A study conducted by the Washington University shows that NFL Players are prone to abusing the use of painkillers, especially during Super Bowls. However, what seems to be quite alarming is that this habit continues into retirement.

According to the study, retired National Football League players who excessively use opioid painkillers while still playing tend to continue using the drug even after they leave the sport. Moreover, they have discovered that more than half of the NFL players are enslaved to the drug. In fact, there are more than 71% of the players who are abusing it while playing and 15% admits to continuously misusing the drug after they retire.

Frank Gifford, a former newscaster and member of NY Giants stated ‘Pro football is like nuclear warfare. There are no winners, only survivors.’ His statement is further supported by the findings in Cottler’s report. The rate of opioid misuse among NFL players is three times more than the lifetime rate of nonmedical use of the drug among the general public.

Misuse is defined as taking a drug more than what it is prescribed for. If you use it in a way other than it is prescribed, that is abuse as well. Finally, if you use it for a different reason then you are also abusing the drug.

To conclude the study, NFL players were misusing the painkiller during play for moderate to severe pain, undiagnosed concussions and drinking too much alcohol in one week. Undiagnosed concussions were reported to be at 81% among misusers.

What is Opioid Painkiller?

It is any chemical that resonate opiates in its pharmacological effects. It binds with opioid receptors that are found in the central and peripheral nervous system as well as in the gastrointestinal tract. The receptors control both the psychoactive and somatic effects of the drug.

Medical Uses of Opioid

• Acute pain – opioids are effective to cure acute pain and they are usually prescribed to a person who has undergone surgery. They also play an important role in palliative care to help ease disabling pain that may be experienced by patients who have cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic diseases.
• Shortness of Breath – opioids are found to help with shortness of breath that is suffered by patients with cancer and COPD.
• Chronic non-cancer Pain – although some people take opioids to relieve them from non-chronic conditions like headache and back pain, this is strongly discouraged by medical professionals. When used this way, opioids are said to do more than damage than good to the patient.

You may already have a spine alignment problem without you knowing it. It may be caused by a few fender-bender activities or a minor collision. You may not realize how serious the problem is until you suffer from an ankle sprain or a knee trouble that can develop into chronic pain. When the situation gets really worse, you may need to undergo surgery or a hip replacement. Prevent that from happening by following simple steps to good health and proper alignment.

Always Maintain Good Posture

Make it a habit to have neutral spine position wherein your pelvis, skull and rib cage are aligned on top of each other. This will help prevent overload on one vertebrae in your spine and your movements will be activated from the core muscles. Whenever your bones are properly aligned, you need less amount of energy to move and maintain balance. The rest of your body parts are spared from the stress too.

Perform Regular Exercise that Promotes Stability

Exercises that promote stability strengthen your back and abdomen muscles and help your spine achieve neutral posture. Some examples of these exercises are squats, planks and lunges. Physical therapists can offer assistance with this in the form of proprioceptive training, balance exercises and other related treatment plans.

Do Yoga Regularly

Yoga helps promote balance in your body which means that you’ll have a healthy spine for an agile body while practicing it. It also prevents back pain and other serious injuries. Specific yoga moves are designed to strengthen different muscle groups – focus on your problem areas to avoid incurring serious injuries.

Follow a Healthy Diet

Eating healthy food and leading a toxic-free lifestyle is always good for your overall well-being. Consequently, keeping your weight down will be beneficial for your proper spine alignment. Keeping your weight proportional to your height and body will prevent you from being ill and suffering from injuries.

Get Chiropractic Care

Getting proper posture starts with acknowledging the problem which is having improper spine alignment. A chiropractor will be able to address your situation with appropriate alignment treatments such as Pilates and a massage. They can help you achieve the proper posture in no time if you follow their advice and tips. Always keep in mind that improper spine alignment is not obvious during the early stages, you need to seek the help of a professional to ensure that you don’t have it.

There are many different treatments for musculoskeletal conditions that are offered by chiropractors today. According to recent surveys, about 80% of patients who undergo chiropractic care also get spinal manipulation. Spinal manipulation is a hands-on treatment that is unique from other forms of manual therapy because it focuses on the spine. Chiropractors would often refer to it as an ‘adjustment’ but it is widely known as spinal manipulation.

What is Spinal Manipulation?

This unique form of treatment involves the application of a quick, shallow thrust to the affected area. It helps adjust the joints beyond their normal range of movement. It releases dissolved gas from joint fluids through a quick drop in pressure. However, you don’t need to hear the ‘pop’ to say that the treatment was effective or not. Spinal manipulation should only be conducted by registered and licensed professionals like chiropractors, physical therapists and medical doctors.

What is Spinal Manipulation For?

This treatment is conducted to reduce the pain and help restore proper function to mechanical disorders in the spinal column. Chiropractors are well-trained when it comes to these highly specialized forms of manual therapy. They are knowledgeable and can determine what type of treatment is most suitable to your condition. Spinal manipulation, especially when paired with other kinds of treatment like stretching and exercise, is very efficient in improving one’s body movement and well-being.

What Does Spinal Manipulation Usually Treat?

Spinal manipulation’s exact mechanism is still unclear as of today. However, there are a number of ongoing researches conducted that include unlocking stuck spinal joints, stimulation of nervous system and movement among tight muscles and entrapped joints.

In general, spinal manipulation has been proven to be safe and efficient as a manual form of therapy, especially for neck and back pains. Today, it is also conducted on patients who are suffering from long lasting and recurring musculoskeletal disorders. A certified chiropractor is trained to determine any serious health condition that calls for spinal manipulation or other forms of manual therapy.

In the event that a chiropractor thinks that this type of treatment is not suitable, he or she will refer you to the appropriate specialist. You have nothing to worry about as chiropractors know when a person needs their help. If after their assessment they find out that you are not a suitable candidate for chiropractic treatment, then they will point you to the right medical direction.