Do you have a teen who plays high school football? It's an exciting sport that may open many doors for your child, but it can also be hard on their body. In addition to encouraging your teen to eat well, follow their coach's advice, and wear their helmet, there's one more thing you can do to encourage better and safer performance. Take your high school football player to the chiropractor for regular, preventative care. Here's a look at the benefits they will experience.
Improved flexibility.
It's not uncommon for a teen's spine to be out of alignment, especially when that teen spends time tackling players head-on and hunching over a desk reading text books. When the spine is out of alignment, flexibility decreases. Your teen may not even notice that their flexibility is lacking, since they're so used to it. By adjusting the spine, your chiropractor can improve your teen's flexibility. This will allow them to duck out of the way of a tackle more easily. They might have an easier time jumping to the side to get that catch or angling the ball properly to make that field goal.
Reduced risk of injuries.
Most football players are always dealing with a little pain and stiffness somewhere. If they continue to play on the stiff muscle or tender tendon without doing anything about it, the issue may progress to a full-blown injury that relegates them to the bench for the rest of the season. A chiropractor can examine those areas that are a little tender and recommend ways your teen can stretch or strengthen them to keep the injury from getting worse. Plus, with the increased flexibility described above, your teen will be less likely to twist and sprain something out on the field.
Better sleep and recovery.
Sleep is so important for everyone, but even more so for athletes. It's during sleep that the body repairs damage done during workouts, making the muscles even stronger. Yet, many teens have trouble sleeping. Chiropractor adjustments tend to encourage the body to release a chemical called serotonin. This chemical encourages your teen to relax and get better sleep, which will ultimately improve their sports performance and also make their moods more stable so they can better handle the many stresses of juggling school and athletics.
Chiropractic care can benefit anyone of any age. To help your high school football player boost their game and stay healthy, seek chiropractic care from a location like the Back & Neck Pain Center today.
