What is Chiropractic Sports Medicine?

Chiropractic Sports Medicine is a non-surgical approach that emphasizes drug-free pain relief and approaches evaluation and care from a global perspective, employing many different modalities to achieve and maintain optimal health FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST ATHELETES! As a Doctor of Chiropratic Sports Medicine, I utilize the following themes….

.             Joint palpation and adjusting. Joint mobility is the cornerstone of musculoskeletal health. If a joint doesn’t move properly, the entire kinetic chain will be compromised and cause movement pattern adaptations which can be painful, inefficient and destructive over time. Restoring joint mobility is the fastest way to return proper function whether it is in the spine, foot, skull or any joint in the body.

·             Soft Tissue Management. Muscles pull on bones. If we only mobilize the bones without addressing the tissue integrity, the tension will quickly cause the joints to misalign again. In the health-care industry, Active Release Technique is the gold standard for soft tissue management. Active Release practitioners can quickly and consistently assess and treat tissue restrictions in every muscle, ligament, tendon and nerve in the body. Our palpation skills (the ability to “see” with the hands) are second to none!

·             Functional Assessment. The source of pain is rarely where the problem lies. Examining whole body movement patterns gives a global picture of where the patient may be compensating, overloading joints or tissues and cheating themselves out of strong, healthy movement. Functional assessment is how we identify the root cause, not just the painful symptom.

·             Functional Rehab. If the muscles and bones and the “hardware”, the movement pattern progrmas are the “software” and must be updated to work correctly. Retraining dysfunctional movement patterns may eliminate pain, improve performance, speed recovery and prevent future injuries.

·             Ancillary Modalities. Cupping, taping, dry-needling, electrostim, laser, graston, percussion, nutrition, even heat and cold are all tools which may be used to speed healing by decreasing inflammation, improving fluid mechanics, and improving the function and integration of the nervous system.

Chiropractic Sports Medicine (in conjunction with physical therapy, massage and conventional medicine) is the same health-care paradigm used by professional athletes with million-dollar contracts. While we may not all be top-level competitors, we still deserve to perform our best, live with minimal pain, and enjoy movement in our bodies.