Sports Chiropractic
Doctors of Chiropractic at AGP all obtain their Diplomate of Chiropractic Sports Medicine (DACBSP®) which
is the highest
level of education within their profession through the
American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (ACBSP™).
The Chiropractic profession has evolved over the decades just as all other medical professions (Orthopedics,
Neurosurgery,
Oncology etc). Chiropractors that obtain their DACBSP® certification are progressively pushing the
profession
of Chiropractic into a well-established professional entity into the sports medicine healthcare system. Many
physicians,
health care professionals, parents, and athletes may not know that DACBSP®’s continue to run and manage
the
most prestigious and diverse sports platform in the United States of America; the
U.S.
Olympic Committees’ Sports Medicine Department (USOC).
Diagnosis
It is often stated in healthcare that the history is the most crucial portion of information in
rendering a diagnosis. The history consisting upwards to 80% of the diagnosis, which is an accurate
statement. AGP schedules a new patient for ninety minutes or two hours to capture an accurate diagnosis.
Uncomplicated cases will typically require one hour for the history and examination. The remaining time we
may initiate treatment if it is indicated.
Complex Cases
A complicated case may be a patient who may have been evaluated by multiple physicians but does not yet have
an accurate diagnosis, or a diagnosis that accounts for all the patient’s symptoms and/or complaints.
Complex case patients usually have a collection of imaging reports and images on CD, lab tests, and reports from other physicians. These records will be reviewed after our complete history and examination. Once the clinical diagnoses are established, the report of findings and treatment plan is presented which may include conservative care at our facility and care from other specialties to resolve the pain and symptoms.
In sports medicine, each specialty looks at pathology through their own perspective and education. The best physicians in each specialty may view a patient’s symptoms and determine said symptoms presented are being caused by a pathology which is one of the physician’s primary focus. At AGP we make every attempt to take the time and step back to allow for common and uncommon pathologies as well as multiple pathologies that may overlap and present as a complex case. The experience of our doctors working within previous multidisciplinary settings as the initial point of contact for Red Bull Athletes, USOC/Olympic Athletes, and professional athletes, has allowed them to understand viewpoints and treatment approaches to pathologies from different specialties as well as their outcomes which gives our patients an approach that is best suited for each individual and pathology.
Manual Therapies
At AGP, we strongly feel that manual therapies are a crucial component of athlete performance!
What sets AGP apart from all others sports medicine providers is that we
do not pick one branded manual or soft tissue therapy like ART, Myofascial Release, Deep Tissue,
Trigger point therapy, Graston, IASTAM, Gua Sha, Acupuncture/Dry needling, or Cupping therapy just to name a
few of the over 50+ manual and/or soft tissue therapies out on the market today but rather our providers
intellectually choose which form of soft tissue mobilization for the targeted tissue as well as the
appropriate time during the healing stage of the tissues involved.
We are adamant that there is NOT a single therapy that is the
end-all-be-all answer to sports injury but rather an educated provider that can use a therapy at the
appropriate time and to the correct tissue!
Soft Tissue Therapies
At AGP we strongly feel that manual therapies are a crucial component of athlete performance!
What is soft tissue mobilization?
My most respected mentor and hands down best neuromusculoskeletal diagnostician Dr. Joseph Horrigan, DC, DACBSP® says “Soft tissue encompasses is everything but the bone”. There are many forms of soft tissue mobilization as stated above, however, very little that sets them all apart. Overall, an athlete needs some form of therapy and it is more ideal to target all types and all layers of soft tissue which include: superficial fascia, muscle, tendons, and sometimes ligaments. Repetitive stress and/or acute trauma to these structures can cause microtrauma and inflammation. This inflammation can lead to fibrotic changes in the tissues altering joint range of motion, muscle function and ultimately decreasing performance. Overall, sports usually are asymmetrical forms of performance and imbalances may occur; these imbalances must be monitored and limited to allow an athlete to perform at their best.
What does soft tissue mobilization do for athlete performance?
Our bodies respond to the stress that is applied to it. Examples – When I lift weights my muscle hypertrophy,
meaning my muscle fibers break down and grow bigger. If I run everyday my bones develop more density and become
stronger.
Soft tissue mobilization, whether in the form of acupuncture/needling, myofascial release or other forms, all forms manipulate the cellular structure and physiology. Cellular activity and increase blood supply are amazing for changing the environment with fresh new cells and nutrients. Increased blood supply and cell manipulation will bring new formation of fibroblast activity and growth hormones that promote fresh new and healthy tissue.
Chiropractic Adjustment
At AGP the Chiropractic adjustment to the spine or extremities is just one of many powerful therapeutic tools’ doctors may use for their elite athletes, when appropriate.
Therapeutic Exercise & Rehab
At AGP, integration of therapeutic exercise is imperative to athletic performance. Every patient will have a
detailed rehabilitation plan based upon their work-up and chief complaint.
In most sports, athletes develop asymmetries due to the demands of their sport. At AGP quality athlete care is defined by intellectually determining and prescribing corrective exercises that will aid in helping resolve their sports injuries. Our providers have 13+ years of experience in post-operative rehabilitation of orthopedic procedures of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot.
For example, athletes that have shoulder complaints will more than likely need scapular stabilization and rotator cuff exercises within their their treatment plan. Also, an athlete that has a lower back complaint will need core stabilization and neuromuscular re-education exercises.
At AGP Sports Medicine we only perform these exercises until it is time to move onto sports specific strength and
conditioning which will gradually increase in difficulty over weeks until physical therapy is progressed into
strength and conditioning.
From Rehab to Game Day
The gap from rehab to game day can be a challenge for the common market place in physical
therapy and sports performance specialists. AGP’s unique foundation was built upon being in the field of play
and closely monitoring and progressing athletes from acute and chronic injuries from rehabilitation into peak
performance. Olympic and professional athletes are poised to have the bridge between rehab to peak
performance be achieved at AGP.
