By: Corey Campbell
Being a
Sports Chiropractor is a big deal now. I am blessed enough to teach to students
and doctors all over the world and I often hear “I want to work with athletes
and be a sports chiropractor”. I think that is a great goal and to work with
athletes you do need a bigger tool-box. This got me thinking…what makes a
“sports chiropractor”?
I have
colleagues and friends that work with professional teams and some that are true
team DC’s for pro teams so I look to them for that answer. I have also been a DC for 14 years and I have
worked with athletes of all ages and levels as well as being fortunate enough
to have been a part of a large multi-disciplinary facility that was largely
orthopedic spine surgery based.
However, as
a person who is seeking (I won’t use patient as that implies illness and not all are
ill or hurt) a qualified and skilled sports chiropractor (from here on SDC for
Sport Doctor of Chiropractic) I think it is helpful to armed with some
knowledge and questions to help you make an informed decision for your potential provider. Remember whether you are looking to get out of pain, recover from an
injury and get back on the field, or perform better, you need to be your own
advocate. Also, realize that any healthcare provider should be open to you
asking questions prior to being seen.
The root and origin of “Doctor” means teacher. So as a healthcare provider we need to keep
that in mind and being open and honest is one facet but that other facet of what
we do is to teach or inform you of what you have going on, what we can do to
help you, and what your options are.
Below I have listed out 5 things you should
look for in a SDC. I have gathered this information from my colleagues, my own
personal clinical experience, and common questions people under care ask often.
5 things you should look for or ask about are:
1. Soft tissue release
skills/Certifications: Most SDC’s will
have certifications or training in soft tissue/muscle release techniques. There
are many different muscle release certifications and proficiencies to look for
or ask about but the most common are ART (active release technique), Graston,
FAKTR, and PIR/PNF. All of these are
various ways to loosen muscle and help you move better. The skill part will be
evident as experienced or well-trained SDC’s have great touch. It’s the “Goldilocks test”. The soft tissue
release is often not too much and not too little but somewhere in the middle.
Depending on what the goal of the soft tissue release is (which needs to be
based on an exam and palpation of the muscle) this may vary. Another important
aspect of muscle release is picking the right tool for the job. If you have trigger points (painful “knots”
in your muscle that refer pain elsewhere) then Graston and ART really won’t be
as beneficial as a PIR or dry needle technique and vice versa if you have
muscle adhesions. Always know the goal of the treatment and don’t be afraid to
ask.
2. Functional Assessment Skills. All
good SDC’s utilize functional screening tools as part of their assessment. Again there are a number of classes that can
be taken to learn these or some have come up with their own functional
assessments. Regardless all good SDC’s
assess movement. You will likely be run through a thorough examination that
will include a functional section that assesses basic movements such as
walking, running, squatting, balance testing, active and eccentric motion
testing, core and joint stability testing and sport specific movements (i.e.
golf swing or overhead lifting).
3. Functional Rehabilitation/DNS
Skills. All good SDC’s incorporate
rehabilitation/active care into their care plans. This is not to say that your
doctor will teach you how to swing a golf club better or run faster. That is not their job and it isn’t something
most would have expertise in. They are there to help you function better. They
are not coaches. This is not to say that some may have knowledge in certain
things but they typically will help you function better and collaborate with
your trainers or coaches. For example, my friend and colleague that works with
a professional baseball team is extremely well versed in all things pitching
(softball and baseball) and would be one of the best pitching coaches in the
world if he wanted to be. However what he will do is inform the coaches and
trainer of potentially harmful mechanics and work with them to help correct it
so the athlete can stay healthy and hopefully reach a higher level of
performance. All good SDC’s understand the importance of laying the foundation
of respiration retraining, lumbar spine stabilization/bracing, scapular
stabilization, hip stabilization, and more functional retraining based on the
sport (i.e. chops or rotational movement for golf and squat retraining for
CrossFit etc).
4. Taping/Dry Needle/ Cupping/ Laser/Cryotherapy/Nutrition.
Most SDC’s have some other ancillary services or specialties they provide. These
ancillary services typically help with inflammation or acute pain. As an athlete (“If you have a body, you’re an
athlete”-Bowman) you will encounter acute pain and injury and your doctor will
have to do something to get the inflammatory process calmed down before he or
she can even start to think about doing anything else. The above list of
services will help decrease inflammation and hopefully decrease pain even if
for short periods of time. I do want to mention the nutritional aspect as that
is very important for athletes. You should ask your SDC about supportive and
anti-inflammatory dietary changes and supplements as these are extremely
important in not only acute/ injury control but also as a staple. “Deflaming” is a popular term most DC’s are
aware of and I feel strongly all people can benefit greatly from these concepts
and lifestyle changes.
5. Joint Palpation and Adjusting Skills.
Being an instructor for the Motion Palpation Institute (MPI) has given me
perspective on the importance of hand skills. As DC’s the very essence our
profession is our ability to assess, diagnose and treat (heal) with our hands. I
know I am biased in this regard but I feel it is very important that any DC you
choose has extensive training in palpation and adjusting skills. This goes
beyond where the DC went to school. Just because a school has a certain
reputation doesn’t mean everyone that graduates that school is granted some
innate ability to be experts with their hands.
This is no different than all Yale attorney’s being the best in
business. Any SDC you choose should have extensive training outside of their
school training in palpation and adjusting skills as this is crucial to you
functioning your best. The ability of your SDC to find and help change faulty
joint biomechanics is crucial. Often
times muscle change are a result of bad joint motion. If this is coupled with
repetitive movements (running, pullups, bootcamps etc.) then the problem will
just continue to get worse. Once a joint loses its ability to move then no
exercise or stretch can help restore that motion. Again, you can ask questions about this prior
to becoming a patient and you will know once that person works with you.
Palpation and adjusting skill is something that you will know very quickly
whether your SDC has or not.
I hope that this is helpful in your decision making when looking for a
sports chiropractor. I do feel whether you are athletically inclined or just
seeking to function and feel better it is in your best interest to seek out a
good chiropractor. Chiropractors are natural minded and conservative care
based. A good service driven DC will help guide you to a healthier lifestyle,
higher level of functioning and be an advocate for you and your health.
Thank you.
Corey Campbell, DC
Motion Palpation Institute Board and VP
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