Sports Chiropractic
Encyclopedia
Sports chiropractic, also known as chiropractic sports sciences/medicine, is a specialty of chiropractic
. In Canada it is generally a 2 year post-graduate residency program that results in the designation of certified chiropractic sports specialist (CCSS) offered by the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences. The American equivalent is the Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP), or the Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DABCSP), a three-year post-doctoral program.
Internationally, the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic
(FICS) has established the International Chiropractic Sport Science Diploma
(ICSSD) program in connection with Murdoch University
, in Perth, Australia. It is FICS' prerequisite for a Doctor to be approved to participate in any International sporting event. Applicants can receive the degree through participation in a combination of online courses, seminars, and receive credit for post-doctoral education, like the national programs listed above, already attained.
An growing obstacle to chiropractic sports medicine is the exclusion of chiropractors from performing high school physicals, a necessary requirement for participation. Besides physicians, in certain states nurse practitioners are allowed to do physicals. Specifically with regard to chiropractors the study reported "...states that permit practitioners with little or no cardiovascular training (such as chiropractors or naturopathic practitioners) to provide medical clearance of high school athletes increased from 11 (22%) in 1997 to 18 (35%) in 2005."
teams used a chiropractor in an official capacity on their medical staff. In 2006, a study analyzing Division I NCAA college athletes at inter-college sporting events in Hawaii found that chiropractic usage within the last 12 months was reported by 39% of respondents.
in Mexico City
, in 1968, when Dr. Leroy Perry arranged a relationship with the Aruba
team. The first official appointment of a chiropractor to the US team began with the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, United States, when Dr. George Goodheart
's name was given to Irving Dardik, MD, then chairman of the USOC Sports Medicine Committee by Dr. Stephen J. Press. Subsequently a program was developed to screen Chiropractic Doctors at the USOTC in Colo. Spngs., CO. And, at each subsequent games chiropractors were included with the US team, and other national teams as well. In the 2008 Games in Beijing
, the US team sent four chiropractors, and, in another US first, i.e., they appointed Dr. Mike Reed, DC medical director of the US team. As part of a demonstration project under the aegis of the IOC for the first time in Olympic history, chiropractic care will be fully integrated and in treating athletes in the polyclinic in 2010 at the Winter Olympics games in Vancouver
.
Outside of the United States, Life University
has developed relationships with the Costa Rican, Guatemalan, and Honduran Olympic Committees. Dr. John Downes of Life University participated in the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as Costa Rica's Chiropractor. In 2000, Life University opened a 4500 sq. ft. Chiropractic Clinic in the Costa Rican Olympic Committee Compound under the supervision of Dr. Trace Palmer with the focus of supporting the country's athletic federations.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. It is generally categorized as complementary and alternative medicine...
. In Canada it is generally a 2 year post-graduate residency program that results in the designation of certified chiropractic sports specialist (CCSS) offered by the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences. The American equivalent is the Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP), or the Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DABCSP), a three-year post-doctoral program.
Internationally, the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic
International Federation of Sports Chiropractic
The International Federation of Sports Chiropractic is an international organization which promotes sports chiropractic around the world. It is composed of national sports chiropractic councils, or the national associations, from many countries such as Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico,...
(FICS) has established the International Chiropractic Sport Science Diploma
International Chiropractic Sport Science Diploma
The International Chiropractic Sport Science Diploma is a post-doctoral professional certification, granted by the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic , through an association with Murdoch University....
(ICSSD) program in connection with Murdoch University
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
, in Perth, Australia. It is FICS' prerequisite for a Doctor to be approved to participate in any International sporting event. Applicants can receive the degree through participation in a combination of online courses, seminars, and receive credit for post-doctoral education, like the national programs listed above, already attained.
Practice parameters
The focus of chiropractic sports specialists is to provide care in the conservative management, rehabilitation and performance optimization of neuromusculoskeletal system for athletic populations and to participate in a multi-disciplinary sports injury care environment. The book "Opportunities in Chiropractic Careers" states that sports chiropractors have made contributions to protective gear and trauma management in contact sports, athletic health maintenance, therapy, and enhanced rehabilitation after injury. Spinal injury prevention has been identified as a role that sports chiropractors play.An growing obstacle to chiropractic sports medicine is the exclusion of chiropractors from performing high school physicals, a necessary requirement for participation. Besides physicians, in certain states nurse practitioners are allowed to do physicals. Specifically with regard to chiropractors the study reported "...states that permit practitioners with little or no cardiovascular training (such as chiropractors or naturopathic practitioners) to provide medical clearance of high school athletes increased from 11 (22%) in 1997 to 18 (35%) in 2005."
Use by amateur and professional sports teams
In 2002, 31% of National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
teams used a chiropractor in an official capacity on their medical staff. In 2006, a study analyzing Division I NCAA college athletes at inter-college sporting events in Hawaii found that chiropractic usage within the last 12 months was reported by 39% of respondents.
Olympics
Chiropractic sports medicine specialists first began treating Olympic athletes at the Olympic GamesOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, in 1968, when Dr. Leroy Perry arranged a relationship with the Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
team. The first official appointment of a chiropractor to the US team began with the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, United States, when Dr. George Goodheart
George Goodheart
George Joseph Goodheart, Jr. was a chiropractor who founded Applied Kinesiology. He died March 5, 2008 at the age of 89.-Family:...
's name was given to Irving Dardik, MD, then chairman of the USOC Sports Medicine Committee by Dr. Stephen J. Press. Subsequently a program was developed to screen Chiropractic Doctors at the USOTC in Colo. Spngs., CO. And, at each subsequent games chiropractors were included with the US team, and other national teams as well. In the 2008 Games in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, the US team sent four chiropractors, and, in another US first, i.e., they appointed Dr. Mike Reed, DC medical director of the US team. As part of a demonstration project under the aegis of the IOC for the first time in Olympic history, chiropractic care will be fully integrated and in treating athletes in the polyclinic in 2010 at the Winter Olympics games in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
Outside of the United States, Life University
Life University
Life University is located in Marietta, Georgia. It is best known for its doctorate degree program in chiropractic, but it also offers a number of undergraduate programs.- History :...
has developed relationships with the Costa Rican, Guatemalan, and Honduran Olympic Committees. Dr. John Downes of Life University participated in the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as Costa Rica's Chiropractor. In 2000, Life University opened a 4500 sq. ft. Chiropractic Clinic in the Costa Rican Olympic Committee Compound under the supervision of Dr. Trace Palmer with the focus of supporting the country's athletic federations.
Integration: advances and barriers
A number of barriers exist for chiropractors interested in sports care. Most sports organizations have an existing relationship with a local physician-based clinic or hospital. Physicians' interests in sports injuries predates chiropractors and the development of their recent sports chiropractic programs. Furthermore, university-based sports programs work with their own undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for student education and paid positions ranging from athletic trainer, physical therapist, physician assistants to physicians. The problem has been briefly evaluated. and found that in rare instances chiropractors have found positions within major sports franchises or university programs. More likely, is the admittance of chiropractors at the high school level in rural America consistent with low physician ratios. To meet the needs of small athlete populations in rural communities, school administrators, coaches, and parents are often more accepting of non-traditional means of sports care.Notable athletes receiving chiropractic care
- Lance ArmstrongLance ArmstrongLance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
- Tiger WoodsTiger WoodsEldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
- Jerry RiceJerry RiceJerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
- Sidney CrosbySidney CrosbySidney Patrick Crosby ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
- Jerry SanduskyJerry SanduskyGerald Arthur "Jerry" Sandusky is a retired American football coach. Sandusky served as an assistant coach for his entire career, mostly at Pennsylvania State University under Joe Paterno, and was one of the most notable major college football coaches never to have held a head coaching position. ...
Associations
- International Federation of Sports ChiropracticInternational Federation of Sports ChiropracticThe International Federation of Sports Chiropractic is an international organization which promotes sports chiropractic around the world. It is composed of national sports chiropractic councils, or the national associations, from many countries such as Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico,...
or Fédération Internationale de Chiropratique du Sport (FICS) - International Association of Olympic Chiropractic Officers