What Athletes Value About Chiropractic Care, and What Everyday Movers Can Learn

Name: Healthy Choices Chiropractic
Address: 4/267 Smart Rd, St Agnes, SA, 5097
Telephone: (08) 7092 4113
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What Athletes Value About Chiropractic Care, and What Everyday Movers Can Learn

Most of us are not preparing for the Olympics, competing in front of a stadium or training several hours a day.

But everyday life can still ask a lot of the body.

Running before work, lifting at the gym, playing weekend sport, gardening, working a physical job or keeping up with the kids all involve movement, coordination and adaptability.

Athletes tend to pay close attention to these things. Their training gives them a familiar baseline, which means they may notice when a movement feels different, one side is working harder or their usual mobility has changed.

Research exploring athletes’ experiences with Chiropractic care also gives us insight into what they value from their healthcare.

Interestingly, it is not simply about receiving an adjustment.

Athletes have described valuing thorough assessments, individualised care, clear communication and practitioners who understand the demands of their sport.

These principles are not limited to elite competition. They may also be useful for anyone who wants to remain active and better understand how their body is moving.

1. Athletes value care that considers the bigger picture

When one area feels uncomfortable, it is natural to focus on that spot.

For athletes, however, movement rarely involves one area working alone.

Running requires coordinated movement through the feet, knees, hips, pelvis and spine. Throwing involves the legs, trunk, shoulder and arm. Lifting requires mobility, balance, positioning and control across several areas of the body.

A 2022 qualitative study explored the expectations and experiences of 18 competitive and elite Canadian athletes receiving care from sports chiropractors. Read the study

Many participants said they valued assessments that looked beyond the immediate area of concern. They appreciated when the practitioner considered other parts of the body, previous injuries, their sporting technique and the wider context of their movement.

Some participants had expected Chiropractic care to focus only on the spine or involve a quick adjustment. Instead, they described receiving more detailed musculoskeletal assessments and individualised care.

This does not mean that every sporting concern starts in the spine.

It means the area being noticed may be one part of a broader movement picture.

A Chiropractic check may consider:

spinal function
joint mobility
movement patterns
posture and balance
previous injuries or concerns
training habits
the physical demands of the person’s sport or activity

Looking at the bigger picture can help the practitioner and practice member better understand how the body is currently moving and functioning.

2. Athletes value an individual approach

Two people can participate in the same sport and still move very differently.

One runner may be increasing their weekly distance. Another may be returning after several months away from training.

One footballer may spend most of the game sprinting and changing direction. Another may perform a different role with different physical demands.

The same applies outside competitive sport.

A gardener, office worker, tradie and parent may all experience different movement demands throughout the week.

In the 2022 athlete-experience study, participants valued care that reflected their individual needs, sporting background and training environment. They appreciated practitioners who understood their sport and took the time to discuss what they were doing, what they were noticing and what mattered to them. Read the study

This is an important reminder that care should not follow exactly the same routine for everyone.

A thoughtful assessment considers the person in front of the practitioner, including their history, movement, goals and current concerns.

3. Athletes want to understand what is being assessed

Athletes often want to know what is happening and why.

They may ask why one area is being assessed when another area feels uncomfortable. They may want to understand whether their movement has changed or how their training may be influencing what they are noticing.

The athletes interviewed in the qualitative study identified communication as an important part of their care experience. Read the study

They valued having their concerns heard, receiving clear explanations and understanding what the practitioner was assessing. Some participants also felt their experience could have been improved when appointments were rushed or explanations were unclear.

Good communication does not guarantee a particular health outcome.

However, it can help someone understand their options and make more informed decisions about their care.

During a Chiropractic check, useful questions may include:

What are you assessing?
Why are you looking at this area?
How might this relate to the way I move?
What changes should I pay attention to?
Is another healthcare professional needed?
Are there practical things I can do between appointments?

People should feel comfortable asking questions and participating in conversations about their care.

4. Athletes often work with more than one practitioner

Athletic healthcare is rarely about one profession doing everything.

Depending on the athlete and their needs, their wider team may include a GP, sports physician, physiotherapist, chiropractor, exercise physiologist, strength and conditioning coach, dietitian, psychologist or other allied health practitioner.

Research from international sporting events shows that some athletes voluntarily include Chiropractic care within this broader healthcare environment.

At The World Games 2017, Chiropractic services were accessed by athletes from 28 of the 31 sports represented at the event. The study recorded 1,902 Chiropractic encounters, including 1,238 involving athletes. Read the study

The care recorded included manipulation, myotherapy, mobilisation and taping.

This study helps us understand how Chiropractic was being used within a large multisport event. It does not prove that Chiropractic improves performance, prevents injuries or creates the same result for every athlete.

Australian research also provides useful context.

A national workforce survey of Australian chiropractors found that almost half of the participating chiropractors reported frequently seeing athletes or sportspeople. Read the study

Those chiropractors were also more likely to report using multimodal approaches and having professional relationships with practitioners from other healthcare disciplines.

The key lesson is that healthcare does not always need to be an either-or decision.

Chiropractic may form one part of a broader approach when it is appropriate for the individual.

Good communication between practitioners can be particularly important when someone is managing an injury, following a rehabilitation program or returning to activity.

5. Athletes pay attention to small changes

Athletes spend a great deal of time repeating movements.

Because of this, they may notice subtle changes that another person might overlook.

A familiar movement may feel less comfortable. One side may seem to be doing more of the work. A position that usually feels coordinated may suddenly feel different.

This kind of body awareness is not exclusive to professional sport.

Everyday movers may also notice:

stiffness during a familiar movement
a difference between the left and right sides
a change after increasing activity
reduced confidence in a particular position
difficulty moving as comfortably as usual

Noticing these changes does not necessarily mean something serious is wrong.

It may simply be a useful reason to pause, review the situation and seek an appropriate assessment if needed.

A Chiropractic check can help assess spinal function, mobility and movement patterns.

It cannot guarantee that an injury will be prevented, that recovery will happen faster or that sporting performance will improve.

6. Athletes are still people, not machines

Behind every training program is a person balancing sport with the rest of life.

Athletes also experience work commitments, family responsibilities, changing schedules, poor sleep and stressful weeks.

The 2022 study found that athletes valued trust, reassurance and practitioners who understood the broader context surrounding their sport and concerns. Some participants also wanted better communication between the different members of their healthcare team. Read the study

That wider context matters for everyone.

Movement does not happen separately from the rest of life.

A thoughtful consultation should consider what a person does, what they are currently noticing and what is important to them.

You do not need to be an athlete to pay attention to movement

Athletes may place unusual demands on their bodies, but the things they value in healthcare are not exclusive to elite sport.

Thorough assessment, individualised care, clear communication and collaboration can matter to anyone who wants to stay active and better understand how they are moving.

Chiropractic is not a shortcut to improved performance, and it should not replace sensible training, appropriate recovery or medical care when it is needed.

Its role is to assess spinal and musculoskeletal function, consider how different areas may be working together and help build a clearer picture of the person’s current movement.

Noticing a change in how you move or function?

A Chiropractic check can help assess spinal function, mobility and the broader movement picture.

Book your next Chiropractic check online with Healthy Choices Chiropractic or call the practice on (08) 7092 4113.

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