How Chiropractic Care Can Keep Dancers on Their Toes
By Donna Kostiew
Every serious athlete will have a training program to follow and more than likely, plenty of nutritional guidelines to adhere to as well. The same can be said about dancers, and no matter the age or skill level, every dancer must learn to care for their body and take a proactive stance towards their health if they hope to have many years of success. Chiropractors can help with this during every aspect of a dancer’s training. By maintaining a healthy spine and improving their overall health and wellness at the same time, a chiropractor can aid in keeping the dancer healthy, strong, and on stage.
Strength and Conditioning
From the moment a person decides on dance, their focus turns to improving their strength, flexibility, and functional movement. Chiropractic care helps to strengthen muscles and align the spine, which improves a dancer’s range of motion. It helps to keep the body in prime condition for the workouts and reduces the risk of injury by improving balance and flexibility and promoting healthy joints, tendons and muscles.
Nutrition
Chiropractic care isn’t only for those annoying aches and pains; it is actually so much more than that, especially when it influences the nutrition a dancer receives. The body’s nervous system is in charge of every move it makes, so if there is a joint restriction in the spine that impairs the body’s communications, all the nutrition in the world won’t make a difference. When the communication system isn’t working, then neither is the body’s digestive system. It’s already challenging enough to change to a healthy diet. Thankfully, chiropractic care make it work to a body’s advantage!
Sleep
The body is in recovery mode during sleep, so it is extremely important to get the recommended amount of undisrupted rest every night. If the body is not getting what it needs, then it is not gaining muscle strength, its energy is not restored, and it will not recover as quickly from the training as well as it should. A chiropractor will treat any spinal problems that cause pain or discomfort during the night, and can also offer suggestions to improve sleep, such as better sleep positions, and proper pillow and mattress selections.
Care For Injuries
Many common dance injuries can be dramatically improved by regular chiropractic care. From sprains to strains to joint restrictions, a few visits to your chiropractor will often bring relief and get the dancer back out on stage in no time. An added benefit is that chiropractic care is natural and has been shown to reduce the need for potentially addictive pain medication and invasive surgery as well. In other words, chiropractic care is low-risk for a busy dancer.
By choosing regular chiropractic care, a dancer can expect better health and a longer career.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Houston, Tex.