COVER STORY / The Patient-Centred Team
The OCA would like to thank Dr. Brad Muir
for his input on this article.
Treatment of Athletes: Key Considerations
Chiropractic care can benefit athletes at all stages of their training schedules and
careers. This includes preparation for competition, performance enhancement and
injury rehabilitation. These Key Considerations outline what to keep in mind when
treating athletes. This tool is designed for chiropractors who are new to treating
athletes or would like to develop this area of their practice.
1 Every sport is unique. Work with your patient to develop a clear
understanding of the requirements and demands of their specific sport. This will
facilitate treatments and the creation of sport and athlete specific rehabilitation
exercises in the event of an injury. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic
Association offers a number of case reports and studies that may be helpful.
2 Athletes know their bodies. Athletes are often able to be clear and precise
Dr. Brad Muir
Dr. Brad Muir graduated from CMCC in 2003
and earned the Sport Specialist Designation in
2006. He practices in Pickering, Ontario and is
an Associate Professor at CMCC. Dr. Muir is a
member of the Royal College of Chiropractic
Sports Science of Canada and has lectured
across the country.
Royal College of Chiropractic
Sports Science of Canada
Fall 2013 Conference
Where: Abilities Centre
55 Gordon Street, Whitby Ontario
When: November 16 & 17, 2013
Details: www.2013sportsconfeast.ca
about their symptoms because they know their bodies so well. This can help
focus treatments and enhance results. Current trends in treatment of athletes
promote the “functional” approach, wherein chiropractors focus on optimizing
the functionality of the kinetic chain most relevant to an athlete’s particular
sport. (E.g. knee dysfunction in a marathoner may be the result of hip or ankle
misalignment or injury.) Applying the functional approach in conjunction with
patient dialogue can be a powerful therapeutic tool.
3 hletes may not know their limits. The drive to compete and succeed
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is strong among athletes. To achieve athletic successes, athletes may risk
sacrificing long-term health. Even injured athletes might push themselves too
hard. In such situations, the first step is to reduce demand on the injured area.
A new training baseline will need to be identified that takes into account the
rehabilitation exercises that will help get the patient back to full functionality.
4 e aware of your patient’s competition schedule. As your patient’s
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competition time approaches, their intensity level may increase. This can be
reflected in their workout regimens. Reducing the impact of treatments and
focussing on maintenance, range of motion and circulation may help your
patient manage the physical stress of these periods on their bodies. The
concept of “periodization” comes into play here. Encourage your patient to be
clear and transparent with you and their trainers and coaches about all of their
competition and athletic goals. Then work with the patient to find when more
intensive treatments make the most sense within their schedule.
5 velop a varied toolkit. Especially when injuries occur, treating athletic
De
Recommended Reading:
For an overview of literature on
sports chiropractic, see:
Chiropractic Treatment And The
Enhancement of Sport Performance:
A Narrative Literature Review
JCCA, December 2010
Andrew L. Miners, BPHE, BSc (Hons),
CSCS, CK, DC, FCCSS(C)
14
SPRING/SUMMER 2013
patients will require the trial and use of a variety of techniques. Among the most
common and effective techniques are vibration therapy, active release therapy,
the Graston Technique and acupuncture. The key is to find the combination
of techniques, both manual and instrument assisted, that work for each
particular patient. Experienced sports chiropractors develop a good sense of
which combination of techniques will work best for each patient, but even they
experiment with different techniques. Patience is critical, though. Give each
technique a chance to work before experimenting with another.
6 ven athletes forget to eat right. Athletes’ bodies require fuel to operate
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at peak performance. But between the rigours of training and competition they
can forget to eat a balanced diet and hydrate. Find opportunities to educate your
athletic patients on the importance of hydration and nutrition. The periodization
concept applies to diet as well.