What Do Sports Chiropractors Do?
When thinking of chiropractors, the typical person thinks that they just “fix” issues by cracking the back a few times in certain areas to align the spine. Others think of professionals that test the muscles and have the patient do a few different stretches to see if the pain goes away.
The truth is, everyone really has their own opinion of what a chiropractor is, or should be, but most know that they “do something with the back.” Chiropractors go through extensive schooling to gain the education required to assist in making the body function to the best of its ability while causing the person as little pain as possible in the process.
One branch of the chiropractor’s scope is the sports chiropractor. The sports chiropractor has extensive knowledge in injury prevention and management, in addition to all of the knowledge of a traditional chiropractor.
In order to extend oneself from a traditional chiropractor to a sports chiropractor, there are additional requirements when it comes to experience and training. The chiropractor is required to spend a lot of time at sporting events in order to get the necessary training needed in order to really be able to those that are suffering from sports-related injuries or discomfort.
In the realm of sports chiropractic education, there are two tests that one must pass in order to gain their title. The CCSP, or Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, title is required before one can take the test to become a DACMSP or Diplomate American Chiropractic Board of Sports Medicine Physician. The training is extensive, and the chiropractor truly has to earn their titles!
Sports chiropractors do not just perform a few spinal manipulation techniques and send the patient on their way. The sports chiropractor will dig deep to find the root of the pain, and why it occurs when you walk or turn a certain way as opposed to doing other activities. They also have different tools to use, and not all are focused primarily on the spine.
The main goal of the sports chiropractors is to decrease the pain experienced in certain areas of the body. They will treat the areas, and send the patient home with a bit of homework in the form of stretches and different exercises that focus on the area in question and allow the patient to function better in the long run.
The patient will leave with the knowledge of how to mitigate the pain on their own, and there is no longer a treatment plan required at the physician’s office, in most cases. Of course, regular treatment regimens would help one’s body meet optimum performance.
You don’t have to be suffering from a sports-related injury to see a sports chiropractor. If you are experiencing pain and need to find a solution to manage it, the sports chiropractor is able to help! To learn more about sports chiropractic services, contact a professional and they will be able to determine if this type of treatment is something that would benefit you.
