Extreme Sports and Chiropractic and Massage

Extreme sports athletes can benefit from chiropractic treatment and massage therapy.

What are X-Games and Parkour?

The X-Games is an extreme sports event that is held every year. The games began in 1995 in Rhode Island, and they are controlled by ESPN. There is also a Winter X-Games. There are several events in these games, including Moto X, Mountain Bike, Rally & Off-Road Truck, Skateboarding, BMX, Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snowmobile. The competition has showcased “new tricks” by famous athletes such as Tony Hawk, Travis Pastrana, Heath Frisby, and Torstein Horgmo.¹ Parkour is considered “a holistic training discipline” where athletes move from one point to another “the most efficient way possible”. Parkour arose from “military obstacle course training”. It developed in France in the late 1980s. Practitioners of this sport climb, swing, run, jump, vault, and roll. Sometimes the term “freerunning” is used, although parkour and freerunning are now considered separate disciplines among the practitioners.²

Chiropractic and Massage Therapy

Injuries can happen from practicing extreme sports. Chiropractors work to keep the body in alignment so that it can perform at its peak. In one case, an X-Games skateboarder, who suffered from migraines, sought chiropractic care. When Curren Caples was 14, his migraine headaches caused vomiting and the need for bed rest. Having received regular back and neck adjustments from a chiropractor, Caples has found that his migraines have subsided.³ Some chiropractors work at particular sporting events, such as the X-Games, Olympics, and other competitions.^4,5 Chiropractic offices often offer more therapy options than chiropractic adjustments. Other options include acupuncture and massage therapy. Instead of medications such as pain relievers and muscle relaxers, chiropractors can use joint manipulation to aid in injury healing. These non-surgical interventions may work better than medications that could slow the healing process.⁶ ART (Active Release Techniques) may also be effective for sports injuries. Some massage therapists are trained in deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, and specialize in sports massage. Bodywork can improve circulation and relieve pain.⁷ Injuries alone are not the only reason to seek a chiropractor or massage therapist. As one parkour athlete stated, “Chiropractic has been amazing in maintaining my physical status along the way”.⁸ Massage therapists, like chiropractors, have also been involved in sporting events, such as the X-Games and Olympics. They can help athletes in injury rehabilitation and athletic recovery, as well as provide relief from pain and stiffness. Techniques might include muscle realignment, trigger point therapy, deep tissue massage, myofascial release, and cross-fiber friction.⁹