In his multidisciplinary clinic in Toronto’s downtown core, Dr. Andrew Miners has learned that clinical challenges can present themselves at any time – including Monday mornings. But with his expertise in sports rehabilitation, he has learned how to rise to those challenges.

Dr. Miners, who graduated with clinical honours from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) in 2004 was one of only two chiropractors accepted into the postgraduate residency program in Sports Injury Sciences.  He became a Fellow of the College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences in 2007. Now, he works to apply his knowledge and skills not only to treating patients, but to training future DCs in his capacity as Assistant Professor and Clinician at CMCC.

“I want to help chiropractors learn how to accurately diagnose and effectively rehabilitate some of the more common lower limb injury presentations,” he says.

Dr. Miners, who recently completed a three-year training program to achieve designation as a chiropractic rehabilitation specialist, has plenty of practical experience to share. He has served as team doctor for Canadian representative soccer teams, the 2006 Ontario Junior Tae-kwon-do National Championship Team and the 2006 Canadian National Tae-kwon-do Team.

Dr. Miners will share his expertise, during an informative seminar at OCA’s Pathways to Practice professional development day. The session, titled “Evaluation and Rehabilitation of the Hip, Knee and Ankle: What You Need To Know on Monday,” aims to provide a practical review of current best evidence strategies and techniques for the diagnosis and rehabilitation of hip osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, Achilles tendinopathy and chronic ankle instability.

“I believe the session will really give attendees information that they can apply in their own practices right away,” Dr. Miners says.

Also presenting at Pathways to Practice will be Dr. Rick Ruegg and Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) Director and member of the Executive Committee Dr. Eleanor White.  They will provide key insights and information to help DCs apply best evidence in the care and treatment of patients suffering from whiplash.

Dr. White, a former OCA Director, has represented OCA, CCA, and the Canadian Federation of Chiropractic Regulatory and Educational Accrediting Boards (CFCREAB)  in the development of clinical practice guidelines, and has served on the Guideline Development Committee, and an authorship committee consisting of researchers, editors, the Clinical Practice Guidelines Task Force, public members and chiropractic practitioners.

“We hope to help DCs gain an understanding of the guidelines, their rationale and how evidence and clinical practice can combine to provide the best care for the patient,” says Dr. White.

Dr. Ruegg, who obtained his Ph.D. in comparative physiology from York University in 1982 before graduating from CMCC in 1989, will also share his experience during the session, titled “Understanding and Using the New Whiplash Guidelines.”

Now serving as Associate Dean, Clinics at CMCC, Dr. Ruegg has held research positions at the University of Toronto, University of California, Berkeley, and York University; and his current research interests include the development of clinical practice guidelines and the effect of spinal manipulation on immune responsiveness.

The program will review the assessment of the whiplash patient and offer a treatment algorithm to enhance the delivery of care and provide treatment recommendations. The session will also provide practical treatment advice for administering high velocity, low amplitude manipulation, discuss potential risks and offer suggestions for the management of risk associated with the whiplash patient.

For more information or to register, please visit the OCA website, at www.chiropractic.on.ca, or call 1-877-327-2273.