Professional martial artists use chiropractic, massage therapy and acupuncture. Why would a martial artist want to be under chiropractic care, acupuncture or even massage therapy? There are many reasons, some are obvious, and some are not. Obviously they would seek out such care after an injury, or accident while training. Many people who push their bodies to their limits complain of lower back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, headaches, as well as extremity pains like elbows, knees, ankles, and feet.
Flexibility and conditioning play a major role in limiting such problems. Other causes can be related to improper warming up, stretching and over exertion, even dehydration.
Less obvious, but equally important reasons include maintaining proper alignment of spinal and extremity joints to avoid injuries, and problems, particularly with the lumbar and cervical discs in the spine. Discs are semi gelatinous and fibrous cushions that act as shock absorbers between the bones.
If there is a misalignment above or below a discs, it will cause it to wear out faster than it was designed, and increases the risk of it swelling, or tearing.
Extremity joints are especially important to make sure they are aligned. Many strikes, blocks and kicks can affect wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, and feet. Not to mention those art forms like jiu jitsu that involve joint locks. Muscles should be maintained at their normal resting length with massage therapy, trigger point therapy and other massage techniques. They need this because as people train, work, sit, or stress out, muscle become tight and get stuck that way.
