In the competitive world of sports, athletes constantly strive to enhance their performance and prevent injuries. One essential tool in achieving these goals is the functional movement screen. Designed to assess movement patterns, identify imbalances and address potential issues, the functional movement screen plays a crucial role in optimizing athletic performance and reducing the risk of injuries.
Athletes put their bodies through rigorous training regimens and intense physical demands, making them susceptible to injuries if proper movement patterns are not maintained. The functional movement screen evaluates fundamental movement patterns such as squatting, lunging, bending and rotating to identify any limitations or asymmetries that could predispose an athlete to injury.
By pinpointing areas of weakness or dysfunction, a functional movement screen provides valuable insights into an athlete’s movement quality and biomechanics. This information allows coaches, trainers and healthcare professionals to develop targeted interventions and corrective exercises to address any identified issues.
Preventing injuries is paramount in sports performance, as even minor setbacks can have significant consequences for an athlete’s career. By addressing movement dysfunctions early on, athletes can reduce their risk of injury and stay on the field or court performing at their best.
Furthermore, optimizing movement patterns can lead to improvements in athletic performance. When the body moves efficiently and effectively, athletes can generate more power, speed and agility, giving them a competitive edge over their opponents.
Incorporating functional movement screens into training programs can benefit athletes of all levels, from weekend warriors to elite competitors. By investing in proactive injury prevention strategies, athletes can prolong their careers, enhance their performance and enjoy the sports they love for years to come.
Whether you’re involved in football, baseball, softball, javelin or another sport that demands precise throwing mechanics, maintaining peak performance and preventing injuries are paramount. Chiropractic care can help enhance your athletic abilities and keep you in top shape.
Chiropractic adjustments help optimize spinal alignment and joint mobility. By ensuring proper alignment, we can alleviate tension and improve your range of motion, crucial for the precision and power needed in throwing sports.
Trigger Point Dry Needling
This technique targets muscle knots and trigger points, common among throwing athletes due to repetitive motions. By releasing these tension points, dry needling helps enhance muscle function, reduce pain and promote quicker recovery.
Cupping Therapy
Cupping promotes blood flow, loosens muscles and enhances tissue flexibility. It’s particularly beneficial for relieving muscle soreness and improving performance, which can help prevent overuse injuries common in throwing sports.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, helps accelerate recovery by delivering pressurized oxygen directly to your tissues, aiding muscle repair and reducing inflammation. It’s an effective complementary therapy for managing chronic injuries and promoting overall athletic recovery.
Why Choose Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic?
At Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic, we prioritize your performance and well-being by offering personalized care tailored to your athletic needs. We emphasize non-invasive approaches to enhance your body’s natural healing processes, helping you achieve optimal performance without unnecessary downtime.
Whether you’re striving for precision in your throw or recovering from a repetitive strain injury, Dr. Nate Wiechmann and our team are here to support you. Schedule an appointment at our Oakland or Council Bluffs clinic today to explore how chiropractic care can elevate your performance and keep you in the game. After all, your athletic journey deserves the best care!
As a parent, you want the best for your student athlete. From ensuring they have the right gear to supporting them at games, every aspect of their athletic journey matters. But before they hit the field, court or track, there’s one crucial step that often gets overlooked: a dedicated sports physical.
Why Sports Physicals Matter
A sports physical, also known as a pre-participation physical exam, is not just a formality — it’s a vital component of your child’s overall health and safety in sports. Conducted by a healthcare provider with expertise in sports medicine, such as Dr. Nate, these exams are designed to:
Assess physical fitness: A comprehensive evaluation helps determine if your child is physically fit to participate in sports. This includes checking vital signs, assessing strength and flexibility, and evaluating any existing health conditions or previous injuries that could affect performance.
Identify potential risks: Sports physicals help uncover underlying health issues or risk factors that may predispose your child to injury during athletic activities. From heart conditions to musculoskeletal problems, early detection is key to preventing serious complications on the field.
Ensure safe participation: By reviewing your child’s medical history and conducting a thorough examination, Dr. Nate can provide personalized recommendations to minimize the risk of injury and promote safe participation. This may include tailored training programs, injury prevention strategies or referrals to specialists for further evaluation.
Optimize performance: Beyond safety, sports physicals also focus on optimizing athletic performance. Dr. Nate can offer guidance on nutrition, hydration, sleep and other factors that contribute to peak performance, helping your child reach their full potential on the field.
The Importance of Working with a Sports Med Specialist
As a board-certified chiropractor with specialized training in sports medicine, Dr. Nate is uniquely qualified to conduct sports physicals for student athletes. With a deep understanding of the demands of various sports and the biomechanics of the human body, he provides comprehensive care that addresses both the physical and performance aspects of athletic participation.
Don’t wait until the last minute to schedule your child’s sports physical. By prioritizing their health and safety from the outset, you’re setting them up for success both on and off the field. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and ensure your student athlete is ready to excel in their sport.
You’ll lay in our HBOT chamber while breathing in pressurized oxygen — up to 3x the amount in the everyday environment. This helps pump oxygen to your body’s tissues, promoting healing, reducing inflammation and supporting overall wellness.
Once inside the chamber, you’ll hear air beginning to circulate. There are two windows at the top of the chamber — one on each end — where you’ll be able to see and talk to us. And we’ll communicate with you the whole time so you know what to expect.
As the chamber fills with air, you may experience a full sensation in your ears, similar to changing altitudes in an airplane or driving up a mountain. Once the chamber reaches its prescribed pressure, the fullness in your ears should subside.
You can take items inside the chamber with you, so you can listen to music or your favorite podcast, catch up on some reading, or just use the time to relax.
Near the end of your session, we’ll gradually decrease the pressure. This is the decompression phase, which usually lasts about 5-10 minutes. During decompression, you may experience an automatic “popping” sensation in your ears as a result of the decreasing pressure — again, just like you’d feel on an airplane.
After that, you’re free to go about your day or stick around for an adjustment. Either way, you’ll continue reaping benefits from the chamber long after your session ends. (But depending on your situation, you may want or need a few more.)
Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition or simply looking to optimize your health, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is where it’s at!
In particular, it can help provide relief fo:
Anemia
Brain abscesses
Bubbles of air in blood vessels (arterial gas embolism)
Burns
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Crushing injuries
Deafness
Decompression sickness
Gangrene
Infections
Lung issues
Nonhealing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers
Radiation injuries and skin grafts
Sports injuries, including medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament injuries
Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
Contact us to learn more or use our online scheduling tool to book a session. (New patients get $25 their first one! Available in Council Bluffs only.)
Our feet undergo a lot of stress, which can lead to significant foot and heel pain. As a board-certified chiropractor specializing in sports medicine, I see many patients with foot and heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis. The condition involves inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the long, thick band of tissue that runs along the sole of the foot, connecting the heel to the front of the foot.
Below, I discuss several causes, symptoms and treatment options, including chiropractic care, to help you better understand the condition and how to relieve the pain associated with it.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia tissue supports the arch of the foot and acts as a shock absorber when we move our feet. With every step, that tissue is subjected to significant tension as the heel hits the ground, and tiny tears can occur. This can cause inflammation and irritation in the plantar fascia, accompanied by stabbing pain and stiffness on the bottom of the heel.
It’s often unclear exactly how plantar fasciitis occured, but it can be caused by a number of factors, including inadequate footwear or an overuse injury. Other factors that can increase the risk for plantar fasciitis are:
Age – As we get older, our risk of experiencing plantar fasciitis increases. It most commonly affects people over age 40.
Foot structure – Flat feet or high arches can mean a higher risk for plantar fasciitis. An unusual gait or walking pattern can cause an uneven weight distribution that is harder on the feet. Tight Achilles tendons, which attach your calf muscles to your heels, also may cause foot pain and stress for your plantar fascia.
Weight – Excess body weight makes it harder for your feet to support you. Pregnant women or people who experience sudden weight gain may develop plantar fasciitis.
High-impact activities – Activities that involve your heels can add a lot of strain to the area. Sports-related activities that involve repetitive impact are common contributors to heel and foot pain. Likewise, a sudden increase in activity, such as starting a new walking or running program, can increase your risk of plantar fasciitis.
Time on your feet – Jobs that require several hours of walking or standing on hard surfaces can damage the plantar fascia.
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
The primary symptom is pain on the bottom of the heel that develops over time. Some people experience pain on the bottom and at the middle of the foot. It’s usually most noticeable with the first steps of the day and may return after extended periods of standing, or when standing up after sitting or lying down.
Plantar fasciitis usually affects just one foot, but it can occur in both feet. The pain can be alternately sharp or a dull ache extending outward from the heel. You may also feel a higher level of discomfort when walking barefoot or in shoes with minimal support, like flip-flops.
Plantar fasciitis can often be confused with a heel spur. A heel spur is a calcium deposit that builds up and protrudes from the underside of the heel bone. Although the risk factors for a heel spur are similar to those of plantar fasciitis, heel spurs often do not cause pain or present symptoms unless they cause an injury to the soft tissue.
Tips for Relieving Pain
The following tips may help you relieve heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis:
Rest – It’s important to keep weight off your affected foot as much as possible when you’re experiencing plantar fasciitis. This means you may need to decrease athletic activities that involve jumping or pounding on hard surfaces.
Proper footwear – Supportive shoes with thick soles or cushioning can help relieve pain and reduce the stress on your plantar fascia. Silicone heel pads also provide cushioning. You should also consider replacing your athletic shoes often, and avoid high-heels or non-supportive footwear.
Avoid going barefoot – Without any support, especially on hard surfaces, this can be a serious stressor to the tissue in the bottom of the foot.
Stretching – Tight muscles in your feet and calves can aggravate the pain of plantar fasciitis. We can provide several stretching and at-home exercises that you can do to help loosen the muscles in your achilles tendon and plantar fascia, as well as to help strengthen your lower leg muscles and stabilize your ankles.
Ice or cold therapy – Pain and inflammation often respond well to cold therapy. Consider applying an ice pack or rolling your foot over a cold water bottle for 15-20 minutes several times a day. You can also fill a plastic water bottle about three-quarters full, freeze it for several hours, and then roll your foot over the bottle for relief.
Chiropractic Care for Plantar Fasciitis
We offer several treatment options for plantar fasciitis, including:
Chiropractic adjustments – As a board-certified chiropractor, I can perform adjustments to your feet, ankles, knees, hips and spine to alleviate pressure, allowing you to relax and heal. Realigning the body in this way also helps reduce the risk of further injury and discomfort.
Corrective exercise – Rehabilitation is an important part of the recovery process following any injury, and it’s a key part of my treatment. When necessary, I can provide specific recommendations to help you regain strength and improve flexibility in the foot, heel and ankle.
Laser therapy – I’m proud to offer the industry’s leading and most effective Class IV Laser for patients who need it. During treatment, I gently guide the laser over the affected area. The red and near infrared light from the laser helps alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and speed up recovery.
Soft tissue therapy – Graston Technique® is a type of soft tissue mobilization used at our clinic. During the treatment, I use a stainless steel instrument called a Graston tool to break up scar tissue and fascial restrictions in the foot, heel and ankle. This helps alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.
Trigger point dry needling – Dry needling is a great treatment option for muscular pain, tension and myofascial dysfunction. The treatment involves gently inserting a thin, dry needle (one without medication) into the trigger point and gently manipulating it until we get a “twitch” response, indicating that the muscle has released.
If you’re suffering from heel or foot pain, don’t ignore it. Use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment, or contact us for more information and an expert recommendation.
Chiropractic care offers several benefits for people of all ages and walks of life, but athletes and weightlifters are among the groups that can benefit the most. If you’re a weightlifter or Crossfitter, read on to learn how it can help you.
Improves posture and performance
Weightlifting puts a lot of stress on the joints as well as the upper and lower back. This stress can increase the risk of misalignment and impact your performance. If your spine or other joints are misaligned, your body will distribute weight unevenly. When you’re lifting, this can cause one side of the body to bear more of the weight than the other side, which can lead to uneven gains.
Chiropractic adjustments help restore natural balance by ensuring the body is properly aligned. Adjustments also help restore proper function to the nervous system, which in turn helps regulate muscle function and promote recovery.
Prevents injuries
Weightlifters and Crossfitters expose themselves to a variety of injuries, including sprains, strains and pinched nerves that can affect the upper and lower back as well as the shoulders, hips and knees. With regular chiropractic adjustments, you can ensure your body has the proper mechanical balance, which in turn helps increase range of motion and optimize performance.
As a board-certified chiropractor and former personal trainer and collegiate athlete, Nate Wiechmann, D.C., understands the physical demands that are required to live an active lifestyle. He can recommend specific exercises that you can use to increase range of motion, build strength and prevent future injuries. (We also have a squat rack in our clinic to assist power lifters and athletes with proper form for injury prevention.)
Treats injuries
When injuries do occur, chiropractic care can help speed up the recovery process. In addition to chiropractic adjustments, some of the other treatment options we provide for weightlifters and Crossfitters include:
Cupping therapy – Cupping involves applying glass or silicone cups to the skin to create pressure. (We use silicone cups at our clinics.) The suction promotes blood flow to the affected areas, which in turn helps stimulate the natural healing process to relieve tension and inflammation in the muscles.
Graston Technique® – This type of soft tissue mobilization utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments/tools to break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions in the body. As the instruments are moved over the affected area and come in contact with the adhesions, they break up scar tissue and fascial restrictions, which in turn helps relieve pain and restore movement.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy – Our newest treatment option, hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT, involves lying inside a pressurized chamber that releases 95-100% pure oxygen that’s increased two to three times the normal levels provided in our everyday environment. When your blood carries this extra oxygen throughout your body, it helps fight bacteria and stimulate the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells, which promote healing. (Typically a session goes for $80-100, but we’re offering 50% off your first session through the rest of the summer.)
Taping – Functional Movement Taping (FMT) helps provide support and stability for weak or injured muscles. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with other treatments. It’s important to have a certified practitioner, like a chiropractor, apply the tape to ensure it’s properly placed for optimal benefit.
TheraGun – TheraGun provides deep muscle massage that helps break up tension and increase range of motion. Oftentimes, this can be added on to other services for a minimal or complimentary fee.
Trigger point dry needling – This type of treatment involves inserting a dry needle (one without medicine) into a “knot” or trigger point in order to relieve pain and tension in the muscles.
In addition, we provide functional movement screens and sports physicals to help athletes address faulty movement patterns and reduce the risk of injury.
Of course, athletes aren’t the only ones who can benefit from regular chiropractic care. As a board-certified chiropractor, Dr. Wiechmann treats people of all ages and fitness levels, including elite athletes, weekend warriors, pregnant mothers and children. Call 712-249-8231 for more information, or use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment.
We’re thrilled to announce that we’re now offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy at our Council Bluffs clinic. Read on to learn how it works and what you can expect during and after treatment.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves lying inside a pressurized chamber that releases 95-100% pure oxygen. Often, pressure in the chamber is between 1.5 and 3 times greater than normal air pressure. When your blood carries this extra oxygen throughout your body, it helps fight bacteria and stimulate the release of growth factors and stem cells, which promotes healing. With repeated treatments, the extra oxygen can help increase your normal oxygen levels, even after the session ends. This means you can continue reaping benefits of the treatment long after you leave.
What are the benefits of hyperbaric medicine?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (or hyperbaric medicine) has become a popular recovery tool for athletes and non-athletes alike. The non-invasive treatment option can be beneficial for anyone looking to obtain better overall health and wellness. In particular, it can help provide relief for the following conditions:
Anemia
Brain abscesses
Bubbles of air in blood vessels (arterial gas embolism)
Burns
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Crushing injuries
Deafness
Decompression sickness
Gangrene
Infections
Nonhealing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers
Radiation injuries and skin grafts
Sports injuries, including medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
Vision loss
Other benefits include:
Increasing collagen production
Reducing pain and inflammation
Speeding up recovery time after an infection, sprain, strain, concussion or head injury
Decreasing the risk of re-injury
Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy safe?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment option. A typical session at our clinic lasts about an hour, and the pressure is constantly monitored to ensure your safety and comfort. However, hyperbaric medicine is not right for everyone. You shouldn’t receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy if you:
Have certain types of lung diseases or a collapsed lung
Are experiencing a cold or a fever, or have tested positive for COVID-19 within 24 hours
Recently had ear surgery or have a history of ear problems
Do not like small enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)
In some cases, patients may experience the following side effects, which resolve within a few hours:
Fatigue or lightheadedness
Sinus pressure
Fluid buildup or ear discomfort
Can hyperbaric medicine be used in conjunction with other treatments?
Every August, an influx of parents call our clinic to schedule sports physicals that allow their children to participate in school-sponsored activities. With the beginning of the school year right around the corner, scheduling a physical becomes just one more thing to check off the list, but it shouldn’t be.
These pre-participation exams are important for several reasons. First and most obviously, student athletes need to be medically cleared to play sports. Without a thorough physical assessment by a qualified medical professional, teens and other school-age children could be at-risk for severe health complications, including muscle imbalances and reflex conditions. Additionally, adolescents are among the highest risk-takers of any age group. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, athletic injuries account for about 20% of all injury-related emergency room visits for kids ages six to 19. Sports physicals help uncover hidden dangers that can keep your child safe on and off the field.
As a board-certified chiropractor and former collegiate athlete and personal trainer, Nate Wiechmann, D.C., specializes in treating and assessing student athletes. During each sports physical, he checks for the following:
Muscle imbalances
Joint pain or tenderness
Curvature of the spine
Problems with reflexes
Each sports physical includes a health history check to identify any previous injuries or conditions that may need to be addressed prior to the start of the season. In most cases, the athlete will be cleared to participate in his or her desired program. If something needs to be addressed, we may be able to treat the condition onsite, or we may refer your child to another specialist for further evaluation and treatment.
To accommodate patients in the Riverside Community School District, we’re once again offering discounted sports physicals for student athletes during back-to-school orientation on Aug. 9. For details, check out our blog post or contact Riverside High School.
Each year, Pott County Sports & Family Chiropractic provides discounted sports physicals to students in the Riverside Community School District. We’re proud of this longstanding tradition, which allows us to give back to the Oakland community. To make things even easier on parents and their families this year, we’re providing the sports physicals during back-to-school registration at Riverside High School on Monday, August 8.
Any student participating in a school-sponsored activity during the 2021-2022 season must complete a physical prior to the start of the season, and this is a great way to check it off the to-do list. The cost is $25 (payable via cash, check or credit card), and $10 of each physical will be donated back to the school activities program. Physicals will take place in the nurses office, and all paperwork will be provided by the school.
As a board-certified chiropractor specializing in sports medicine, Dr. Nate Wiechmann understands the physical demands that are required to live a healthy and active lifestyle. During each physical, he carefully assesses for the following risks:
Muscle imbalances
Joint pain or tenderness
Curvature of the spine
Reflex issues
If your child is not part of the Riverside community or he or she is unable to attend the orientation night, you can schedule a sports physical at one of our clinics using our online scheduling tool. For more information, please contact Riverside High School at 712-484-2291.
Want to bring this service to your child’s school? Contact us to learn how.
Have you ever experienced hard “knots” in your muscle? Those knots are known as “trigger points,” and they can cause significant pain over large areas, making it difficult to perform daily tasks. A common treatment option for relieving myofascial trigger point pain is dry needling.
What is the difference between trigger point dry needling and acupuncture?
Both trigger point dry needling and acupuncture use dry needles (ones that don’t involve medication) to gently prick specific spots in the body, but the treatments vary greatly. Acupuncture is primarily used to treat internal issues, such as digestive problems, stress and allergies, by removing blocked or interrupted “chi.” Dry needling is used to treat muscular pain, tension and myofascial dysfunction. Research published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy shows this helps release tight muscle bands associated with trigger points, leading to decreased pain and improved function.
What are the benefits of dry needling?
Benefits include:
Reducing pain and stiffness
Improving flexibility
Speeding up the recovery time
Improving range of motion
Easing joint pain
Decreasing neurological pain
What conditions can dry needling help treat?
Dry needling can provide relief for several medical conditions, including:
Trigger point dry needling is a safe and effective way to relieve muscle pain and tension in patients of all ages, including pregnant women and children. I use individually packaged, sterile single use and disposable needles. They are extremely fine (.16 to .30mm) and rarely cause bruising or bleeding. Some patients experience a slight tickle, while others say they feel a short period of pain. It can be normal to experience muscle soreness as the trigger point continues to work itself out, but that should clear up after one to two days.
What can you expect during a session?
After I identify the trigger point causing your pain or dysfunction, I gently insert a dry needle and manipulate it at the site until there’s a twitch response, indicating the muscle knot has released. The needle may be placed deeply or shallowly, for a short or long period of time, depending on your condition. Depending on the severity of your muscle tightness, you may need two to four sessions spaced one to two weeks apart to get lasting relief.
Can dry needling be used in conjunction with other treatments?
Like many of the services provided at our clinics, trigger point dry needling works well in conjunction with other treatments, including chiropractic adjustments, cupping, soft tissue therapy, laser therapy and rehabilitative taping.
