ACCO

Posted On: May 12, 2017

I recently attended the American College of Chiropractic Orthopedics Annual Convention in Las Vegas in late April. It was an outstanding meeting. As the Director of North Shore Spinal and Sports Rehabilitation, I am very fortunate to get to go to some great venues for my continuing education.

There were two speakers that struck me as outstanding. The first was Dr. Satterlee who covered clinical considerations and interventions for rotational athletes. This was a very practical and insightful lecture. The speaker was a chiropractor who owns a training facility where they work with a lot of golfers. Being a chiropractor and a physical therapist in Highland Park and Lake Bluff, I have seen my fare share of golfers. Dr. Drake had an interesting approach where he assessed strength and speed in the rotational athlete (golf, tennis, hockey, La Cross, etc.). I was interested in this topic as I want to deliver the best care to my patients who are golfers and play tennis.

He assessed lower extremities by measuring the vertical jump, upper extremity strength through a 6 lb medicine ball push and a overhead throw. It was fun to watch the young and not so young chiropractors attempt these feats. Each of these tasks should hit an average distance (20 inch vertical, 20 foot push and 20 foot toss) and if the person was below the average that is what got focused on in training.

This validated the strength training I did with these types of athletes. I have had the good fortune to work with high school, collegiate and pro golfers as well as some top tennis players. Another factor in these athletes I have found useful is developing proper coordination and technique in each sport, for which I have always turned to the good coaches and pros in the area.

The other lecture of note was one given by a Dr. Demetrious, a chiropractic orthopedic specialist who has been in practice for 31 years. His topic was a chiropractic orthopedic approach to MRI interpretation. I identified with this gentleman, as I was the first chiropractor in Lake Forest when I opened my practice almost 30 years ago. This was a great lecture as the speaker was very up to date on his material. As a chiropractic physician who is also board certified in orthopedics, I too have kept my self up to date in this important area.

He showed case after case of things he had seen and diagnosed and managed. I love this type of presentation as I can remember similar cases that I have seen and learn what to look for in others. He was even up to date on recent developments in chronic whiplash cases and what to look for on the MRI. I was familiar with this work as I met one of the leading researchers in this area at an American Physical Therapy conference.

Over all I walked away form this event with a deeper understanding of how to deliver the quality care that the patients at North Shore Spinal and Sports Rehabilitation expect and deserve.