Concussions, and how to prevent and treat them, have been a hot topic in sports and especially among healthcare providers who treat athletes. Bill Moreau, DC, DACBSP(R), FACSM, FICC, has had a unique vantage point to observe and participate in the treatment of athletes in his past leadership role in medical services for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). He has worked with both Olympic and Paralympic teams and was responsible for the care of thousands of Team USA athletes, provided by more than 200 clinicians from various healthcare disciplines. Dr. Moreau served as the Team USA chief medical officer during the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games and the 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympic Games, as well as medical director for the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.
In addition to world-class athletes, Dr. Moreau has treated collegiate, high school and recreational athletes over his career, which spans more than 30 years. Drawing from his deep knowledge of sports injuries, he will present “The Role of Chiropractic in the Management of Post-Concussion Syndrome: An Underrecognized Neurological Disorder” at Engage 2023.
Below, the ACA Blog learns more about what doctors can expect from this Engage 2023 program.
How is the topic you are presenting at Engage 2023 relevant to today’s chiropractor?
Dr. Moreau: Concussion injuries are an extremely common condition seen by doctors of chiropractic. Most of these injuries spontaneously resolve but many do not. Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) represents those patients who do not recover within two months of their injury. Persistent PCS is both a common and frequently missed diagnosis. There are safe and effective interventions that doctors of chiropractic can provide to help patients with post-concussion syndrome, but we need more doctors to engage and help these patients.
What first made you interested in this topic?
Dr. Moreau: Playing American football resulted in several sports-related concussion injuries to me that were left untreated because no one really knew what to do. Concussion is especially interesting to me because it is commonly encountered, and we are still learning about how to better evaluate and manage concussive injuries. After leading sports medicine at the United States Olympic Committee for a decade and working with the NFL on concussion research, it became evident that there is no pill to help these patients, but there are many opportunities for doctors of chiropractic to evaluate and treat concussive injury. The problem is many do not know what to do with these patients. Doctors of chiropractic need to engage and regain the cultural authority of management of the cervical spine in PCS patients leading to improvement or resolution of the patient’s symptoms.
What practical knowledge or skills can attendees take away from your presentation?
Dr. Moreau: Attendees will learn more about evaluating and appropriately managing concussion and PCS patients — beyond watchful waiting. Additionally, the doctor will have the tools to diagnosis and treat dysautonomia, a common sequela to concussion that is significantly under diagnosed.
How will what attendees take away make them better doctors?
Dr. Moreau: Every patient we see matters, and those with head injuries are more complicated and difficult to manage. When we can help a single person struggling through life with head injury, we are helping to make a life changing event occur and that matters!
What benefits do you gain from attending ACA Engage?
Dr. Moreau: ACA has been there for me throughout my career. I hope that I can give something back, learn and also provide a small step forward for us all.
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Want to learn more?
Plan to attend Dr. Moreau’s presentation at Engage 2023. Click here to view the ACA Engage schedule and all that the program has to offer. Click here for conference details and to register.
