If you’ve been searching for, “best chiropractor near me” or “ sports chiropractor Irvine”, I’m sure you’ve come across many chiropractors. But it can be hard to tell the difference in quality. For example, deciding between a sports chiropractor and a functional movement chiropractor. You’re better off asking Siri or Alexa for “ functional movement near me”, and this blog will tell why including:
- What is a sports chiropractor?
- Is a chiropractor a doctor?
- What is functional movement?
- and the best functional movement exercises
It is so important to always go to the right doctor for your issue. So keep reading.
Is a Chiropractor a Doctor?
While many think of Doctors as Medical Doctors, Chiropractors have a Doctorate in Chiropractic and are titled DC. The main difference between a Chiropractor and your primary care physician, for example, is that they are on different ends of the health spectrum! I have written a blog on the difference between a Medical Doctor and a Chiropractor, that you may wish to explore.
Now, there are more similarities between chiropractors and physical therapists which I compare in the blog “What is the Difference Between a Chiropractor and a Physical Therapist?” Medical doctors may be more accustomed to referring to physical therapy for musculoskeletal conditions. However, all chiropractors are licensed to do physical therapy while being the only profession that can perform spinal manipulation or adjustment.
Sports Chiropractor vs Chiropractor
So what exactly does a Sports Chiropractor do? Chiropractors may have different specialties, for example, I specialize in Postural Neurology and Functional Movement.
Sports Chiropractors specialize in diagnosing and treating athletic injuries. Just because some Chiropractic offices don’t have sports in the title does not mean they do not treat sports injuries. And the type of rehabilitation offered at all sports Chiropractic clinics is not equal in terms of effectiveness! This is why I suggest searching for a Functional Movement Chiropractor vs Sports Chiropractor.
Some traditional Chiropractic offices, on the other hand, don’t offer any kind of functional sports injury rehabilitation services. Thye mainly only perform chiropractic adjustments and provide different passive modalities. This can include electrical muscle stimulation or ultrasound.
If you want the best and the most effective treatment for any musculoskeletal injury or issue, then you want a Doctor who specializes in functional movement rather than sports injuries.
What is Functional Movement?
Functional movement referred to as Developmental Kinesiology, is the movement patterns that we all as babies go through to develop muscle strength and movement. With those specific movements come the development and finalization of the nerve pathways necessary to execute movements. This is referred to as neuro-kinesiology and a great subject of interest in my practice.
Watch this video to learn what Functional Movement is all about:
If we all as babies moved through this blueprint of movement patterns, why reinvent the wheels when it comes to rehab and restoring proper movement?
Now, there are other factors involved is fixing the root of the problem! Lifestyle modifications, such as ergonomics, are another huge portion of the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. This is because they become feeders of the dysfunction that has resulted. I suggest you read my recent blog on Functional Movement Disorders to educate yourself on the dysfunction that results when you have pain or are injured.
If you’re wanting more insight on how treatment at a functional movement clinic differs from a sports chiropractic clinic, I suggest you watch the video below.
Best Functional Movement Exercises
The best functional movement exercises are those that involve every muscle doing its own job to perform the movement.
In functional movement, you have muscles whose job is to stabilize you and muscles that perform the movement. This true core stabilization is what almost every person that walks into my clinic is missing. The number one culprit is lack of biological breathing and understanding the basic requirements of all movement.
It’s sad we know more about how our smartphone works than about our bodies!
Once you have the breathing down, we can re-walk the path that we all did as babies learning and building the muscle strength to fix what failed. If you have not subscribed to my Youtube channel, do so right now so you don’t miss out on what is out there and more videos to come.
The video below is how a baby develops the oblique muscles of the abdomen which are essential in holding the body in a stabilized fashion.
If you’re curious about functional movement, developmental kinesiology, or DNS and why it’s so effective, I encourage you to do your research and explore the many resources on my website. For more functional movement exercises visit my Youtube Channel, specifically the Functional Movement/Posture Exercises Playlist.
If you have any questions or want to make an appointment make sure to contact the office.
Until the next blog, take care.
-Dr. Shakib