Can Chiropractic help to improve cycling performance?

Can Chiropractic help to improve cycling performance?

The very first bicycle was invented in China around about 2300 BC. The very first bicycle injury probably happened that very same day. Bicycling is one of the most popular recreational sports. However, it can be associated with fractures, strains and sprains, contusions and non-traumatic overuse injuries. Many injuries are preventable given proper positioning on the bike and an accurate understanding of the biomechanics of cycling. Bicycle-related spine pain has probably been underreported. The incidence of spine pain in long distance cyclists varies from 17% to 70% in various studies. Spinal muscular strains and ligamentous sprains cause the majority of bicycle-related back pain.

What do the professionals have to say about improving cycling performance with Chiropractic?

Jeff Spencer, DC served as the team Chiropractor for the Postal and Discovery Channel Professional Cycling Teams. Here is what Lance Armstrong said about him, “Jeff is part doctor, part guru, part medicine man… we believed Jeff could fix any and all of our problems… While he fixed us physically, he also fixed us mentally… If you judged the most important man on the Postal team by foot traffic in and out his door, then it was Jeff. Without him, we knew we’d never make it to Paris.”
- Lance Armstrong, Every Second Counts

What does the research have to say about Lance Armstrong’s high regard for Chiropractic?

The review of the current research suggests that Chiropractic collectively documents statistically significant improvements in respiration, range of motion, heart rate variability and autonomic function, endocrine function, cardiovascular function, immune function, muscle strength and overall athletic ability of “healthy” or specific-function “normal” individuals. These are all necessary attributes of a health bicyclist at any performance level.

Other studies have documented statistically significant increases or improvements in neurocognitive functions such as reaction-time and information processing, visual acuity, stress and reproductive hormones, healing / recovery time, and the general health following or during Chiropractic care. Optimizing these attributes can mean the difference between taking 1st and 2nd place in a bike race.

Sources:
Spine in Sports 2005, Pages 113-134
www.jeffspencer.com
www.sciencedirect.com
www.thebicyclechiropractor.com

The author:
Christopher Pierce, DC
The Bicycle Chiropractor
222 SE 8th Ave
Portland, OR 97214
www.TheBicycleChiropractor.com

Chiropractic First, llc is focusing on helping people who have been in car accidents in Portland, Oregon this year.

You are driving along the streets of Portland minding your own business. You stop at a red light, glance down to change the channel on the radio and your life is about to change. You hear the intermittent squealing sound of anti-lock breaks being applied close behind you. You look up into the rear view mirror just in time for your knuckles to turn white with a death-grip on the steering wheel. In what seems like a slow motion frame by frame playback sports highlight, you see a car rapidly approaching you out of control, and then "Wham!" You hear 2 shotgun loud bangs nearly simultaneously. One is the other car colliding with your car and then the air bag as your head ricochets off the headrest, roof of the car and then quickly toward the steering wheel and windshield. You feel your whole body flex forward and twist around the seat belt rotating to the left. You see a flash of white as your brain impacts the inside of your skull and your brain stem and spinal cord are stretched. You realized that you have been holding your breath until your ribs are warped around the seat belt and compressed. You instinctively pressed the break pedal all the way to the floor. Your car hops and skids forward through the intersection and then stops. You are in shock. Your heart is now pounding 160 BPMs. Your breathing is rapid and shallow. You feel generally numb. You are frozen for a moment and then the instinct to get away from your car kicks in. You look down at your hands and arms then in the mirror at you face which is lightly coated with the light colored powder from the air bag which deployed. You don't see any blood to your relief. You look back at the other car which hit you and the see the damage their car took in the front end and the other driver still behind the wheel. You undo your seat belt and look for your cell phone which you remember is still in your pocket. You exit your car and walk in a daze to the other drivers car to see if they are ok. They are in shock like you. They apologize repeatedly to you. You both make your way to the curb as the police arrive only minutes later. What do you do next?

Your number one priority is your health and wellness. Followed by any legal obligation to report the accident according to Oregon's laws and rules. If you are in an accident like the one described about, seek immediate medical evaluation. The most common injuries in MVAs are soft tissue injuries, and these symptoms may not show up for days to weeks to months as your body tries to repair its' self and scar tissue is created around the nerves, muscles, tendons, ligaments and discs etc. After getting initially checked out in the emergency room for things like cracked or dislocated ribs, broken teeth or jaw bones, objects in your eyes or skin, broken bones or vertebrae, damage to your wrists or knees from impact with the wheel or dashboard, vascular or nerve damage, concussions, and more, you should have your spine and extremities by an experienced doctor of Chiropractic for more subtle injuries that don't necessarily show up on X-rays, MRI or CT. The Chiropractor will perform palpatory tests with their hands that will not perform in the hospital ER simply because the ER docs and nurses are not trained and experienced like Chiropractors are in detecting non-allopathic vertebral subluxations. Vertebral non-allopathic are commonly restrictions or less commonly malpositions in the motor units of the spine. The tissues involved include the spinal bones, discs, joints, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, muscles, fascia, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, brain stem, spinal cord and nerves. The normal function of your human body depends on 100% optimal function of all of these parts in concert together. Chiropractic adjustments, balanced exercise, optimal nutrition and rest help to restore homeostasis to the spine and body. Don't put off proper spinal health. See a Chiropractor today. To schedule a Chiropractic exam for your self or a loved one call 503-626-5761 and ask to see Dr. Pierce.


Yours in health,
Dr. Christopher Pierce
Chiropractor


Chiropractic First, llc
222 SE 8th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
12820 SW Second St, Beaverton, OR 97005
503-626-5761
www.c1pdx.com