, shoulders or elbows. To take a week off if pain persists.
Seek evaluation from a sports physician if symptoms last more than 2 weeks.
Athletes that play racket sports should work on their form and strokes as well as limit back extension to less than 20 degrees.
Children who are still developing physically should not play a sport for more hours per week than their age.
Avoid specialization in one sport before late adolescence.
Don’t play competitive sports all year long. Take a break for at least 1-3 months out of the year.
Take a rest day once a week from sports training.
Balance out time between playing sports and time in the gym and unorganized recreation.

Low back pain in young athletes is common due to extension of the low back. Also improper work out and exercise techniques are incorporated. Many younger athletes also have insufficient strength of the core stabilization abdominal and back extensor muscles.

Chiropractor in Freehold NJ, Dr. Russell Brokstein, has a background in treating sports related injuries. If you have a child who has been injured make sure you find a chiropractor with a sports background. Dr. Russell checks for imbalances of the joints and muscles to correct the actual cause of the pain and injury. It’s important that the chiropractor check for ankle, foot and knee instability that could lead to other spinal injuries. Once the cause is corrected, an active exercise and stretching regimen is incorporated to strengthen and stabilize the body and prevent future problems.

Low back pain in young athletes is becoming too common. Chiropractic is a gentle, natural treatment that corrects the cause of the problem. A recent study suggests that chiropractic is the best conservative treatment for back pain in athletes. If you are in Freehold or surrounding towns looking for a chiropractor call Dr. Russell or find out more about his practice: click here

May 11 2020

Chiropractor in Freehold Helps Athletes With Injuries and Prevention

As a chiropractor in Freehold NJ I find it’s so important to keep up with research and read articles, journals and online blogs and media. While doing my daily reading, I came upon a great post by Dr. Reza Abusaidi in his, San Mateo Chiropractic blog. He talks about how chiropractic not only helps athletes when they are injured, but with the proper guidance and chiropractic care, many sports injuries can be avoided. His article is based on football, but this article is great for all athletes in every sport.

I played competitive soccer for 28 years, and luckily for me I got under chiropractic care while in chiropractic college and found out how helpful chiropractic is in not only a quicker recovery, but in prevention of other injuries. By making sure the bio-mechanics of the body are optimal, there is less likelihood of incurring sprains, strains, cramps and pulled muscles. Four years ago after a major knee injury playing soccer, my orthopedic doctor couldn’t believe the minimal extent of the findings on the MRI. I credit that to the preventative chiropractic care I have utilized since first being introduced to chiropractic treatment 12 years earlier.

With this experience, I incorporated this into my practice not only in helping athletes but the typical everyday patient, as I found out that many of these techniques from proper stretching, hydration, optimal nutrition, rest and consulting with the right professionals helped patients of all types in expediting their recovery and preventing future injuries from every day wear, tear and stress.

I’ve been fortunate to help patients of varying athletic levels while in practice this past 13 years. From when I worked in Philadelphia with a contestant on American Gladiators, to a professional wrestler when working in Eatontown, NJ, and currently at my practice in Freehold, NJ I have helped many high school and college athletes in our community and surrounding towns of Marlboro, Manalapan, Howell, Colts Neck, Jackson and Millstone.

Optimal function is important for patients of all ages and activity level. Improved motion, flexibility and reflexes are a result of chiropractic. For athletes this can give a competitive edge as research has shown those under chiropractic care increase their speed, jumping ability, flexibility, reflexes and more.

This is why many college and professional teams are making chiropractic a part of their teams care.

Many famous athletes have come forward in support of chiropractic:

Emmitt Smith, who retired as the NFL’s all time leading rusher, graciously thanked God, his family and his chiropractor for supporting him in his stellar career.

The three time world champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the Decathlon, Dan O’Brian, was considered the world’s greatest athlete. Dan has been quoted to say that, if it wasn’t for chiropractic, he would not have won the gold medal. Other athletes from Jerry Rice, Roger Craig and Michael Jordan have also been thankful to chiropractic. Organized sports have come a long way in embracing the chiropractic profession.

If these professional athletes see the necessity of chiropractic, don’t you think it’s something you deserve too!

Dr. Russell Brokstein, DC

Hometown Family Wellness Center

9 Broadway

Freehold, NJ

732-780-0044

If you are looking for a San Mateo chiropractor, I highly recommend contacting Dr. Reza Abusaidi, DC:

San Mateo Chiropractic
16 41st Ave.,
San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 345-7010

Chiropractic Helps Reduce Sports Injuries

Chiropractic Reduces Low Back Pain

Chiropractic Helps Extremity Injuries

Chiropractic Improves Performance

Chiropractic Benefits Runners

Chiropractic And Golf

Chiropractic Is Non-invasive and Drug Free

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