2026 Grappling Injuries for Sports Chiropractors

Module 1: Serious and Emergent Injuries

Topics:

• Weight-cutting complications
• Cardiac events (youth and masters level)
• Concussion and cervical cord neurapraxia
• Choke-related syncope
• On-site BLS-level triage and EMS referral protocols

Objective: Develop triage readiness for emergent grappling injuries and recognize when to initiate emergency transport or referral.

Module 2: Spine Injuries in Grapplers

Topics:

• Cervical discopathy, stenosis, radiculopathy
• Spear Tackler’s Spine
• Thoracic and lumbar facet strain, discogenic pain
• Return-to-play imaging and clearance
• Sport-specific rehab guidelines

Objective: Apply focused diagnostic and rehabilitation strategies to spine injuries, with attention to return-to-contact criteria.

Module 3: Upper Extremity Injuries

Topics:

• SLAP tears, shoulder instability, AC joint trauma
• Elbow dislocation, UCL sprain, hyperextension
• TFCC injuries, wrist instability, collateral ligament sprains
• Orthopedic testing and imaging
• Sport-appropriate RTP testing

Objective: Identify and treat upper extremity injuries caused by grappling-specific loading and stress.

Module 4: Lower Extremity Injuries

Topics:

• FAI, labral injury, adductor tendinopathy
• Hamstring and quadriceps strain, thigh contusions
• ACL, MCL, meniscus pathology
• Syndesmosis injuries, turf toe, foot fractures
• Return-to-play protocols

Objective: Recognize and manage lower extremity injuries with clinical reasoning adapted to grappling demands.