Chiropractic is a well established and highly respected field of care. Many chiropractors exclusively provide back and spinal care. But many more are expanding their knowledge, their skills and experience to care for other injuries.

All qualified practitioners, be they Physio, Osteo or Chiro, once qualified, are free to practice as they choose. So long as they abide by fundamental AHPRA guidelines, which apply to everyone.

With ongoing continued education a requirement, we often see a good mingling of all practitioner types at conferences. More and more the lines of a good Physio, Chiro or Osteo are being blurred.

We stress the importance of finding a good practitioner, that is right for you, over what their title is.

When it comes to Sports chiropractic however, it is a term that has started to become more prevalent in the last 5 - 10 years. So what exactly is Sports Chiropractic and how is it different to Chiropractic?

What is Sports Chiropractic?

A Sports Chiropractor has undertaken extra sports specific studies on top of their Masters qualification. This provides them valuable experience in treating and rehabilitating sports related injuries.

Some professionals have also made a choice to work with sporting teams and athletes. They then continue to develop their skills and experience in the field of sports.

Sports Chiropractors develop comprehensive biomechanical skills along with a large toolbox of techniques. These skills and experience helps assess, diagnose and treat sports related injuries.

The training & practical experience developed includes, but is not limited to:

Soft Tissue Therapy. Includes trigger points, active release as well as grip & rip techniques.
Myofascial Dry Needling: an application of dry needling directly into the muscles to free up tight spots.
Stretching. Includes PNF, MET and static application
Strapping. This includes rigid and flexible tapes such as kinesiotape. These help correct biomechanics or provide required stability.
Rehabilitation. Providing corrective exercises to assist the injury treatment process
Exercise modification guidance. When to modify training and in which manner so as to not hinder recovery.

What can a Sports Chiropractor Help With?

Sports Chiropractic is all encompassing. A good practitioner will be able to provide back care, but also treat your knees and any muscular injuries you may experience.

Some of the injuries that can be helped include:

Injuries of the back and spine. These include disc related injuries or those stemming from intense muscular spasms.
Injuries of the joints in the limbs. This includes knees, ankle sprains, elbows etc
Muscular and ligament related injuries. From tears in the hamstring or rotator cuff, to tension headaches.
Sports Rehabilitation. We can help guide you with how to modify your training whilst your recovering from injury.

This is not an exhaustive list but certainly shows the additional scope of care that is provided.

What can I expect from Seeing a Sports Chiro?

We care about your results. More importantly in you seeing those results, not our back pockets filling up.

This means that in your initial consultation (allow an hour and includes treatment) you can expect:

A very thorough assessment of your injury which may include but not be limited to:
- Neurological testing
- Muscular strength testing
- Functional movement tests
- Orthopaedic examination
We'll take an extensive case history to give us a full understanding of what happened to cause the injury. We want to know what could have happened in the past to predispose this injury. We're also interested in any other factors that are going on for you. These could be things like very high stress levels, or events coming up that we need to consider.
Inclusive consultation with you about the treatment approach that will be best for you. It is definitely our job to come up with the treatment plan, we want to ensure you are happy with it too.
With all the information gathered we can then move forward with your treatment.
We will also discuss any training modification you might need to have to make in the short term.

Chiropractic Care at Paramount Health

It's important to us that you know how we practice and why we do what we do.

We have a blog that's just dedicated to our chiropractic philosophy.

I want to know more about how you practice

What Should I be concerned about when seeing a Chiro?

Occasionally we hear some stories about the industry that dismay us and sometimes they even get our blood boiling.

Whenever you are seeing a new practitioner, a few things to watch out for are:

When you have to go in three times before you even get a treatment. If you are made to have an initial consult, a follow up and then a treatment... tread carefully! There is no need to make a $250+ investment before you even get touched!
If you are attending multiple sessions per week for a predetermined number of weeks, proceed with caution. You may absolutely require more than one visit in the first week or two. However you're unlikely to know from the outset that you will require this for the next 6-8 weeks.
Be careful of extended payment plans. It is a smart idea to prepay for 3-5 visits if the option is there and especially if they don't expire and are discounted. But please don't get locked into 6 or 12 month payment plans.
If you identify that your “tailored” treatment plan includes massage, acupuncture & nutrition every X, Y or Z sessions. Unless you are looking for a lifestyle and stress management plan, this may not be for you. Whilst we do think everyone could benefit from more massage, make sure your injury is being prioritised. Don't allow yourself to be sold into a lifestyle plan if you just want your knee sorted.
Being over adjusted. Too many adjustments in the one area can lead to hyper mobility issues. This can actually prolong a chronic injury - we see this in the neck a lot. The surrounding area requires soft tissue release work, mobilisation and exercises. If this isn't happening you may be overworking the area unnecessarily.
When you get sold orthotics, pillows and other items that may not be directly required to your injury. There is a time and place for all these and other items. But if you are being sold to at every single visit - is it really in your best interests?

Is Sports Chiropractic just a trend?

The short answer is no, Sports Chiropractic is not just a trend. There is a general frustration within the Chiropractic community about the quality of care provided. The medical community too would like to see more evidence based practice.

We're seeing a transition towards Chiropractors bringing in new skills to their practice. Treatments are starting to also have a good balance of soft tissue work and exercise rehabilitation.

Any time a practitioner betters their skills, this growth will feed back positively into the work they do with their clients.

There are so many different options of treatment available. There is no one right answer. Every single service is beneficial to someone. It is important that when looking for a practitioner, you find someone aligned with your values. This will ensure your best interests are at heart.

What is Sports Chiro?

What is Sports Chiropractic?

What can a Sports Chiropractor Help With?

What can I expect from Seeing a Sports Chiro?

Chiropractic Care at Paramount Health

What Should I be concerned about when seeing a Chiro?

Is Sports Chiropractic just a trend?

How Chiropractors Help with Sciatica Pain

How Chiropractors Help with Back Pain

Chiropractor for Migraines and Headaches.

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Phone & E-mail

Paramount Health Sydney

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What is Sports Chiropractic?

What can a Sports Chiropractor Help With?

What can I expect from Seeing a Sports Chiro?

Chiropractic Care at Paramount Health

What Should I be concerned about when seeing a Chiro?

Is Sports Chiropractic just a trend?

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Phone & E-mail

Paramount Health Sydney

Location