It’s the final few minutes of a tense game, the star player takes a hard hit, and the crowd holds their breath as a medic sprints onto the field to check on them. That person is as much a member of the team as a player, and they have a lot more job security. If you love the thrill of the game and want a hands-on career that keeps you right in the action, you’ll want to consider how to become a sports chiropractor.
These dedicated professionals do much more than crack backs in a clinic. Sports chiropractors are a major reason athletes can perform at such a high level throughout their careers. A sports chiropractor treats muscular and skeletal injuries, creates personalized rehabilitation programs, and helps athletes push themselves safely.
Whether working the sidelines at major sporting events, taping up sprained ankles, assessing sudden impacts, or keeping players in peak condition, sports chiropractors are key professionals who keep athletes on the field and court. But how do you get from the bleachers to the sidelines? Here’s the play-by-play on how to become a sports chiropractor.
Undergraduate experience
Of course, you need a solid start before you’re off running with the pros. So, your path starts with an undergraduate degree heavy on science. Students pursuing medical careers often lean toward biology, kinesiology, exercise science, or pre-med tracks for their undergrad studies.
All this foundational study is necessary to understand the human body inside and out, as well as a prime canvas to hone useful soft skills, like communication. When a player is in pain and panicking, you need to be able to connect to them despite their pain and explain injuries clearly and calmly.
Finding the right program
Once your undergrad prerequisites are wrapped up, the next step is getting accepted into a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program, where you’ll dive into specialized courses designed purely for chiropractors. Since this is the start of your specialization, you will want to carefully research how to find the best Chiropractic program for you.
When comparing programs, you’ll get a clear picture of exactly what Chiropractic school entails. In a nutshell, though, Chiropractic school delves into advanced medical topics such as biomechanics, neurology, and specialized classes on how the body moves and copes under stress.
Of course, learning in the classroom is only part of the challenge. A fantastic chiropractic school will get you out of your seat and into clinicals as early as possible. Choosing a program that prioritizes real-world practice, like University of Bridgeport’s, gives you a serious head start. Working with actual patients, alongside experienced doctors, is the only way to build the chiropractic skills you need when the coach is looking to you for answers on how to heal the star player.
Surviving the grind
Let’s be honest, balancing science-heavy courses, lab work, and hundreds of clinical hours is a grind. This path is not for the faint of heart. Getting an inside look at life as a Chiropractic student can help you mentally prepare for the demanding, yet incredibly rewarding, years ahead.
Undoubtedly, becoming a sports chiropractor is a major investment of both time and money. But it shouldn’t have to be. That’s why schools like University of Bridgeport offer many scholarships for chiropractic students to offset tuition costs. So students can focus on exams without worrying about the bill.
Learn how a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from University of Bridgeport can help you pursue a future in sports chiropractic.
Making it official
Before you can start healing anyone, you have to become a fully licensed doctor. That means completing your Chiropractor degree. A standard DC program takes about 3.5 to 4 years of full-time study, exploring everything from spinal manipulation to sports nutrition.
Once you have that well-earned chiropractor degree in hand, there is one last obstacle: passing the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exams. You have to pass these intense board exams to prove you have the clinical chops to treat the public safely.
Pass the boards, secure your state license, and you are officially a doctor! Explore the exact steps in more detail to begin this core education over on the University of Bridgeport chiropractic program page.
Earning your sports stripes
You are now a licensed doctor, but how do you move into sports chiropractic work? Indeed, any licensed DC can technically treat a runner in their office. However, professional sports organizations, Division I colleges, and elite athletic clubs won’t just hire anyone. They want doctors with credentials and experience.
To get those credentials, you head back to the books for a post-graduate certification. The first major milestone is usually becoming a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP), which requires over a hundred hours of specialized sports medicine study.
Want to reach the absolute top of the field? You can pursue the Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP), adding hundreds more hours and practical field experience.
These post-doc programs skip general practice, since you’re already well-versed in that, and focus entirely on sports. You will learn about specific on-field emergency procedures, what to do when a player gets a concussion, and rehab. AKA the exact training that takes you from a great DC to a sensational sports specialist.
Sports Chiro is a home run!
Spending extra years in chiropractic school and grinding through post-doc sports certifications takes dedication. But the payoff is undeniably huge.
First, the demand is booming. High schools, university programs, and professional leagues now see sports chiropractors as essential staff. They know that keeping a chiropractor on means fewer injuries and their star athletes back in the game more quickly.
Second, the public is changing. We have a massive, aging population that just can’t slow down. These active folks want to keep running marathons and playing tennis well into their golden years without being sidelined, meaning more people are visiting chiropractors to ensure they stay in the game safely.
Finally, athletes and everyday patients alike are shifting away from relying on painkillers. They want natural ways to manage pain and keep moving. They want to address the root of the problem, not just mask it with Ibuprofen. With mindsets shifting in this direction, sports specialists are set and stable.
Get in the game
Helping your favorite team patch up after a bad fall, perform at their next game, and reach new heights is a dream for any sports fan. You get to put your medical expertise to the test, work with a team, and have a hand every single day.
If you are ready to turn your love for the game into a real profession, University of Bridgeport has everything you need. Learn more about how our hands-on courses at the only Chiropractic college in the metro-NYC area can bring you closer to the field.
Apply today and stop watching from the sidelines.