If your child plays football or soccer, or you are a weekend warrior yourself, you know all about the aches and pains, and bumps and bruises that playing sports can cause. Sometimes the injuries can be more serious, such as back pain, muscle cramps or even concussions. In fact, 20% of teens have been diagnosed with at least one concussion. The good news is that chiropractic care can help relieve the pain associated with these common sports injuries.

Chiropractors frequently treat patients suffering from head and neck injuries they received while playing sports. They are trained to spot the signs of a concussion, which is considered a mild traumatic brain injury. Concussions are typically the result of a direct hit to the head, or a whiplash-type of injury to the neck.

Symptoms of a concussion include:

  • Migraine headaches.
  • Vertigo / loss of balance.
  • Memory issues.
  • Difficulty concentrating.

Dr. Cait Morrisroe has earned the CCSP certification, which stands for Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner. This means that she has spent well over 200 hours learning about and treating sports-specific injuries. This additional training allows her to help patients return to play faster and stronger than they were pre-injury. Dr. Cait will be able to evaluate you or your child for any neck, back and spine issues, and through chiropractic treatments, provide relief for:

  • Concussion headaches.
  • Neck pain.
  • Back pain.

Another reason to seek out chiropractic care for a concussion is because there may be other issues at play, or you might not really have a concussion at all. Concussions are caused by a direct blow to the head, neck or face. That means there’s a good chance that the blow also caused a misalignment of the cervical spine, which may also require treatment.

Dr. Cait can evaluate whether you demonstrate signs of neck injuries commonly associated with concussions, and provide you with any necessary treatment for neck pain.

While most people recover from the effects of a concussion within a week to 10 days, some patients may develop what’s known as post-concussion syndrome, which include symptoms like:

  • Blurry visions.
  • Ringing in the ears.
  • Post-concussion headaches.

Again, chiropractors are able to provide post-concussion syndrome treatment, including migraine headaches treatment and help with pain.

Sometimes the injury may not be a concussion at all, but a neck injury that presents with symptoms very similar to a concussion. That’s why it’s a good idea to get evaluated and treated by a chiropractor who is skilled at diagnosing and treating both types of injuries.

Chiropractors can also treat a lot of other common sports injuries, including back pain, muscle spasms and leg cramps. Some of the ways your chiropractor might treat these types of injuries include massage and active care. By using a combination of treatments, your chiropractor should be able to relieve muscle pain, provide relief for leg cramps and relieve back pain.

If you think you or your child may have experienced a concussion or neck injury while playing sports, call 207-699-2622 to make an appointment at with Absolute Health Chiropractic & Massage today.