The integration of chiropractors into medical teams within the West Australian Football League (WAFL).

Introduction Sports Medicine is a constantly evolving profession.1 The past 20 years has seen an explosion in the sophistication of sports medicine and sports science within Australia.2 Traditionally in Australian Rules football, a medical team would consist of a group of ‘sports trainers’ to assist players with injury management and prevention. Typical duties of a sports trainer would involve basic first aid, immediate injury management, ‘rub downs’ (massage), and strapping of various body regions. The title of ‘sports trainer’ is a loose term, but recognised by the completion of basic courses offered by Sports Medicine Australia (SMA). SMA is “Australia’s peak national umbrella body for sports medicine and sports science, and is widely acknowledged overseas as the world’s leading multi-disciplinary sports medicine body”.3 Football clubs which have greater resources have been able to employ people with more formal qualifications such as massage therapists, physiotherapists, or even a medical doctor. The entry of chiropractic into sports medical teams has been more contentious.4 Chiropractic was founded in the late 19th century in the United States as an alternative to medicine that focused on “correcting spinal malfunction in order to allow the natural healing power of the body to take effect”.4 From its establishment, chiropractic vehemently opposed by the medical profession in both Canada and the United States on grounds that it lacked legitimacy in both theory and practice.4 Today, it still appears that a considerable communication gap exists between the chiropractic and medical professions.5