When I first started practice as a chiropractor, my main focus was promoting health through the sport of running. I learned all there was about the sport, worked for Nike, ran in several marathons, learned to teach running technique , became an Athletics Australia coach and runner at sporting teams like Woodstock Runners , sought coaching from Sean Williams, and traded a few patients with guys like Keith Bateman. It was a great experience, I helped some great people get back to running. In this sense, The Runner's Clinic was a great concept and a success.
As focused as I was on the helping the injured runner, I also found another niche group of athletes that needed a bit of chiropractic treatment. Rock climber's who participated in Sports Climbing Australia events responded very well to our treatments. Similar to runners, rock climber's have a large number of repetitive use injuries. Climbers respond very well to our soft tissue and manual therapy, as well as corrective exercise. A few successes and we grew to be the official chiropractor for the Australian Climbing Team, as well as at Sports Climbing Australia events.
What initially brought me to both of these sports was my own interest in participating in them. These were sports I enjoyed, and I was able to learn more about the sport as I participated. It also put me in a much better position to treat these athletes as I came to appreciate what their injury profile was likely to be, and how they might best respond to treatment.
With our new move, we are in a great location. We are up the street from Parkrun , and in a complex with Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym. There is also a Sydney Trapeze School, Dance Domain, Roar Fitness, and a Brazilian Jiu Jitzu . In the neighborhood, there are several yoga studios, martial arts academies, and a skateboarding team. Another interesting development is our work with the geriatric population. In all honesty, I've found this work at Peakhurst Lodge, a retirement community, to be more rewarding than anything else I do.
We have rebranded from The Runner's Clinic and The Climber's Clinic to Sports & Spine because our patient base has really changed. We will continue to hold the running workshops and climbing clinics, but build on the new patient demographics we look after. As such, we will be taking on the challenge of trying as many of these new sports in our vicinity as possible, and documenting the experience. I'll then attempt to learn a bit about the sports, the athletes, and discuss treatments, corrective exercises and injury management strategies that I have found successful, and that are backed by evidence. I will also be aiming to give you a series of exercises you can do with your loved ones who are getting older...a few minutes of these exercises is, in my opinion, a better demonstration of love with an elderly person than the warmest hug.
As such, the aim of this next series of blogs will be to demonstrate how an active lifestyle can keep people of all ages healthy.
Regards,
Matt
Sports & Spine