Dr. Erin: What Can a Chiropractic Sports Physician Do for You?
For the past year, I’ve been working towards my board-certification in sports medicine (CCSP). Many of my patients have been asking me what the difference is between a sports chiropractor and a general practice chiropractor. In fact, most people don’t even realize that chiropractors can specialize just like medical or osteopathic doctors!
Obtaining the CCSP designation requires the doctor to attend a 120 hour post-graduate program. These classes are specific to physical fitness, emergency medicine and the evaluation/treatment of injuries encountered in sports such as sprains/strains, rotator cuff injuries, knee problems and foot/ankle injuries. Following the completion of these hours, the doctor must take and successfully pass a comprehensive written examination. This training will aid the doctor in the prevention and treatment of athletic injuries and provide a uniform standard of education that assures teams and athletes that the doctor has met a minimum level of competency in chiropractic sports medicine.
As my patients know, I have always taken a “functional approach” to helping patients achieve their goals by pinpointing areas that are tight, tender, weak and deconditioned and customizing a treatment plan to get the back to 100%. Having this additional education helps me diagnose and treat a variety of patients from someone in their 80’s with foot tendonitis to a high school athlete with shoulder pain after pitching in baseball.
As I expand this part of my practice, I look forward to being the non-surgical sports specialist in NE DuPage County assisting weekend warriors as well as local school districts and travel teams. If you know a coach, athletic trainer or athletic director who might be interested in complementary injury prevention programs for their team, please have them call me at 224-653-8094 or email drerin@ducatchiropractic.com
For more information on our sports medicine services, please check out “The Sports Clinic” page.