By Dr. Casey Buns, D.C., CCSP®, CSCS, TPI Medical 3
Sports doctors can be found in a wide range of specialties which can enter the realm of sports medicine. This is due to the many different aspects that are included in the world of sports and athletic performance. Athletes today look to gain an edge on their competition through sports psychology, nutrition, injury prevention, injury rehabilitation, sport-specific movement biomechanics, exercise science, and body recovery protocols, to name a few. A sports physician is a practitioner who works with athletes on one or more of the mentioned characteristics to either treat/recover from and prevent sports injuries or to improve their sports/athletic performance. The following are common to many sports physicians and are some attributes to look for when searching for or selecting a provider:
- Specialized knowledge from advanced training on common or sport-specific injuries and the optimum biomechanical function of the body during movement from everyday activities to elite-level athletics
- Individualized care beyond pain reduction focusing on total body wellness to include treatment of joints, muscles, and connective tissues and counseling on physical fitness and nutrition for performance enhancement
- Engaged in state-of-the-art sports medicine research, trends, and treatments for relevant topics in concussions, rehabilitation, exercise prescription, nutrition, psychology and sport-specific athletic training
- Advanced training in emergency procedures, preparticipation examinations, and joint or tissue support by bracing and taping
- Integrates well into the sports medicine team working in conjunction with athletic trainers, physical therapists, physical fitness professionals, coaches, and other sports specialists to co-manage athletes care and performance
Access to a sports physician does not require a referral or a necessity of involvement in any athletics to obtain high-level care. Weekend warriors, active individuals, and anybody looking for improvement in their everyday activities can schedule with these quality providers and receive the same level of care given to the world’s elite athletes and teams. The Palmer Chiropractic Clinics exhibit the above attributes in their doctors every day with those that have a passion for working with special populations, such as athletes, will seek out advanced certifications and training.
Dr. Casey Buns is a faculty clinician at The Palmer Chiropractic Clinics in Davenport, Iowa with advanced certifications from the American Board of Chiropractic Sport Physicians, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and the Titleist Performance Institute.
The Palmer Chiropractic Clinics network delivers over 170,000 patient visits every year. Learn more or find contact information to make an appointment at www.palmer.edu/clinics.
