ICA ChiroCast

International Chiropractors Association

A podcast of the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) hosted by a revolving list of co-hosts from the ICA Leadership and coordinated with Beth Clay, the ICA Executive Director. 2024 Hosts will be:- Dr. Edwin Cordero- ICA CEO -Dr. Neil Cohen - ICA Membership Ambassador- Dr. Todd McDougall, ICA Board Member and Chairman of the ICA Council on Sports and Fitness Health Science- Dr. Joe Betz, ICA President and Chair of Research and Development Committee -and more.....Episodes will include, news, interviews, all things chiropractic and related health policy, politics, and research. The ICA represents chiropractic and chiropractors worldwide. We are the organization established by Dr. B.J. Palmer, the developer of chiropractor to carry on his mission of protecting and promoting chiropractic world wide. 

  1. FEB 3

    Bridging Philosophy and Performance: The Future of the ICA Sports and Fitness Science Council

    In this episode, Dr. Brant Hulsebus sits down with the Chairman of the ICA Sports and Fitness Science Council, Dr. Todd McDougle, to discuss the council's revitalization and its clear mission for the future of the profession. While many sports systems focus primarily on rehab protocols, Dr. McDougle explains why the ICA Council remains committed to a subluxation-based foundation, ensuring that the chiropractic adjustment stays front and center in athletic performance. Key highlights from this episode include: The Five Pillars of the Council: An overview of our focus on subluxation, the art of adjusting, sub-concussive impact management, extremity care, and professional pathwaysAdjusting for Peak Performance: Dr. McDougle shares insights from his 30 years of experience with elite strength athletes, including his "short lever, high velocity burst" technique designed to bypass negative neuromuscular reflexes.Sideline Safety: A look at Dr. Kevin Jackson’s objective methods for evaluating the Atlas on the sideline without immediate access to X-rays.A Roadmap for Students: Why chiropractic students don't have to wait until graduation to start building their sports identity.Upcoming Events: Details on the 2026 "Traveling Masterclass" series and the announcement of the 2027 National Summit.Join us as we bridge the gap between foundational chiropractic philosophy and elite athletic achievement. Learn more and join the council at: chiropractic.org

    39 min
  2. JAN 20

    Sub-Concussive Forces & Upper Cervical Injury (Part 2): Safe Correction & Sideline Decision-Making

    In Part 1 of this ICA Sports & Fitness Science Council podcast series, Dr. Brant Hulsebus and Dr. Kevin Jackson established how sub-concussive forces can be identified on the sideline using objective, real-time assessment. Part 2 takes the next critical step: what happens AFTER sub-concussive upper cervical injury is identified. In this episode, Dr. Jackson explains his conservative, science-based approach to safely correcting upper cervical dysfunction on the sideline and how chiropractors should make responsible return-to-play decisions in high-pressure environments. This conversation focuses on precision, safety, and decision-making—not aggressive techniques or guesswork. In this episode, you’ll learn: • What chiropractors should and should NOT do on the sideline   • Why upper cervical correction must be gentle, specific, and defensible   • How instrument-based correction reduces risk and improves acceptance   • Common biomechanical patterns seen after sub-concussive impacts   • Why immediate correction may matter more than waiting until the clinic   • How objective post-testing confirms neurological improvement   • When an athlete must be removed from play—no debate   • How calm, data-driven care builds trust with parents and coaches   This episode is essential for chiropractors working with contact and collision sports who want to operate responsibly, protect athletes, and elevate the profession. 🎧 If you haven’t listened to Part 1, we strongly recommend starting there to understand the assessment framework before diving into correction and sideline decision-making. Presented by the International Chiropractic Association (ICA) and the ICA Sports & Fitness Science Council.

    20 min
  3. JAN 6

    Sub-Concussive Forces & Upper Cervical Injury (Part 1): Real-Time Sideline Assessment with Dr. Kevin Jackson

    Concussions dominate the conversation in sports—but what about the impacts that don’t trigger a concussion diagnosis? In Part 1 of this two-part ICA Sports & Fitness Science Council podcast series, Dr. Brant Hulsebus sits down with fellow board member Dr. Kevin Jackson to explore the often-overlooked issue of sub-concussive forces and their effect on the upper cervical spine. This episode focuses on what happens before a concussion is diagnosed—and why athletes can appear “fine” while still experiencing measurable neurological dysfunction. Dr. Jackson shares his research-driven approach to identifying sub-concussive injury in real time, including how chiropractors can perform objective, sideline-based assessments using practical tools that are repeatable, defensible, and field-ready. In this episode, you’ll learn: • What sub-concussive forces are and why they matter   • Why standard concussion protocols often miss upper cervical injury   • How repetitive, lower-level impacts accumulate over time   • The role of the cranial-cervical junction in neurological function   • How to perform quick, objective sideline assessments   • Why measurable data changes communication with coaches and parents   This conversation is science-based, conservative, and practical—designed for chiropractors working with contact and collision sports who want to operate responsibly on the sideline. 🎧 Part 2 will cover safe upper cervical intervention, sideline decision-making, and when athletes must be removed from play. Presented by the International Chiropractic Association (ICA) and the ICA Sports & Fitness Science Council.

    18 min
  4. 12/23/2025

    The Impact of Sports Specialization on Young Athletes: Insights from Dr. Brant D. Hulsebus and Dr. Kyle Hoeft

    Early sports specialization has become the new normal. Kids are playing one sport year-round, stacking club seasons on top of school seasons, and training with little or no true off-season. But is this model helping them—or setting them up for injury and burnout? In this ICA Sports & Fitness Science Council podcast episode, Dr. Brant D. Hulsebus and Dr. Kyle Hoeft break down the real impact of sports specialization on young athletes. They explore why families feel pressured to specialize, the rise in overuse injuries, when specialization actually makes sense, and how chiropractors can guide parents toward healthier development strategies. You’ll learn: • Why parents feel forced to choose one sport early   • The surge in labral tears, chronic knee pain, and overuse injuries   • When specialization helps—and when it destroys performance   • Why load matters more than number of sports   • The dangers of one-size-fits-all strength programs   • How chiropractic evaluation changes when you know the athlete’s sport   • How to talk to families about rest, recovery, and long-term development   This episode is essential listening for chiropractors working with youth athletes, high school programs, travel teams, or anyone advising families on performance and injury prevention. Presented by the International Chiropractic Association (ICA) and the ICA Sports & Fitness Science Council.

    20 min
  5. 11/25/2025

    The Role of Chiropractic in Strength Sports: With Jackie Osczevski & Dr. Todd McDougle

    In this episode of the ICA Sports & Fitness Science Council Podcast, Dr. Brant Hulsebus sits down with two leaders in the world of strength athletics and sports-specific chiropractic: ICA Chairman Dr. Todd McDougle and elite Canadian strongwoman Jackie Osczevski. Together, they break down what truly separates standard chiropractic care from the advanced, tension-focused techniques required for top strength athletes. Jackie shares her personal journey in Strongwoman, including her podium finishes at Canada’s Strongest Woman, The Shaw Classic, and World’s Strongest Woman. She explains how Dr. McDougle’s chiropractic methods immediately improved her squat depth, mobility, and performance after years of searching for the right practitioner. Dr. McDougle dives into the science behind his approach — including short-lever, high-velocity, closed-pack adjustments designed to maintain neuromuscular recruitment and power output. He explains how this technique allows athletes to train the same day they’re adjusted, a requirement at the elite level. Dr. Hulsebus expands on how these principles apply not just to strongman competitors but also to hockey players, college athletes, and even everyday patients who depend on proper function for quality of life. Whether you’re a chiropractor, athlete, or strength coach, this episode reveals the critical role chiropractic plays in performance, injury prevention, and long-term success in strength sports. Featuring: – Dr. Brant Hulsebus – Dr. Todd McDougle – Jackie Osczevski Topics Covered: ✔ Chiropractic techniques for strength athletes ✔ The difference between open-pack and closed-pack adjustments ✔ Why athletes need to train immediately after care ✔ Mobility, muscle tone, and performance ✔ Treatment gaps at elite competitions ✔ How chiropractic impacts Strongman, hockey, and more Follow Jackie: Instagram: @JackJackie YouTube: “Jack Jackie”

    24 min
  6. Exploring the Future of Chiropractic with ICA President Dr. Joe Betz

    11/21/2025

    Exploring the Future of Chiropractic with ICA President Dr. Joe Betz

    In this episode of the ICA ChiroCast, host Dr. Brant Hulsebus sits down with ICA President Dr. Joe Betz for a deep dive into the future of chiropractic and the major initiatives currently shaping the profession. Dr. Betz pulls back the curtain on what the International Chiropractors Association is working on every single day—from Medicare legislation to international advocacy, from diplomate programs to research priorities, and the exciting development of the new Council on Animal Chiropractic. They also discuss the ICA’s centennial milestone coming next year and why now is the most critical moment in decades for chiropractors to unite, engage, and support the ICA’s mission. Key Topics Covered: The ICA’s expanding legislative and regulatory workMedicare reform and the upcoming ICA-backed billInternational chiropractic issues and global advocacyICA councils, diplomate programs, and educational initiativesResearch priorities through the FACTS foundationThe new ICA Council on Animal ChiropracticThe ICA’s 100-year anniversary in Washington, D.C.Why membership matters now more than everHow Knowewell strengthens ICA communications and communityWhether you're a long-time ICA member or someone looking to understand what the ICA does for the profession, this episode delivers straight answers and big-picture clarity. 👉 Learn more or join the ICA: https://www.chiropractic.org 👉 Access ICA community updates on Knowewell: https://www.knowewell.com If you enjoy this episode, please follow the ChiroCast, leave a review, and share it with your colleagues. More leadership conversations are coming soon.

    18 min

About

A podcast of the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) hosted by a revolving list of co-hosts from the ICA Leadership and coordinated with Beth Clay, the ICA Executive Director. 2024 Hosts will be:- Dr. Edwin Cordero- ICA CEO -Dr. Neil Cohen - ICA Membership Ambassador- Dr. Todd McDougall, ICA Board Member and Chairman of the ICA Council on Sports and Fitness Health Science- Dr. Joe Betz, ICA President and Chair of Research and Development Committee -and more.....Episodes will include, news, interviews, all things chiropractic and related health policy, politics, and research. The ICA represents chiropractic and chiropractors worldwide. We are the organization established by Dr. B.J. Palmer, the developer of chiropractor to carry on his mission of protecting and promoting chiropractic world wide.