Chiropractors are employed by professional football teams to manage injuries once they occur, but their care also helps prevent injuries. In fact, every team in the National Football League has chiropractors on board to care for their players.
Football has a well-deserved reputation as a rough sport, and injuries are very common; however, Dr. Sol Cogan who is the chiropractor for the Detroit Lions feels that chiropractic care during training and before and after games can help prevent some of these injuries. He uses chiropractic adjustments to improve several performance aspects of overall fitness, such as flexibility, range of motion, alignment and bio-mechanics.
He also advises football players of all ages to consider several things prior to a game to avoid injury. Warm up and stretching is imperative, and so is choosing the right equipment and making sure it fits well. Proper hydration, adequate rest and good overall nutrition will all help keep athletes operating at their peak.
Cogan recommends that players use ice for inflammation and, above all, discuss any pain or other symptoms with the coach, trainer and doctor.
The NFL players are fortunate to have chiropractic care provided for them, but even the youngest "pee-wee" football player can benefit from having a chiropractor on their healthcare team.
