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Showing item 1
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ChiroSport
Newsletter of the British Chiropractic Sports
Council
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NEWS FROM THE SPORTS FACULTY
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By Fiona Jacobs
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The Sports Faculty has started another new year, its second as a fully ratified specialist Faculty of the College of Chiropractic. It is keen not only to promote membership to all those interested in sport but also to encourage its current members to continue to learn and expand their knowledge in sport – We wish you all to strive and achieve fellowship within the Faculty as this will place you at the forefront of “Chiropractors with a Specialist Interest in Sports” (GCC Speak!). The College will publish a full membership list of the Specialist Faculties and those members and fellows will be acknowledged as the leaders in their fields. This register will be circulated to the full membership of the College and will hopefully form the basis of a “Consultant,” register subject to approval by the GCC. Now is the time to become a member of the Sports Faculty to ensure inclusion into this elite group
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To Join the Sports Faculty:
To join the Sports Faculty you will need to be a member of the College of Chiropractic as we are in effect “a branch of the college” with a specialist interest in Sport. The faculty has an application form where you may apply for membership for a cost of £95 pa.
The entry requirements are based on the university M-level credit system. Accredited seminars or modules earn a certain number of credits (similar to the CPD credit system) and these may be accrued for membership of the Faculty. (1 Credit is the equivalent of 10 “learning hours”). Membership of the Sports Faculty is 80 credits. This may seem quite a lot, but as a member of the College you will have already acquired 40 credits, so upgrade to a specialist membership is not so bad. These credits must be gained in a subject related to sport and approved by the Sports Faculty committee.
Alternatively you may wish to submit your entry by the Portfolio method. This is a portfolio (10-20,000 words) which describes all the experience that you have gained. Those wishing to take this route must contact the Faculty first to get guidelines on the composition and how to get it approved by CARA.
If you wish to pursue these routes but would like the support and advantages of the Faculty, you may wish to become an Associate member (at the same cost) where you will have all the rights of a Full member but may not vote at general meetings.
We are still looking for avenues to help chiropractors that want to expand into the Sports field, and give them the opportunities to study and achieve the recognition that chiropractic deserves. I am sure you are all aware of the abortive attempt to set up an MSc degree with Glamorgan and I am grateful for the help and work that Sue King and her team did. However the average sport orientated chiropractor does not always have the time to devote to a two year MSc degree course, so myself and Sophie Hardy (Derby) have been trying to secure other channels for educational advancement.
Sophie looked at every sports related prospectus and we (the committee) have approved a range of these degrees that may be taken in various formats from full-time, part-time and distance learning and that may also be taken to Certificate, Diploma or even Masters levels as required. In addition we have now been in meetings with Stafford University who have a large and extensive School of Health and Exercise Sciences and are keen to take their existing Clinical Podiatric Biomechanics degree and expand it into a clinical Sports Biomechanics degree. This is a Distance learning modular course incorporating the use of Internet and IT in 6-8 week modules with two weekend sessions at the University to cover the practical aspects. Sophie and I had a demonstration of the system recently. Assignments and tasks are set over the net and there are video lectures and a “Chat room” to ensure contact is maintained with others. The current trial of this system shows that it is very effective in the teaching of post-graduate learning as the clinical experience of all the students can be utilised by the whole.
What is even more exciting is the way the faculty at Stafford are willing to incorporate a chiropractic element into their program – this was envisaged as having chiropractors with the appropriate skills, “brought” in to teach elements of the course, and so pull together the ways that chiropractic can be utilised to treat athletes. This would allow both the chiropractors and others on the course to see chiropractic at its best in the Sports Arena. We then went on to discuss the possibility of adding elements of the Sports Physiology modules to produce a fully rounded degree.
More importantly this style of education is aimed at the requirements of the individual. Not every chiropractor has the time to complete a study program within two years so the program can be “stretched” over 5 years. Not every chiropractor wants detailed knowledge of exercise physiology, so each module will stand alone, and count as 15 or 30 M-level credits (depending on the Module). Acquisition of 60 M credits qualifies you for a Certificate, 120 a Diploma and so on…….. These M-level credits are interchangeable within the UK University system and will also allow you to apply for membership or fellowship of the College of Chiropractic (if you are not already a member).
Please let me know if you are interested in a program of this nature, it is up to the faculty to encourage and provide the facilities to further the education of chiropractors in sport but we need to know your wishes.
“Walking Wounded”
For the next in the series of introductory seminars, entitled “Walking Wounded”, we have once again returned to Cheam in London. There will be three lectures; the first, by myself, on the mechanism of gait (a refresher presentation for us all), followed by Alyson Wreford’s presentation on the prescription of athletic footwear. Alyson will let you in on all the secrets of sports shoes!! Finally Matthew Bennett, in association with Superfeet, will show you how to fit and prescribe orthotic insoles and, if numbers and time allow, everyone will have the chance to have a set of orthotics (worth £35!) fitted.
Saturday November 30th – A morning of presentations followed by lunch. Registration at 8.45.
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BRITISH MASTERS ATHLETICS
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Fiona Jacobs
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By
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No, this isn’t a mistake! – The British “Veterans” have now voted to be known as “Masters” in line with the rest of the world. The Americans thought that the Vets were ex-soldiers and the rest thought that they were something to do with animals!!
Once again chiropractors figured highly in the team that travelled to Potsdam, Germany this summer for the European Championships. Simon Lawson and I got to work straight away but were ably assisted by two massage therapists, Guss Van Poeteren and Paul Parkin. Carole Filer, the secretary of the BMMS, handled the organisation and we stayed in the “swankiest” hotel ever. I could get used to the luxury!
Potsdam was the East German training centre before the wall came down and was a state-of-the-art facility about 30 years ago. The facility is being slowly refurbished and is sited on the edge of a picturesque lake. The new accommodation for visiting sports teams was a vision of architect-designed glass. It made us all wish we had similar facilities close by at home. Then to make things perfect we had glorious weather from start to finish while Dresden, only 95km away, was under water!! Although we were busy we found time to go to Berlin on our day off.
We were victims of our own success. The Vets (sorry Masters) are so used to us now that for many we are their first port-of-call for their injuries, pre-competition checks and a reassuring chat. It is great to see so many faces that come back time and time again and also the new athletes on their first team outing – we must be doing some good.
Dr. Steve Peters, and a new Masters athlete, Dr. Averil McCelland were available to help out with the basic medical complaints that inevitably crop up on trips like this. We even needed the services of a Consultant Psychiatrist (Steve). A new athlete had stopped taking her medication for ‘paranoid schizophrenia’, as it made her drowsy!! At least we knew what was wrong but she needed a lot of support. We treated both the acute and the chronic (and the combination of the both) from top to toe (literally) and enjoyed the usual camaraderie and friendship.
We continue to work with the British Masters Medical Services and to that end, Simon, myself and Dik Skippings will be representing the chiropractic profession at the BMMS Annual Sports Therapy conference, giving presentations to the athletes to help them understand their injuries and what they may be able to do about them between competitions.
Each year the BMMS covers the major national events, Indoor and Outdoors, and one or two international events. Next year the European Indoors is in San Sebastian, Spain, the World Championships are in Puerto Rico in July, the following year the European Championships are in Denmark. Anyone who is interested in joining the team please let me know. I am always looking for new and interested chiropractors. You will work with experienced chiropractors, wherever possible, and from that learn a great deal about working trackside.
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LEEDS UNITED
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By Rob Scott
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I talked to Paul Cheung about how he got involved with Leeds United. I hope his comments might help others to take the step and get involved in their local club. Here’s what he had to say:
How did you get involved with Leeds?
It was a case of ‘I know what I can do to help’ and for some unknown reason, I was driven to make a telephone call to the Leeds United Football Club. It was after reading about their injury-stricken team three seasons ago that I felt compelled to offer my services. I knew I could spread my experience in treating sports people in the clinic to a whole team. The thought of treating a big Premiership team was thrilling and challenging!
How did you go about it?
I had to establish that I wanted to get involved. Could I spare the time to go to the club’s training facility on a regular basis throughout the season, or indeed all year round? In my situation, I was able to dedicate a half day (to a full day, if absolutely necessary) at the training ground every week. Now if required, I am available for a few hours on another day if the injury list is up and individuals can come to see me at my clinic in my lunch. Being available is one requirement!
First you need to speak to the head physiotherapist or team medical doctor or both and get the coach involved if possible. They will test your knowledge and see how you perform. Ask them questions about things you don’t know and make them understand that you could be a valuable addition to them and that you are not there to compete with them. Once they have agreed to try you out you have to prove yourself. Obviously the players will be the ones who matter most as they cost thousands, if not millions of pounds. If you impress them, you will earn respect from all. When you treat the coach, the manger, the physios, the club secretary, the groundsman etc., you know you have established yourself as a valued member of the team!
How different is it to working in a clinic?
Because of the environment, people will come in asking for treatment one after the other. You may need to do all your note writing after the whole session. You could use a dictaphone but check it out first or the players might think you are selling a dodgy story to the tabloids that day!
When there are players shouting and messing about, it is brutally evident that it is different to your clinic! You have to concentrate a bit harder because the treatment table may well be different to your own and you may be tight for space. You need to discuss difficult or troublesome cases in private. The players don’t need to know what is wrong with them; they just need to be match-fit, all of the time. Concerns or worry can affect their performance so discretion, in certain cases, is a must. In other instances, the physios may shout across the treatment room so you can do the same. If you suspect anything worse, have a quiet word outside with the team doctor or physio.
Has it been worthwhile?
Financially, you could do better in private practice depending upon the wealth of the club. Clubs or individuals may have private health insurance which could be used. But that is not what it’s all about. An association with a club or individual can be a wonderful thing. The spin-offs are good; more referrals, sudden respect from doubters of the chiropractic profession, tickets to the games. It adds another dimension to your clinical practice and I hope that more of you will find the time and inspiration to go out there and ‘make your mark’ with the team of your choice. The Football Association Conference last year showed they understood that a multidisciplinary approach is needed to deal with sport-induced injuries.
Paul also told me that Leeds had acknowledged that they had fewer injuries this year than usual – I hope that was down to him. Thank you, Paul.
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SOFTBALL
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a sport where the ball is not soft
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By Anthony Larcombe
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Softball is an Olympic sport for women. It is very similar to baseball, which is only an Olympic sport for men. The main difference between softball and baseball is that a softball is larger, about the size of a grapefruit, and heavier than a baseball. The ball is also pitched more slowly at the batter in softball.
The national HQ for softball, fencing and volleyball is at Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire. I was invited by Tom Greenway to provide chiropractic services for the GB junior softball squad as I am a member of the BCSC and live locally. The junior squad consists of an under 17s and under 19s team for women and an under 19s team for men.
Fortunately, Tom had done all the hard work and made the initial contact, so there was no need for me to get involved with lots of delicate politics to get my foot in the door. When I contacted the manager of the national squad she was delighted to hear that I wanted to help, as the junior squad had no medical team at all.
I arranged to meet up with the squad on a Saturday afternoon at one of their training weekends. It is literally a national squad with some of the players coming from all four corners of the UK. They tend to meet up about once a month from April to September, in addition to the 2-3 international competitions each year.
When I met the manager and coach we agreed that I should treat the 3-4 players that had injuries and get details from all the other players so I could treat them quickly in the future. I work with a sports therapist who joined the squad at the same time as me. The injuries that we treat range from acute sprains and strains, which take place during the training, to more chronic spinal and extremity problems. He tends to treat the sprains and strains and I tend to take the more chronic and spinal problems. Fortunately, we get on well and we are both open-minded enough to see where our own strengths and weaknesses lie.
There are no particular injuries specific to softball, although I have seen some ankle and knee injuries caused by players sliding into the bases. The main problem is that I only get to treat a player once per month, so a proper plan of management is very difficult. I have referred some players to their local chiropractors and this has worked out quite well. I have treated a couple of the players at my clinic, but not many of them are local.
It is difficult to fit things in with their practice sessions but I hope to attend more of the sessions next year. I hope to attend some of the tournaments later, but again it comes down to time away from clinic.
I have enjoyed being involved with the GB junior softball squad and I would recommend others who want to participate in similar sporting squads to pursue their interest. It is often as simple as getting hold of the manager or coach of a team and offering your services. There are thousands of teams across the country that have no medical cover at all and if you offer your services free of charge then many coaches will welcome you with open arms. Get out of the clinic and enjoy a change of environment.
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
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By Rob Scott
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Saturday 30th November – Walking Wounded Cheam, Surrey.
Fitpro weekend is the 11th-13th April 2003 at Loughborough.
The Flexors of the Foot and Ankle, 14-16th November, Harrogate.
ICSSD Module 1. 8-15th March, Leysin, Switzerland.
International Chiropractic Sports Science Symposium, 6-9th June, Funen Denmark.
The LTA Sports and Science Medicine Conference, 19-20th June 2004. London.
All these events have links attached to them on our website: www.chirosport.org.
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NEXT EDITION
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By Rob Scott
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In the next edition we will hear how Andy Green got involved with the GB rowers and what he does for them.
Hopefully I will be able to report on the Army Inter -Corps Squash Tournament.
Tome Greenway will report on the FICS and GAISIF’s meetings that are coming up.
If you have a story to tell please send it to me – we all need help to open doors and your experience maybe helpful. If any of you are treating hockey players you might like to direct them to my article at www.hockeyheaven.com.
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