Published: 2009-10-04 22:01:33
Author: Marc Heller | Dynamic Chiropractic | September 23, 2009
I recently attended and spoke at the annual meeting of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (ACBSP). What surprised me the most was the connection and camaraderie I felt with these doctors.
I suspect most of us tend to get isolated in our practices and have limited contact with other DCs - and most of that contact may be nothing more than seeing other doctors' failed cases or observing questionable management practices. Personally, I have some tendency to feel alienated from my own profession and to feel that even though I am proud to be a chiropractor, I don't always appreciate how chiropractic is practiced in the world.
The tone, attitude and dedication of this group of sports chiropractors really impressed me. The discussions were not about patient volume, insurance hassles or practice-building; they were about how to get athletes back in the game and improving outcomes using the latest evidence. It's hard to communicate the overall tone of the event, but it was very uplifting. I felt as if I had come home to a chiropractic environment in which everyone was into getting the patient well quickly and recognized the necessity of using the multiple tools to which we have access.
Everyone I spoke with uses and appreciates rehab and soft-tissue approaches along with manipulation. The doctors are dedicated to continuing education, and most either already hold the advanced certification as certified chiropractic sports physicians/practitioners (CCSP) or diplomates of the ACBSP (DACBSP), or are studying toward these credentials.
I am not a sports chiropractor; I do treat some athletes, of course, but it is not the center of my practice. However, there are certain principles of sports chiropractic that I believe apply to most of our patients. Sports chiropractors work to get their patients well as quickly as possible. They want to get their athletes back on the field. They want to give their patients the tools to help themselves.
Most
of the doctors had a wellness outlook, involving the whole lifestyle:
day-to-day activities, nutritional components and obviously, exercise.
Exercise was defined differently here, with components for rehab and
components for training both athletes and weekend warriors. All of the
docs seemed to embrace rehab and soft tissue as necessary components of
chiropractic care.