Athletes of all levels are certainly no strangers to sports injuries.
And as any sports fan knows, even minor injuries can not only derail the career of an athlete but the fortunes of entire teams, leagues, and competitions.
Therefore, speedy and effective recovery is more of a focus than ever before.
For many athletes, that now means taking an integrative approach to their treatment encompassing both traditional medicine and alternative treatments to speed recovery from traumatic injuries, surgeries, and the nagging, chronic pains that hamper their performance in all kinds of sporting disciplines.
What Is Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy And Why Is It So Good For Athletes?
Osteopathy manipulative medicine is based on the principle that the body has the ability to heal and regulate itself in the right environment, and this is the route to true, long-term healing from injuries, and the path to good health and vitality.
And it can be very powerful for athletes, as well as the general public too.
Traumatic injury is the kind of injury that makes headlines on ESPN, but for many athletes, both professional and amateur, chronic, nagging aches and pains are actually far worse.
While they may play on, as no specific injury seems to exist, the pain continues, and their performance is affected.
Traditional sports medicine – and even surgery – sometimes fails to provide final answers, and athletes fail to reach their full potential. A case in point is former National Basketball Association MVP Stephen Curry.
Always considered to have the elite skills to carry a ball club to the Championships as a college athlete and as a young pro, Curry’s game had one big weakness: his ankles.
After several seasons were ended for the guard by ankle issues, his status as one of the NBA’s elite was questioned. So Curry began a course of treatment that included osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), acupuncture, prolotherapy, and wearing custom orthotics while on the court.
The result seems to have been ankle-injury-free seasons, an MVP award, and a trip to the NBA Finals.
And it is not just basketball players who make use of such treatments.
How Does Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Help Athletes?
The use of osteopathic manipulative treatment in sports medicine is actually nothing new, and it’s been a part of many professional athletes and teams health regimes for years.
What is newer is the idea of amateur athletes, even those still in school, making use of osteopathic manipulative treatment as a part of injury recovery and even prevention.
As osteopathic treatments are centered around the idea that the body has the ability to repair itself with minimal intervention, it becomes preferable for many athletes to the more drastic options such as surgery.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment As An Alternative To Pain Medication
In many cases, clinical studies have demonstrated osteopathic manipulative treatment also decreases the need for pain medications.
This is a big boon for athletes at all levels, as dependency on pain medications for relief is not only bad for their own health, but can also inadvertently violate various official rules.
In the highly competitive world of powerlifting, for example, the US and UK professional bodies both advocate the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment as a first-line treatment, as taking almost any medication can put an athlete at risk for failing the extremely strenuous anti-doping rules that govern the sport.
Whether or not osteopathic manipulation can benefit an athlete is best determined on a case-by-case basis by an osteopathic specialist like those at our Houston clinic, but in many cases, it is an avenue of recovery and prevention that is well worth any sportsperson exploring further.
Are You An Athlete Who Wants Faster Recovery, Less Pain, And Better Performance?
Whether you’re a professional whose income relies upon your sport, or a passionate amateur who enjoys spending their weekend on a basketball court, or football field, osteopathy could be a very powerful tool that helps you play longer, better, faster, and avoid sports injuries that can spoil your love of the game, and threaten your season.
We understand that osteopathy may be new to you, and you’re unsure whether it’s the right choice for you…
That’s exactly why we offer a limited number of Free Telephone Consultations where you can speak to a Doctor of Osteopathy on a 1-1 basis, share your athletic journey and goals, and get the answers you need.
Arrange A Call Back From Our Experts
Prefer to come down to our clinic?
Then arrange a Free Discovery Visit and meet our team in person, see our world-class facility, and find out how to unlock faster healing, better performance, and happier life.
More Expert Advice For Active People In Houston
Read our blog – What Is Osteopathy And Is It Right For You?
Learn more about our clinic by reading our Frequently Asked Questions.
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