The Opioid Crisis for Athletes: A Case for Chiropractic
Disrupting The Cycle Of Pain, Prescriptions And Addiction
No matter what the sport, athletes suffer injuries. This can happen in a second, such as a high ankle sprain during a football tackle, or gradually, such as a rotator cuff irritation in golf, baseball, tennis or other sports. Regardless of the cause, athletes pursue numerous treatments to prevent injury, reduce pain and improve their range of motion including rest, ice, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and, unfortunately, opioids and other medications. With the latter, this can lead to a vicious cycle of aggravating the injury and then consuming more opioids repeatedly until the athlete is permanently injured and/or addicted to the medication.
This paper offers an overview of opioid misuse among athletes and how the pressure to perform can cycle to drug addiction quickly and as early on as high school. It will also explore how chiropractic care can prevent this pattern by helping athletes prevent injuries and perform at their best without the risks associated with opioids.
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