Chiropractic Care for Weightlifters
By Sara Butler
Weightlifting can be very good for your body, whether you’re a professional or just a weekend weightlifter. There are some special considerations you need to keep in mind to protect your back when you lift weights. Keep these things in mind the next time you’re at the gym!
The Risks
Weightlifting can be responsible for several different types of back pain, including:
- Strained ligaments in the upper back
- Intercostal muscle strain in the upper back
- Strain of the tendons in the lumbar region of the lower back
- Spinal misalignments
Spinal misalignments can make long-term back and neck pain a problem for you if you’re not careful. But, when you know the risks of what you’re doing then you’ll be more aware of injuries and can address them with your chiropractor as you need to. After all, ignoring them will only lead to more serious problems!
Use Your Core
One of the most important things you can do in order to protect your back as you lift is to engage your core muscles as you lift. This improves your posture as well as prevents you from using the wrong muscles to lift. If you use the wrong muscles, not only will you feel it later, you’ll also risk injuring yourself. Just remember that if you become so fatigued that you can’t engage your core to lift, it’s time to put those weights back on the rack for the day.
Straighten Up
When you lift you need to remember to keep your spine straight. Arching your back is a terrible idea, and while it may feel more comfortable it can lead to some serious damage to the nerves in your back.
Also, remember never to twist your back when you’re lifting, as it puts more strain on your muscles and tendons and is a recipe for an injury that will keep you sidelined.
Use the Right Weights
If you’re serious about weightlifting then you need to be serious about understanding your limits as well. Quite often back injuries during weightlifting are a result of people choosing the wrong amount of weight for their workouts. You have to keep in mind the fact that when it comes to building muscle and toning, less if more. Heavier weights won’t guarantee more results, they just increase your risk of getting hurt. Use lighter weights and work your way up appropriately.
It will benefit you to see your chiropractor for regular adjustments as you build you strength and tone your muscles. They can help you to find and correct any problems before they become much larger ones, and can also keep you in alignment to reduce y our risk of future injury.
power lifter by greg westfall is licensed under CC BY 4.0