UPDATED APRIL 27, 2020
You were attracted to becoming a chiropractor because it is a tremendous way to care for people over their lifetime using a noninvasive treatment approach. When you focus on becoming a sports chiropractor, you can become someone who is helping today’s aspiring student-athletes, amateur, and professional athletes reach their potential, recover from injuries, or both.
Today, more than 460,000 student-athletes are competing at all levels of NCAA and NAIA sports. Another 16,000 are elite athletes competing in various levels of pro, amateur, and Olympic competitions. (Learn more about sports chiropractors here.)
A New Law Supports Sports Chiropractors
Sports chiropractors and other practitioners who travel with teams have been a topic of discussion recently because of the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act of 2017, often referred to as the “travel-to-treat” law.
Such high acceptance of chiropractic is a substantial reason legislators made sure doctors of chiropractic are part of the new “travel-to-treat” legislation. On Sept. 6, 2018, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 302, the “Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act of 2017.” The legislation, also referred to as “Travel to Treat,” ensures that sports health professionals, including chiropractors, are covered by their malpractice insurance while traveling to another state with athletic teams.
Until this bill, there was a question of whether liability insurance would always cover necessary medical or health care treatments if the M.D., chiropractors (D.C.) or other physician-level professionals were not licensed in the same state as where the treatment was performed.
Demand for Sports Chiropractors is Growing
Finding ways to enhance athletic performance is big business, and many people and well-known organizations are using sports chiropractors because they are one of the more effective and affordable options:
Sports Chiropractors Offer Benefits
Athletes of all ages are finding chiropractic care to be a winning strategy for being at the top of their game. They all want to reach their potential. A doctor of chiropractic can offer research-based expertise in a variety of areas that contribute to health and performance:
Preparing to be a Sports Chiropractor
Preparation and maximum effort are key in sports and in chiropractic education. Learn all you can during classes, labs, and in using chiropractic technology like the new Force Sensing Table Technology whenever you can. Ask instructors questions, participate in study groups, and join student chapters of professional organizations. Concentrate on becoming the best doctor of chiropractic you can be.
Then, when it’s time to specialize, a certification like the Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP) can get you the attention of athletes at all levels of competition. The CCSP certification broadens and sharpens chiropractic skills while opening the door to an increased annual income.
A Good Start for Your Sports Chiropractor Dream
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare-focused university located in Overland Park, Kansas, an award-winning suburb of the Kansas City metro area. The metro is known for award-winning sports teams, including the 2020 Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs football, Sporting KC soccer, the 2015 World Series Champions – the Kansas City Royals, and the 2013 Major League Soccer champion, Sporting Kansas City. The Royals MLB team consults with Dr. Patrick Hammond, a CUKC College of Chiropractic alum, as is the NFL’s Kansas Chiefs chiropractor, Dr. DJ. Hackler.
The University’s College of Chiropractic has been a national leader since 1922, offering the Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. CUKC is also the first U.S. chiropractic school to have two Force Sensing Tables in the adjusting laboratory on campus, which is helping students gain chiropractic adjustment skills and confidence.
Questions about the chiropractic profession? Find answers by requesting a free copy of the ebook, Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
