Dr. Morgan and I have started working with the Naval Academy’s football team and it has been quite an educational experience. Similar to working with the Palmer West sports council, chiropractic care for high end athletes needs to be tweaked to address a barrage of acute conditions potentially masking underlying chronic complaints. Unlike chronic care patients, the serious athlete primarily wants to be able to continue to compete at a high level. While it is important to keep the athlete in top condition, equally important is the practitioner’s responsibility to protect the athlete’s body from their own drive to push through the pain and possibly toward injury. Working with the football team has presented these challenges as well as others.
As an intern providing chiropractic care, I fall on the low end of the navy athletic medical “food chain.” Everyone works under a head team doctor who guides a team of various doctors and trainers. All of these providers know the players and their conditions much better than I do since I only see the team one to two days each week. The medical staff has been extremely welcoming and helpful pointing out the players who need my services the most. My “office” consists of a portable table in an isolated spare space whether it is a small locker room or office, so being resourceful and creative with space is a must. I only get one hour with the team between practice and dinner so I have to be ready to treat as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Not only has my time with the football team been rewarding and enjoyable, but I have learned more about myself and technique when working with athletes. These patients are not only much more muscular than the average patient, but many have associated soft tissue problems compounding any segmental dysfunction. Myofascial release, PNF stretching, and trigger point therapies are not only extremely effective, but also make adjusting much easier. I have needed to learn to generate more power from my core to adjust some patients and doing this in a safe way is crucial.
I would strongly recommend young chiropractors to get involved with any sports team whether it is a high school team or professional. The experience is not necessarily about the love of sports but learning how to care for a unique group of patients. Not only is this a way to get more experience but being able to modify chiropractic techniques is a vital skill to succeed in a diverse practice.
