April 17, 2018

Can Chiropractic adjustments improve athletic performance? A recent study suggests that.  Published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, a single session of spinal manipulation (SM)  increased muscle strength and corticospinal excitability to ankle plantar flexor (Soleus) muscles in elite Taekwondo athletes. The increased maximum voluntary contraction force lasted for 30 min and the corticospinal excitability increase persisted for at least 60 min.

The SM were performed by a licensed chiropractor who assessed the function of the entire spine and both sacroiliac joints for segmental dysfunction and performed SM where he found it was indicated. The clinical indicators for segmental dysfunction include joint tenderness, restricted intersegmental range of motion, asymmetric intervertebral muscle tension, and abnormal or blocked joint play and end-feel of a joint.

For more information:
Christiansen, T.L., Niazi, I.K., Holt, K. et al. Eur J Appl Physiol (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3799-x