Spine and Sport Physical Therapy - South West Health Center
Our California sports and spine center team is dedicated to keeping athletes healthy and in the game. Whether you play professionally or on the weekends, our experts can help you prevent injuries and bounce back fast when they happen.
Our sport and spine physical therapy doctors are highly trained to diagnose sports-related pain quickly using technology like MRI, ultrasound, and x-rays. We use cutting-edge treatments like Kinesio taping, shockwave therapy, muscle activation techniques, and non-surgical spinal decompression to speed up healing. For major injuries needing surgery, our partner orthopedic surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures.
Preventing injuries is a big focus too. Functional movement screenings catch weaknesses that raise injury risk. We create customized plans that combine strength training, stretching, and nutrition advice. This helps your body handle the stresses of sports. Young athletes learn to warm up properly, stay hydrated, and avoid overuse problems.
To boost performance, our certified trainers design workout routines personalized for your sport. Things like conditioning drills, core exercises, and flexibility training using Pilates make you as strong as possible on the field. Extra therapies like acupuncture and techniques that improve blood flow push you even further.
New technologies aid the process. Digital x-rays and MSK ultrasound scans find issues quickly. Devices for assessing brain function aid in comebacks. Integrating manual care, massage, and mind-body practices also speeds recovery.
A team approach at our California spine center helps keep you playing sports injury-free and at your best. Our goal is to support health, fitness, and enjoyment through every stage of life in sports.
Sport & Spine Physical Therapy Near Me
We offer full spine & sport physical therapy services at our clinic in Costa Mesa, California. Our specialized team of licensed PTs has extensive experience rehabilitating injuries to allow athletes to return to play.
After an evaluation, we create individualized treatment plans that may include hands-on manual therapy techniques, therapeutic exercises customized for your needs, modalities like Shockwave Therapy, Muscle Activation Techniques and an individualized home exercise program. Our goal is to alleviate pain, improve mobility and function, restore muscle balance and stability, and get you back in the game at full strength with a long term plan for injury prevention.
Whether your needs are short term after an acute injury or more involved for a chronic condition, we'll get you back on the road to recovery.
Expert Sports Medicine Chiropractor in Costa Mesa & Newport Beach
What makes a sports medicine chiropractor different from a regular chiropractor, Newport Beach?
A sports medicine chiropractor or sports chiropractor has specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of any injury that an athlete may sustain in their respective sport. Sports chiropractors are highly sought after and are on the sports medicine staff of every professional sports team in Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and the PGA Tour. In addition, sports medicine chiropractors are on-site at all AVP Beach Volleyball events and work with every governing body within Team USA for the Olympics. Sports medicine chiropractors work all Pan Am Games and any other large international competitions.
South West Health Spine and Sport is home to Southern California's best sports chiropractic team. Our Costa Mesa sports chiropractors include Dr. Dobbs, the team sports chiropractor for the Los Angeles Angels, as well as Dr. Zappala, who works closely with USA Swimming. Two of the sports chiropractors hold the highest certification achievable in sports chiropractic, a diplomate in sports medicine.
Each Costa Mesa chiropractor specializes in sports injuries and uses manual manipulation of the spine and extremities, as well as rehabilitation and strength and conditioning techniques, to treat our patients. Sports medicine chiropractors have advanced training in areas of sports medicine not covered in the traditional chiropractic curriculum. These areas include, but are not limited to, concussion management, both at the athletic event and in the office.
Some topics on which a chiropractor, Costa Mesa has expertise include heat, acclimatization, and hydration management; emergency medicine; airway management; and CPR. Fracture management, bracing strapping taping, and many others. Sports chiropractors are specialists within the field of chiropractic, much like an orthopedist is a specialist in the medical field.
There are two levels of sports medicine specialists in the field of sports chiropractic.
The first is a CCSP, which stands for certified chiropractic sports physician and requires: Completion a minimum of 100 hours of postgraduate education in the Certified Chiropractic Sports Physicians® program from an accredited chiropractic college.
Possess a current Athletic Trainer (ATC) Certification
Completed a Masters of Science (MS) program in exercise and sport science or equivalent program from an accredited college
Completed the first year of a sports medicine residency program with an accredited college
All candidates must have completed a post-graduate level hands-on emergency procedures course and a healthcare-provider level CPR certification course with a hands-on component as part of their program or study or in addition to their program.
The highest level of sports medicine specialty in the field of sports chiropractic is referred to as a diplomate in sports medicine, or a DACBSP. The requirements for this level are first completing the aforementioned CCSP® program and the following:
The CCSP certification is a prerequisite to earning the DACBSP® certification. Earning the DACBSP certification requires successful completion of a written exam, a six-station practical exam, a written project, and 100 hours of practical experience in the field.
Licensed doctors of chiropractic who satisfy one of the following, and are able to provide official documentation demonstrating such, are eligible to sit for the DACBSP® examination:
Active Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician/Practitioner® (CCSP®) with completion of a minimum of 200 hours of postgraduate education in the DACBSP® Program, from an accredited chiropractic college.
Active Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician/Practitioner® (CCSP®) with completion of a Master of Science (MS) degree in an equivalent program in the domain of sports medicine.
Completion of a sports medicine residency program in its entirety.
DACBSP® candidates must maintain their CCSP® certification in current and active status with the ACBSP.
Injuries Treated
- ankle injuries, e.g., ankle sprains
- knee injuries, e.g., infrapatellar tendonitis
- hip injuries, e.g., hip impingement
- shoulder problems, e.g., rotator cuff injuries
- elbow problems, e.g., tennis or golfers elbow
- wrist injuries, e.g., sprains, strains
- spine injuries, e.g., disc bulges, herniations, facet injuries
- neck injuries, e.g., torticollis, whiplash
- back injuries, e.g., stress fractures, strains, sprains
- head injuries, e.g., concussions, MTBI
How often should I visit a sports chiropractor near me?
A Newport Beach chiropractor determines the frequency of visits based on the severity and nature of your condition. For example, if a patient presents with a sore shoulder, the type of injury to the shoulder will help determine how often that patient will need to be seen. If a patient comes to us with neck stiffness and soreness without referred pain down their arms, their treatment plan may call for treatment twice per week for 2-3 weeks. If a patient presents with lower back pain complicated by pain, numbness, and tingling in their leg, the treatment may be 3 times per week for 6-8 weeks. No two patients respond the same; that is why we custom-tailor our treatment to the individual. When you have recovered from the condition that brought you to our office, you are released from care for that condition. We find that this type of treatment empowers our patients to help themselves and provides great education to the community of Costa Mesa. Too many chiropractic offices focus on keeping patients coming back week after week for the same treatments. At South West Health Spine & Sport, the treatment evolves as patients improve. As an example, a patient may present to our Costa Mesa facility complaining of knee pain, and once that is resolved, we may start dealing with weight management, which may evolve into sports performance.
Maintenance Care
Maintenance care is a misunderstood term in the chiropractic profession. At our Costa Mesa office, care is based on need. In other words, when is the body ready to be re-evaluated? The frequency of care for our patients is based on several key criteria, including but not limited to:
- a) fitness level;
b) age;
c) diagnosis.
This type of care is proactive as opposed to reactive and is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. (i.e., 8 hours of sleep per night, eating 4-6 small meals per day, exercising daily)
Each patient's concerns are addressed initially to determine whether there are injuries to be addressed or simply a desire to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
Treatments Used
We use a variety of methods in-house to assess each patient's current health and fitness levels, including:
- Functional movement evaluation
- Muscle Activation Techniques Evaluation
- Orthopedic Testing
- Neurological Testing
- X-rays
- MRI review
Our treatments are vast and include: non-surgical spinal decompression, extremity manipulation, M.A.T. (Muscle Activation Techniques), Shockwave therapy, myofascial release techniques, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue work (IAST), Foundation Training, sports performance, and many others.
In the event that a patient needs care that cannot be delivered here at our office, we work directly with a network of like-minded orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and integrative medicine doctors to ensure that your needs are met. We refer out for other diagnostic testing that is not available at our Costa Mesa facility, such as MRI, CT scans, etc.
Our philosophy is to provide custom tailoring services because no two people have the same needs. Once we identify the root cause of the problem, we can deliver care more effectively.
Find a Sports Injury Chiropractor Near Me Today
Our sports chiropractic team treats many common athletic injuries. Medical issues like pulled muscles in your hamstring or shin splints from overtraining are very common. We also see foot problems like plantar fasciitis a lot. Other injuries we see include sports hernias, groin strains, and tendinitis in the shoulders, knees, or Achilles tendon.
Our treatments like Shockwave Therapy, taping, soft tissue work, and corrective exercises work great for muscle and tendon issues. Overuse injuries are handled with stretches and strength routines designed just for you. Sports chiropractors can also check your running style and suggest shoe inserts when needed.
Our goal is to find and fix the root cause, not just treat pain. We take time to fully assess how you move, where you're weak or tight, and where your body compensates. Manual therapies combined with exercise plans fix issues best. We send patients home with their own exercises to keep improving between visits too.
If surgery is needed, our team partners with trusted surgeons for before and after care. Most of all, we want to maximize how you function, feel, and play sports safely long-term.
Give us a call at (949) 631 5226 or email us at swhconcierges@gmail.com to schedule an appointment. We're ready to help you perform and feel great again through custom sports chiropractic care!