The Role of Chiropractic Doctors in Athletics

Michael H. Norris, DC, ATC BKP Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Lancaster, California

Ahe Dallas Cowboys had just pionships to professional rodeo." referred to Dr. Parker and got finished a grueling practice. As the As members of the Joint Commis- good results. He then sent in a players returned to the locker sion of Sports Medicine and Sci- steady stream of other players. room, many of them were headed ence, chiropractors are among the Some professionals simply for the training room to begin the 30 professional organizations that enjoy sports and working with ritual of physical recuperation. interact with athletic trainers, medi- highly motivated athletes. Doug The Cowboys athletic training stafF cal doctors, physical therapists, and Anderson, a chiropractic doctor, uses state-of-the-art sports medical strength coaches. 'We all agreed began by volunteering his ser- technology to keep their players that caring for sports injuries should vices at beach volleyball events. in top physical condition. be a joint collaboration between "We just set up a banner and a But for some of the Cowboys, many professionals, while the ath- table and started treating a few a second destination was on the lete benefits most," says Dr. Hyde. players," he said. He now coor- schedule-a visit to the chiroprac- dinates event coverage for the tic office of Dr. Rob Parker. Growth of Chiropractic Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, the In their quest for the 1995 SpoHs Care Pro Surfing Tour, and a ballet NFL Championship, a number of company. Dr. Anderson advocates players including Emmit Smith, There are several reasons for this professional interaction: Troy Aikman, Dar ylJohnston, and growth in chiropractic sports care. Deion Sanders decided to utilize As the number of athletes has in- 'Y~networlxwith many athletic train- Dr. Parker's services. If the success creased, so have the demands for ers to provide care at events. Their of the Cowboys is any indication, physicians who treat musculo- skills make athletic ty-ainersvery we will no doubt skeletal injuries. valuable.ISe found thatboth sides see more players Because they usuallylearn a lotfrom each.othm " seeking the ben- employ manual Andy Paulin, ATC, is an ath- efits of regular techniques, chi- letic trainer at Mt. San Antonio chiropractic ropractors are College and past president of the care. beginning to California Athletic Trainers Asso- Chiroprac- see and treat ciation. He coordinates a major 4 tic involvement b. more athletes; day track and field event every with athletics has they get very April. Paulin says, steadily increased in the last two good results. The hands-on, non- decades. According to Tom Hyde, drug approach is appealing to "Tenyears ago when I worked a a chiropractic doctor and execu- many injured athletes. track meet tlzerewas a distinctsepa- tive director of the American Chi- Once athletes respond to ration of ATCs and DCs. ATOWI ropractic Association's Sports chiropractic care, they tell their activelyrecruit ch,iro~ractors to he@ Council, more than 3,000 events fellow athletes. This is what hap- with ourco.tnpetition. We 're all un- will be coordinated by chiroprac- pened with the Dallas Cowboys. der the sametent exchan@n,gideas tic doctors, "from aerobic cham- Daryl Johnston, a fullback, was and techniques."

O 1996 Human Kinetics These examples show how funded by independent organiza- itation, radiology, and other cooperative networking can tions has produced significant specialties to increase their bridge the gap of different philo- publications validating the ben- knowledge in these fields. sophical ideologies. efits of manipulative therapy. While these programs provide A 1991 Rand Study evaluation excellent textbook material, they Preconceived Motions of the scientific literature con- lack the intense practical experi- cluded that spinal manipulation is ence required for athletic trainer Even with the advances an effective treatment for low back certification. Nevertheless, for interprofessional exchange, many disorders (Shekelle et al., 1991). chiropractors who want to treat people have a preconceived idea The Agency for Health Care Policy sports injuries or provide coverage of what chiropractic is all about. and Research (1994) has endorsed at sports events, this is a good place There is much misinformation conservative care for back pain, in- to start. and a general misunderstanding cluding spinal manipulation. The A well-trained and conscien- regarding chiropractic philoso- literature clearly supports the tious chiropractor can be a valu- phy7 especially among medically benefits of manipulation in treat- able asset to a sports event staff. trained professionals. Prior to ing subluxated joints. Restoring According to Dr. Anderson, landmark legal Cases, medical eth- movement, removing soft tissue ics dictated that medical doctors stress, and improving nerve "772e r-ight type ofLl(:s weneec;?eti! could not refer to Or consult with function are some of the more 20 ~nhanxr!om- ~fJictive~,ess. 1/14?look

chiropractic doctors. And philo- notable effects of joint rnanipu- jb7-doclors TL)~LO 7t1ill wo?-Ic witl~,i~/, t11,e sophical differ- lative therapy, sysh~n,firoz~tdilzggood qu crlity caw. ences in the which chiro- I ndvocalea ronse~-z)-vnl'ivecipi)ronclz management of practors term such ns so4 li.rsuetechnique~s, t??g- patients further "adjusting. " ger point tlzerul,): strebchiag, and separated medi- The role massuge. But zjan athbte has a cal doctors from of the chiro- subluxnfedjoint, only manipula- chiropractic practor in sports tion zi1i1E,rerno.cir! it. " doctors. is quite varied, These ex- from serving as Individual states regulate the clusionary practices led to a com- a full-fledged team physician to scope of practice for doctors of munication gap between the two providing occasional care to ath- chiropractic. Procedures they groups. Fortunately, these bar- letes in private practice. Just as commonly perform include doing riers are now dissolving. Multi- in other fields of health care, the physical examinations, taking and disciplinary partnerships and af- expertise of chiropractors in treat- interpreting X-rays, ordering spe- filiations between medical, chiro- ing athletic injuries will vary cial tests such as MRI or CT scans, practic, and other professions are greatly between individual practi- and diagnosing musculoskeletal being established every day. Equip tioners. The athletic therapist disorders. Many states allow for the ment suppliers and seminar pro- should make sure to question a use of physiotherapy modalities mo ters are crossing over and prac-titioner's level of competency and rehabilitative therapies. actively marketing sources never in sports medicine. Most chiropractic students considered before. This was not Many chiropractic colleges begin their training after getting the case 20 years ago. provide postgraduate course work a bachelors degree. They must in sports injuries. The American complete a comprehensive 40- Gaining accetprt(ance ~hiro~ractkAssociation offers month curriculum that includes courses leading to a Certified Chi- 600 hours of internship. Students ~~Qne~e;ae;ain~whi~h-&ir~pra~ti~-C-r~pra~ti~-Sp~rts-Phy~i~ia~tat~s-- - -must-pass-basic-s.kn~e.and- tech------has been behind the times is in Licensed doctors seeking addi- nical examinations administered research and peer review litera- tional educational training can nationally in order to be eligible ture. Financial support from enroll in a 3-year diplomat pro- for state board examinations. In within the profession and research gram in orthopedics, rehabil- addition, most states require con-

20 A&ledc %era@ Today November 1996