Evaluating Lower Body Athletic Injuries with a Chiropractor

For professional and aspiring athletes, lower body injuries are among the most common and the most frightening injuries. These are the injuries that can keep you out of the game the longest. Luckily, we now know that there are correlations between strength, flexibility, and increased risk of injury. This study from the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy showed that testing balance and asymmetry in athletes is a reliable predictor for increased risk of lower body injury. Working with a professional sports performance oriented chiropractor to assess balance and strength in your hips and ankles can help prevent injuries before they happen. If you have sustained a lower body athletic injury working with a performance therapist to identify asymmetries will improve recovery and help prevent future injury.

Correlation of Asymmetry in Ankles and Lower Body Injuries

On a daily basis how you walk, run, skate, ski, or jump might feel totally normal. A minor imbalance is not readily obvious to us. You might notice uneven wear on the bottom of your shoes as the first visible sign even before experiencing noticeable physical symptoms. Even a minor asymmetry in the ankles can increase an athlete's risk of injury. This study from the Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that athletes with an asymmetry greater than 4cm were at increased risk of noncontact injury. Working with a sports performance oriented chiropractor to identify asymmetries in the ankle can help prevent future lower body injuries, improve recovery and game day performance. 

Hip Strength & Flexibility and Lower Body Injuries

It probably comes as no surprise that hip strength and flexibility correlate with athletic lower body injuries. This is why athletes spend so much time warming up their hips flexors, legs, and ankles before exercise. This study from The American Journal of Sports Medicine found that hockey players with an imbalance in muscle strength in the groin and hips were 17x more likely to sustain a lower body injury. This study from The Journal of Athletic Training found that athletes with sprained ankles experienced an imbalance of strength and flexibility in their hips after the injury. The Journal of Athletic Training also studied a group of soccer players and found that asymmetries in hip strength predisposed competitive athletes to noncontact lateral ankle sprains. 

Receiving an Evaluation from a Sports Performance Oriented Chiropractor 

A professional sports performance oriented chiropractor can provide a thorough, personalized examination of your lower extremities to assess your predisposition for injury. Once asymmetries have been identified a performance therapist will recommend specific treatments like exercises to help create balance and even strength in your hips, legs, and ankles. Working with a sports performance oriented chiropractor to identify asymmetries in the lower body can help prevent future risk of injury and improve performance recovery for aspiring and professional athletes.