“Chiro is good, but not good enough,” Chris the chiro said to me just before signing up to the mentorship. It's something I've thought for a long time, but he put it better than I ever could.
The traditional healthcare options all have pros and cons: physio, chiro, osteo, sports therapy, massage. We've had several of each on the mentorship, because they recognised the limitations of their practice.
Usually this means being great at treating symptoms, but not so good at root causes. Patients feel better, then the issue returns shortly afterwards. There's that pang of guilt when they come back, knowing you haven't really fixed what they're paying you for. Then the fear that if this continues, they might never come back.
The rehab to return-to-sport gap
The sharp professionals notice this trend and want more, for themselves and their patients. They realise there is a big gap between the treatment they offer and getting someone fully back to where they want to be. Unfortunately the traditional healthcare options aren't well suited to fill this void:
- Short appointment times
- Lack of strength and conditioning education
- Focus on localised areas, not the body as a system
- Generic rehab exercises that don't carry over to the client's specific goals
The professionals who spot these trends realise that to offer the service they want, they have to expand their knowledge beyond the single field they originally studied.
Movement is the currency
I'm obviously biased, but to me movement is the fundamental currency for all rehab and training. It smooths over the gaps from treatment back to full training.
When new mentees sign up, they have several click moments. Things start to make sense. They start to offer something rare in the market, and as early adopters of this combined approach, they have a head start. The results improve. The referrals flow. They always just wish they'd started sooner.
I firmly believe the future of treatment lies in the combined approach of the classical therapies plus movement mechanics and proper training. Those at the top of the industry are already onto this, and it's just a matter of time before clients expect it, and those who don't offer it are left behind.
We have coaches and trainers learning about treatment and rehab. We have physios, osteos and chiros learning about training and movement patterns. It's a beautiful mix of talent, and the fuller the picture becomes, the better their results.