OLD BRIDGE — A local chiropractor recently taught a four-day sports injury certification seminar in Mexico City.
During those four days, Dr. Ira A. Shapiro, director of the Plaza Chiropractic Center in Old Bridge, lectured on a wide array of sports injury protocols used to treat and alleviate the symptoms associated with a variety of on- and off-field sports injuries.
This included correcting numerous forms of biomechanical misalignments, which affect performance, as well as offering training in the proper treatment of soft-tissue injuries, concussion evaluation, environmental emergencies and on-field emergency protocols. Other sessions were dedicated to sports psychology and the care of endurance athletes, according to a statement prepared by his office.
“Sports chiropractic is an emerging field in Mexico,” Shapiro said. “In the past, doctors of chiropractic would most often travel to the United States for their degrees. Today, accredited institutions are offering the opportunity to earn an education and advanced chiropractic sports certifications without leaving their country. I was proud to be an ambassador of a profession that is increasingly gaining international respect for the ability to treat all forms of sports-related injuries that can occur during virtually any type of athletic competition.”
The program was developed by the Federation Internationale de Chiropratique du Sport (FICS) to advance the international treatment of on- and off-field sports injuries and held at the CONADE, the headquarters for Mexico’s National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport.
“There is an ever-increasing demand for certified chiropractic sports physicians at world-class sporting events,” Shapiro said. “Our goal is to help the doctors of chiropractic, in this case Mexico and worldwide, prepare for the rigors of evaluating, diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries on an emergent on-field basis as well as in non-emergent office settings. Often, these services are provided with the athletic fate of the competitor hanging in the balance. It’s no small task to help injured athletes overcome injuries or to make the call declaring that an individual is no longer physically able to compete. Such decisions can greatly affect international rankings in addition to the athlete’s ability to move onto the next big stage.”
Shapiro was selected for the assignment based on his vast experience attending to the medical needs of athletes competing at numerous international sporting events, such as the 1996, 2002, 2004 and 2006 Olympic Games, 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, and the 2013 World Games in Cali, Columbia, according to the statement.
In 2014, the chiropractor was chosen by FICS to teach nearly 100 doctors in Tokyo, Japan, the latest techniques and practices for evaluating, stabilizing and treating athletic injuries.
Shapiro also serves on the post-graduate faculty of two chiropractic colleges.
“This is our first experience at holding learning sessions in Mexico,” said Dr. Sheila Wilson, FICS president, who personally requested Shapiro’s attendance. “It was extremely important to create an atmosphere that invites higher learning and offers these chiropractic physicians the opportunity to progress their skills from the office to the actual playing field. Dr. Shapiro’s experience and his ability to share his knowledge across borders are invaluable assets that represent the highest standard of our profession.”
For more information on Plaza Chiropractic Center, call 732-723-0023 or visit www.plazachiro.com.
