A good Chiropractor can be a bodybuilders best friend! They can get you back in the gym faster when injured, and help keep you in it!

Notice; I did say :A good Chiropractor”. As with everything else in life good ones can be hard to find, and a bad one can do more harm than good. Fortunately most are ok, so if they aren't exceptional you should get some relief.

Chiropractic is good for back and neck injuries only! There are many out there who claim they can cure all sorts of disorders. Run the other way! The good ones admit the benefits are limited to back and neck.

Chiropractors adjust your back and neck to relieve the pressure put on discs and nerves caused by injury. This is done by performing an adjustment. It literally puts things back where they belong.

When you get injured in the gym a disc usually gets strained, partially herniated, or herniated. This can cause vertebrae to pop out of place. Some refer to it as a “Bulging disc”.

Most vulnerable are the L-4 and L-5 discs located in the lower lumbar region. This can happen during any exercise but is most likely to happen during a Squat or Deadlift. This is when maximum pressure are on these discs!

When one of these discs are injured, the resulting pain can be anywhere from uncomfortable to excruciating depending on the extent of the injury! If it's bad enough the spasming muscle can put pressure on the Sciatic nerve, and you may experience an intense pain shooting all the way down your leg. It's awful!

Doctors have little to offer in solutions other then pain killers, anti-spasmodics, and anti-inflammatory drugs. These may help a little with the pain, but does not resolve the problem.

The Chiropractor however addresses the problem by physically manipulating things that are out of place back into alignment.

Now we'll discuss how to make sure you are getting a good adjustment with a good Chiropractor. Recently there has been a surge in sports rehab businesses in many areas. These usually have chiropractors, physical therapists and a doctor on staff. This is where I would look first!

This enables you to get meds along with treatment if you are in severe pain. A severely herniated L-4 or L-5 may take several adjustments before the pain level is tolerable.

Many of these clinics have electronic tables that literally stretch your back by pulling it apart. Whether manual adjustment or a table is best for you should be determined by the Chiropractor.

A good Chiropractor will ALWAYS prepare you properly for the adjustment by heating up the area to be treated. This is essential as it loosens up the muscles necessary to be moved during the adjustment and makes thing go easier and better. Massage prior to the adjustment is excellent. The combination of heat and massage makes for a happy patient!

So, if you're suffering from back or neck pain look into Chiropractic as it can be a great benefit to you in your fitness career!