Majoring in the Minors: How Chiropractic in Minor League Baseball is Changing the Game
FEATURE
David Perrine
DC
“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. ” - Arthur Schopenhauer
This marvelous quote encapsulates the growth of chiropractic in general and its role in sports medicine specifically. Although the value of chiropractic has been known for over 100 years, it only recently has been embraced as an integral component of medical care for professional athletes. Over the past twenty years, the expansion of chiropractic in professional baseball training rooms has grown steadily. Chiropractors are now active medical staff on 28 of the 30 Major League Baseball teams. This growth has been spearheaded by the formation of the Professional Baseball Chiropractic Society (PBCS).
The PBCS was established in 2008 and truly began to gain traction in 2012 under the leadership of Dr. Rick Bishop and Dr. Alan Palmer. Dr. Palmer and the longtime MLB head athletic trainer for the San Francisco Giants at the time, Mark Letendre, ATC, had a vision of integrating chiropractic into professional baseball. The goal was to help create a standard by which chiropractors could establish relationships with professional athletes, athletic trainers, and medical staff. As Dr. Palmer explains, “Mark wanted us to educate the doctors about professional expectations and protocols. The goal was to help prevent chiropractors from stepping on toes in the training room as well as how to build relationships with athletes, athletic trainers, and team medical staff.” With the formation of a guideline for chiropractors to follow, a more consistent level of service could be provided to Major League Baseball. According to Mark, “Chiropractic care is an important healthcare service that is essential in providing premier care in a multidisciplinary sports medicine team. In my 30 years of experience in the multidisciplinary treatment model, chiropractic has been a valuable service when it comes to return to function of the athlete.”
"Many chiropractors, especially at the Minor League level, will receive no financial compensation."
In 2015, with the assistance of Mark Letendre, the PBCS expanded its vision to include chiropractors currently involved with Minor League Baseball (MiLB). PBCS Minor League Coordinator Sonny Haight, DC, collaborated in this process with Richard Stark, ATC, the Cincinnati Reds’ Minor League Medical Coordinator. Since then, Dr. Haight has helped bolster the expansion of chiropractic to over 60 Minor League training rooms. As you can see, personal relationships created through mutual trust and respect have provided the opportunity for chiropractors to enter through the front door of the training room rather than standing outside with our noses pressed to the window.
How do you turn your passion for sports chiropractic into participation in professional baseball? According to Dr. Haight, “You have to do what other people aren’t willing to do.” Dealing with professional athletes and organizations requires sacrifice. Many chiropractors, especially at the Minor League level, will receive no financial compensation. However, the benefits go well beyond mere dollars. Involvement with professional athletes provides something money cannot buy—credibility.
That being said, the road to the training room can be quite challenging. Persistence is one of the essential traits needed to successfully establish yourself in professional sports. Dr. Haight knows this truth firsthand. “I reached out over a dozen times,” he noted regarding his attempt to connect with the head athletic trainer of the Greenville Drive, the Class A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox in South Carolina. Finally, his connection with a former Major League player turned the tide. Because of his experience, Dr. Haight became the Minor League Medical Coordinator with the PBCS. His role is to assist MiLB medical coordinators and head athletic trainers locate, interview, and vet potential doctors of chiropractic with whom to work. How effective have his efforts been? He notes, “We have currently placed about thirty chiropractors through our network affiliations to date, essentially doubling the number we had previous to PBCS involvement.”
PBCS Director Rick Bishop explains the goal of the organization. “We have a great vision for the incorporation of chiropractic care within every team in professional baseball.” The current minor league classification system divides leagues into one of six classes: Triple-A (AAA), Double-A (AA), Class A-Advanced (High A or A+), Class A (Low A), Class A Short Season, and Rookie. There are 30 teams in Major League Baseball, but over 240 teams in the Minor Leagues of professional baseball. During the process of confirming which teams in Minor League Baseball are using chiropractic, PBCS has been able to work with the athletic trainers of teams that previously did not have a chiropractor working alongside. As a result, it has been successful in placing chiropractors with these teams and assisting the medical staffs in this capacity.
I have personally had the opportunity to work as the chiropractic consultant for the Kansas City Royals during their spring training since 2005. This opportunity became available after my classmate, Dr. Todd Narson, contacted me. He was treating the Royals’ General Manager in Miami and recommended me for the position. I then reached out to one of my mentors from Logan University, Dr. Ralph Filson. At the time, Dr. Filson was the chiropractor for the St. Louis Cardinals. His advice was simple and to the point, “You must be a team player.” This fact was reinforced to me during my initial visit with the Royals’ regular season chiropractor, Dr. Patrick Hammond, as well as in my conversation with the Royals’ General Manager. They both alluded to the unfortunate experience with their previous chiropractor in Arizona who overstepped his role in the training room and alienated himself from the medical staff.
A willingness to serve unselfishly is a consistent trait I have seen among my PBCS colleagues. We all understand our role within the training room. On the field, players know their roles on the team. Those who ignore these facts soon find themselves looking for work elsewhere. The same rules apply in the athletic training room. As chiropractors, we are experts in spinal biomechanics and function. Although many of us are trained and utilize a wide variety of sports-related modalities in private practice, that is not our role as members of the medical team. As Dr. Haight counsels the chiropractors attempting to connect with Minor League affiliates, “Always be sure you stay in your lane.” Although the possession of exceptional skills is essential regarding the treatment of professional athletes, relationships with the staff and players are what will make or break you. Respecting the expertise of your medical team and their skills enhances your reputation within the group.
Dr. Reddell Nolan has worked with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, AA affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, for the past six years. Like me, his opportunity came via a colleague’s recommendation. He told me of his path to the training room. “They had me meet with the team orthopedist who had full say whether I would take over or not. I did some shadow work with him at his clinic, and from there, he gave me the position.” Knowing Dr. Nolan personally, I can assure you it was his dynamic personality and humble nature that finalized that decision. Your skills may get you in the door, but your ability to personally connect with the staff and players will keep you there. Dr. Nolan’s chiropractic influence now goes beyond the players, as he notes, “I have also started taking care of some of the umpires this season, which is pretty new. The coaches and umpires seem to love what chiropractic brings to the table, especially after a long road trip on a bus.”
"So what is the benefit of becoming involved in organizations such as the PBCS?"
So what is the benefit of becoming involved in organizations such as the PBCS? According to Dr. Haight, “Professional organizations create validity.” The PBCS has been very fortunate to work closely with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) to assist with placing qualified chiropractors on teams in the MiLB. The PBCS organization continues to strengthen its relationship with PBATS through regular dialogue and education. At our annual meetings, you will always find a Major League athletic trainer or medical staff member teaching our members new skills as well as ways to improve chiropractic integration into baseball training rooms. Working alongside team athletic trainers allows for enhanced confidence when our members approach an affiliate regarding chiropractic involvement. These athletic trainers have built a close-knit network and connect regularly to discuss how to best serve their players. As the PBCS has grown in numbers, so has its reputation in professional baseball. Being associated with the PBCS provides athletic trainers an extra level of confidence, knowing the doctor is part of a respected organization that understands the dynamics of the training room and has set high standards of care. Although membership does not guarantee placement with a professional team, associates will be our first option. The rest, as they say, is up to you.
Until recently, members of PBCS consisted solely of team chiropractors in professional baseball. With the expansion of sports-related educational seminars, such as those through Logan University and Life University, PBCS will now offer membership opportunities to students and chiropractors who are not currently affiliated with a professional team. Dr. Nolan and I were fortunate to have had people who trusted us to open the door. More common is the experience of Dr. Haight. Just another reason why involvement in the PBCS can possibly open doors for you.
With only 25% of MiBL affiliates utilizing chiropractic, the opportunity to fill this void is noteworthy. However, if a professional team is geographically prohibitive, joining the PBCS can still assist you in making inroads at the collegiate and high school levels. These programs offer great opportunities to serve your community while also expanding your network, visibility, and reputation. Our members are always willing to help each other in any way possible. If you are looking to become associated with a team of professional chiropractors involved with athletics, we welcome you to join us in our mission to spread the chiropractic message among the sporting world. Please visit the PBCS website at probaseballchiros.com for more information as well as how to contact us directly.
Logan University’s College of Chiropractic Postgraduate Department is excited and proud to present the Baseball and Sports Performance Conference on their campus November 10-11, 2018. This is the third annual conference and promises to be the best one yet. This outstanding conference is designed to explore in detail natural performance enhancement and injury prevention strategies for the sport of baseball and other athletes. Major League team chiropractors will be among this group of excellent instructors. Minor League team DCs will also be present. The conference will provide continuing education hours and a unique opportunity to learn from and network with the best in the business when it comes to baseball. For more information on the conference, visit logan.edu or contact the Logan University Postgraduate Department at 800-842-3234. We hope you can join us to learn more about the PBCS and how we can help you achieve your professional “field of dreams!”
graduate David CCSP Perrine, from in Logan 1991 and DC, later is University. a 1990Magna He became received a diplomate Cum Laude his in acupuncture through the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture.
He has been in private practice in Scottsdale, AZ since 1993 and continues to work with the Kansas City Royals during their Spring Training.
www. drdavidcperrine. com
