explains Marshall. “So that if an athlete who lives in Ottawa, for example, is playing a hockey tournament in Toronto and they get a suspected concussion, they have the ability to compare their baseline right on the spot, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and having a trained clinician deliver proper, evidence-based manage-ment recommendations,” he adds. There is growing evidence to demon-strate the important role chiropractic can play in the treatment of concus-sion-related disorders. However, more research is needed to strengthen the evidence in favour of chiropractic care. Guelph, Ont.-based chiropractor and researcher Dr. John Crawford is among those pursuing more research in the area of concussion, and foresees some “bril-liant stuff” that is going to come out in the very near future. He believes there is a place for chiropractors in the treat-ment of this type of brain injury. “But in order to do that successfully, and with some degree of expertise, the most important thing would be to be-come certified in the area of concussion management,” says Crawford who himself trained through Shift Concus-sion Management. This training pro-gram is based on protocols developed by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre. Specializing in concussion manage-ment takes time, focus and experience. “Some formal training in this area is required, and then you work through case after case after case and eventually, you develop an understanding of what you are looking for – just like any speci-ality,” Crawford notes. Because concussions can potentially turn into very complex, chronic cases, having a network of health-care provid-ers – psychologists, neuropsychologists, medical doctors and optometrists – with specialization on concussion-related disorders is vital. For Crawford, the bottom-line for concussion management is not just re-turn-to-play, but most importantly, he wants to “return people to life” – back to the way they were before they sus-tained their injury. Perhaps that is the hope of Jimmy Marinakos, as well, as he learns to live with his PCS symptoms. Although he will always love hockey, he has learned to accept he may not be able to go back to his heyday as a star goalie. He plays recreational hockey from time to time, and is careful – or hopes – he doesn’t get another concus-sion. He also tries to give back to the sport he loves by helping other kids pursue their own dreams of making it in the big leagues someday. His advice to kids: “If something is wrong, you need to speak up and not play if you’re really not feeling great; because at the end of the day, it is our brain, it’s basically all we have. It’s our identity.” Catch the ICPA in Toronto! Join the ICPA and acquire the skills to care for more families in your community. The ICPA offers advanced quality seminars providing the most up-to-date information and skills pertaining to the care of children and pregnant mothers. Our classes are renowned for hands on, practical, clinical content. December 2014 Canadian Chiropractor 31 11/17/14 4:37 PM REGISTER TODAY! icpa4kids.com/seminarsca www.canadianchiropractor.ca 737_CA_ChiroADNov.indd 1
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