Doctors of Chiropractic: Make Sure You Know What Athletes Know

It’s not a new thing — the benefits of chiropractic are well-known among those competing in the super-specialized world of sports. Today, the idea of maximizing range of motion, reducing injury recovery time, and eliminating pain in natural ways is both logical and possible. Who does that? Doctors of Chiropractic.

What Do Chiropractors Do?

By definition, doctors of chiropractic focus on a drug-free approach to healthcare. Chiropractors are uniquely trained in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the spine and other parts of the musculoskeletal system.

Chiropractors lead patients toward better health through exercises, nutritional and dietary assistance, lifestyle counseling, and seeking ways to maintain proper spinal and joint biomechanics through skilled manual assessment and correction.

Athletes See the Benefits of Chiropractic

Athletes from many sports believe in chiropractic. Misalignment in the musculoskeletal system causes unnecessary stress on the body, which inhibits performance and can contribute to an injury. Chiropractic care has been shown in studies to improve speed, flexibility, balance, and range of motion.

The list of world-class athletes who turn to chiropractic care in their preparation is legendary, ranging from Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt to the NFL’s Tom Brady to Major League Baseball pitcher Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals. In the 2019 World Series, chiropractic treatment helped him recover from a neck injury, which allowed him to pitch in game seven.

We also know this:

• All 32 teams in the National Football League have a chiropractic physician available
• All 30 teams in Major League Baseball use chiropractors
• The U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Team includes doctors of chiropractors
• 72% of PGA golfers use chiropractic regularly
• The majority of National Basketball League players use chiropractic.

The General Public Accepts Chiropractic

If you’re thinking about a career in healthcare, becoming a doctor of chiropractic has an appeal that’s worth investigating.

In many ways, the general public seems to know what elite athletes know. A 2018 chiropractic study of those who sought relief from neck or back pain said 97% of them would return for more chiropractic care; 95% of chiropractic patients said their treatments were effective. Nearly 90% of chiropractic patients said they would recommend chiropractic care to their friends and neighbors.

The Time is Right for Doctors of Chiropractic

Say what you want about the role of sports in today’s culture, but seeing the passion, commitment, and incredible accomplishments of these men and women are inspiring. In fact, you could say the visibility of sports achievements is setting a new level of expectations for the rest of us:

• We want to maintain our best possible health, regardless of age
• We want to participate in our chosen recreational activity or sport for as long as we can
• We want to avoid pharmaceutical solutions to pain and discomfort when we can
• We want doctors who understand, diagnose and treat the root causes of physical problems.

The Doctor of Chiropractic Profession: What Else Should I Know?

The right healthcare career for you is the one that aligns with your core beliefs and achieves the goals you have in life. The question is, “Do you know what you need to know about the chiropractic profession?”

Facts about the Chiropractic profession:

• All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands recognize chiropractors as providers in the same category as dentists and optometrists ­— no M.D. referrals necessary.
• Requirements for a doctor of chiropractic license in any U.S. state include passing examinations conducted by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE). These exams cover basic and clinical science subjects and clinical case studies.
• Chiropractic services are recognized and reimbursed through Medicare. Most Medicaid acts include doctors of chiropractic as primary health providers.
• The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, and the Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation recognizes chiropractors as physicians for manual assessment and alignment of the spine.
• More than 87% of insured American workers have coverage for chiropractic services in their healthcare plans, according to data from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).

Learning more about chiropractic is just a click away. Check out more key facts here.

What to Know About the CUKC Doctor of Chiropractic Program

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare-focused university with a nearly 100-year history as a chiropractic college. CUKC is in Overland Park, Kansas, a vibrant, highly rated suburb of the Kansas City metro.

In addition to the Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree, students can choose a concurrent B.S./D.C. option. This degree results in both a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology degree and a D.C. degree, which reduces time in school by as much as a year.

Make sure you know all you need to know about chiropractic. Request the free ebook, Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession today!