Activate Your Practice Podcast
The Activate Your Practice Podcast is hosted by the Chairman & Founder of Activator Methods, Dr. Arlan Fuhr. This podcast will cover a variety of subjects. Dr. Fuhr will interview guests from different backgrounds and professions, as well as talk about his 50+ years in chiropractic care.
Activate Your Practice Podcast
Navigating the Arena of Sports Chiropractic with Veteran Dr. Monte Hessler
Ever dreamt of rubbing shoulders with elite athletes and being at the forefront of sports medicine? Dr. Monte Hessler, the chiropractic maestro for the Phoenix Suns, the San Francisco Giants and PGA Tour athletes, joins us to unravel the tape on a 24-year career marked by precision adjustments and courtside seats to athletic greatness. Monte walks us through the labyrinth of making it in the competitive world of sports chiropractic, where ambition meets humility. He emphasizes the iron-clad trifecta of networking, volunteering, and continuous education—highlighting the power of certifications like CCSP and CSCS. But it's not just about the credentials; it's about playing well with others in the sandbox of sports medicine, where collaboration and communication are king.
Strap on your athletic tape and ready your ice packs as we tackle the intricacies of managing sports injuries. Dr. Hessler recounts tales from the training room, featuring cameos from the likes of Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd, Grant Hill and unveils the biomechanical mysteries of rotational athletes and basketball sharpshooters. For the emerging talent in chiropractic, he lays down the game plan—build relationships, seize opportunities, and always be ready when the next big break comes knocking. As we navigate the dual demands of a bustling clinic and the unpredictable schedule of a pro team, Dr. Hessler doesn't just offer a playbook—he extends a hand, inviting listeners to reach out and join the huddle of professionals transforming the field of sports medicine.
Hello, I'm Dr Arlen Foer, the founder and chairman of Activator Methods International, and welcome to Activate your Practice Today. We are honored to have a celebrity in our office here, dr Monty Hessler, who is the team chiropractor for the Phoenix Suns, and I've known Monty for a long time and I asked him one day you know, you have been the chiropractor for the Phoenix Suns, which is a big thing, but it doesn't seem like anybody ever recognized you. So I told him Monty, I want you to come in and tell us about your 24 years. Is that correct? Correct? 24 years of being with a major team or teams? Because I found out something this morning that I didn't know. Bonnie is also the team chiropractor for the San Francisco Giants, correct? And that's spring training here in Phoenix, correct. And I saw this on it. Show them your finger there. That's his Super Bowl, his World Series ring, and I thought, boy, that's cool.
Speaker 2:I remember the day I got this. I was more than touched. It was a pretty amazing day, Well not many people have World Series rings.
Speaker 1:That's true. Now I want to go back because you know kids coming out of school today. They'd all love to be in your position with you know that kind of a job. What steps did you take to become, you know, involved with the professional sports?
Speaker 2:Well, for starters, something I want to say I was in practice for 14 years before I ever made any major inroads into the at least the professional sports world. But in that time frame you have to do a lot of volunteering. There were AAU events and track and field events and obviously marathons and 5Ks and all those kinds of things to, over that time frame, gain introductions and met other young and upcoming professionals in sports medicine. So from making some of those networking connections, one of the orthopedic docs that I met along the way met him in 91 and come about 99, 2000,. That his orthopedic group got the contract with the Suns and then when the athletes wanted a chiropractor and because of that relationship he he asked me to join the sports medicine team for the sons.
Speaker 2:You know, there's something else I wanted to mention. I mean for someone that you could be early in practice and you can be in practice for a while if you don't have a like a sports medicine network. In other words, if you don't have a, what I like to see is an orthopedic group, lma, practice group, imaging facility where you have a good relationship with the radiologist and potentially a PT group to provide timely and quality care for your athletes. I mean sometimes it requires you have an athlete come in. They might need some sort of cleanup of a joint or different injections. It's nice to have access to those services so you can make a timely referral and take good care of your athletes.
Speaker 1:I also noticed that you've got a lot of credentials after your name and I'm assuming those are sports certifications.
Speaker 2:The main one I have is a CCSP, which is I got it through your alma mater, through Logan, which is I got it through your alma mater, through Logan, which, honestly, I got that in 95. And I have a couple of thoughts on that. It was great. Education has served me well. There's another certification out there called CSCS Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. I think that we talked a little bit earlier about doctors that that cross borders, so to speak. In other words, this, this, in my opinion anyway, this certification kind of crosses borders. You have physical therapists, athletic trainers, other docs that have this CSCS that is, I think, more recognizable than just a specific chiropractic certification Not to say that that wasn't good and I'm definitely in support of our profession, but just kind of cross the boundaries of that one.
Speaker 1:So, in other words, what you're saying is don't limit yourself to the chiropractic one.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Basically.
Speaker 2:Yeah, basically, and you know another thought that comes up whenever I have a well, it's usually a younger chiro that wants to get into the sports medicine world. You know, sometimes I mentioned that sports network to them. They go wow, how do I develop that? And I give them a couple pointers, a couple clues. I mean one thing you can do is you know practice you're interested in Go and introduce yourself, try to get maybe five minutes with one of the decision makers in the practice and offer some services, offer to do a talk to their patients on a topic of their choice. Maybe they see a lot of younger athletes and they don't do baseline concussion testing. I'll offer to go in and do baseline concussion testing for some of their young athletes.
Speaker 1:So it's almost a volunteering your services, to start with.
Speaker 2:At the beginning. You have to, I don't. Well, in my opinion, I don't see another way of doing it without volunteering initially, but then it ends up with networking Big time. Yeah, big time. If you're not just like developing your practice, you're not going to develop your practice when you first open it, sitting behind your desk, right, you're going to get involved with other professionals.
Speaker 1:Describe an interaction with these other people the PTs, the ATCs and so forth. What kind of reaction? How does it work when you're treating an athlete?
Speaker 2:That's a great question. You know, the biggest things a sports medicine team is like, almost like any athletic team there's got to be harmony and communication and trust and to recognize your strengths and stay in your lane, so to speak. Different sports medicine teams, that you have a particular provider that wants to do everything, that wants to be the hero. They jump in there and they want to take care of everything. It just kind of messes up the whole chemistry of the team and it just doesn't work. And I've seen I've seen chiros get a a great opportunity with some pro teams and they jump, jump in there and get over zealous and they try to do too much and they kind of mess up their relationship.
Speaker 2:As a matter of fact, I was head trainer with the San Francisco Giants a few years ago. He said hey, when you talk to your colleagues, would you tell them that when we bring a Cairo out here, all we want you guys to do is to adjust to manipulate. Whatever term we're going to use is to adjust to manipulate whatever term we're using. You know, as you go higher in that sports medicine world, all of us I don't orthopedic doctor, family practice doctor, whoever, pt, chiro our role becomes much more specific the higher we go up and once again it's kind of that recognizing your role and staying in your lane and everything seems to work a lot better.
Speaker 1:You know, I've often wondered, when you go to a game in the evening, what are some of the steps that you do? I'm sure you don't just walk in and you know, I'm sure you have a protocol.
Speaker 2:Well, these days there's a ton of security for starters. But you know, each sport that I work with is a little different. For example, phoenix Suns, primarily game day stuff. I get there about two hours before the game and it's just athletes that want to be treated before they play. Baseball is a little different. Spring training is three mornings a week. That's just routine treatments for all the players. Then when I do a cover a game that one's kind of similar I go in um for baseball it's a little more about three hours early um see most of the players beforehand. Interesting twist with baseball is, you know, about fourth, fifth inning, some of the pitchers that are relievers they might not want to get it treated till you know further into the game before they before they go in and the um. I cover some stuff on a PGA tour as well and that one's a little bit a little bit more demanding because we are out there all day during the week of that tournament. So that one's, you know, involves travel.
Speaker 2:Um it's a little more.
Speaker 1:For example. I guess I'd like to know some of the memorable experiences that you've had. Who are some of the named people that really got beneficial, In the Suns, for example?
Speaker 2:Oh gosh, sean Marion had a great relationship with Jason Kidd, grant Hill. There have been people along the way that have just been wonderful, wonderful relationships. Some of the things that really meant a lot to me were, whatever the sport was, you're dealing with an athlete and they say, hey, after I get adjusted I move better, I can focus better, I've had a baseball player, I can see the pitch better coming, all kinds of stuff that in my world is really really remarkable stuff. Through PGA there's been some remarkable travel. I've worked in South Korea, japan, morocco, plus multiple places in the United States.
Speaker 2:There have been some uncomfortable memories too. I've had some I'm not going to say a name on this one, but everybody would recognize the name some very high-end athletes. When you first meet them they don't well, they kind of don't trust you so much until you do some work on them. And I had one athlete say he seemed pleasant enough, but when we walk into my treatment area I'd never met the guy before. He's a high-end person, I know, everybody knows his name. He said if you don't get my back to move, you're fired. It was my first interaction with him so of course, needless to say, I got his back to move.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes. How about Charles Barkley?
Speaker 2:You know he was before my time. I've met him here and there. He you know I started with the Sons in 99, 2000. Charles was gone and or went to Houston in 93, 94, somewhere in there, so I missed out on the.
Speaker 1:The reason I ask that question is Charles lived about three houses down Really, me In Phoenix when I first came here, and what a character he is a character, yeah, he was, and he was totally different in a neighborhood than he was out in public. He was just a different type of guy. Out of all the sports, then, what's the favorite to take care of? Oh goodness.
Speaker 2:That's tough to answer.
Speaker 1:I know they're different.
Speaker 2:They are different, they're all fun. Baseball players, I just seem to relate to them a little bit more. But then again out on PGA Tour, the golfers, since you're there all week and with them you'll see them morning, evening lots of times. They'll take you out to dinner. That there all week and with them you'll see them morning, evening lots of times. They'll take you out to dinner, that kind of thing and I get to. There's just been some really great guys out on tour. So you know each one has its own interesting qualities that make them they're all kind of fun. How about injury-wise?
Speaker 1:which is the worst? As far as most, oh probably the most difficult to treat, is football. Worse than basketball, for example.
Speaker 2:I've never had any. I've seen, obviously, high school college football players. I wish I worked with an NFL team. That one I've heard is that's a whole other animal. In other words, chiropractors, nfl. As far as I know, they're out there five, six hours early. It's like a workout. They're just working on all these huge players. It's quite an endeavor. Plus, I think they have typically two weeks, I mean during the season, a couple days a week with teams.
Speaker 1:How about baseball versus basketball?
Speaker 2:You know, that's kind of a toss-up. What's interesting about that one is I call of a toss-up. What's interesting about that one is since, because I call myself a tune-up guy, most of my work is pre-game work. With baseball players, particularly pitchers, there's a lot of specific biomechanical changes you'll see due to the rotational forces on the lower back and the pelvis and how that energy has to translate up through the upper body and into the shoulders so they can deliver that pitch. So you see some specific patterns that show up with baseball players, same with golfers, all the rotational guys. You see these patterns that will develop With basketball since they're all over the place moving, getting hit, getting hit, inflection and extension. Whatever the case might be, I haven't seen super common patterns with the basketball players.
Speaker 1:That's interesting.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was wondering if there were patterns, the only thing there's really interesting patterns in all the biomechanical research done on golf and baseball. If you ever want to go into that one, it's really interesting. The only thing I've ever seen in uh basketball players is repetitive on their on their shooting side. They'll have that ct junction, uh trigger points in the upper trap, just from the and elevator scapula, just from the elevation of that shore from from taking their shot. That's the only pattern I've ever picked up in the basketball players.
Speaker 1:So if you're a young student today, learning to get relationships seems to be one of the biggest things that they need to do, and they could probably start that in college.
Speaker 2:They could and, as I said, developing your sports medicine network. That's a huge one. The other thing that gets overlooked sometimes is sometimes there's some untapped potentials. In other words, in their area they might have a high school, college, country club, tennis center, crossfit gym, just areas where they can. I mean, if we're interested in working with athletes, it's rewarding at whatever level you're working. So there's some untapped potentials they could be looking for in their area?
Speaker 1:What percentage is your practice not sports injuries today?
Speaker 2:You know, over the years it's become that's most of what I do now. I do some other things. I do some insurance tech consulting work which I can do remotely, which takes up actually the bulk of my time these days. But I see more athletes than I do regular patients. My time in the office is kind of limited these days.
Speaker 1:That's what I was asking. You grew and grew and grew. Your time constraints must have also grown.
Speaker 2:Good call, it did change.
Speaker 1:Yes. So in a nutshell, if I'm a student at one of the colleges today and I'm really interested in sports, get certified. Is that what you would say first?
Speaker 2:Very helpful that one opens some doors and, as I said, I don't, I don't. I always want to be supportive of our profession, but there's the, the cscs, the certified strength and conditioning specialists. It kind of crosses crosses borders, so to speak.
Speaker 2:So it's more recognizable, I think, in the sports world so that's a general one to have yeah, a general one, and then just hard work, doing your networking, developing that sports network that I mentioned, looking for untapped potentials or untapped opportunities in your particular location. Once again, for me, an orthopedic doc that I met in 90 or 91, you know, eight, nine years later turned into a major and you know the other, the benefit to your practice. The eight, nine years later turned into a major. And you know the other, the benefit to your practice, the, the, the inter-referrals between the, the offices, that that one can be very helpful.
Speaker 1:Obviously You're talking about the other doctors, yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean a referral source between, let's say, you make you, you have a relationship with a primary care group, an orthopedic group. I mean the referrals that go back and forth. Yes, that brings up an interesting point the mechanical back pain for a lot of orthopedic people. They don't even want to deal with it, so I mean for them to be able to ship that off to someone. That that's our special or one of our specialties. That can become a great relationship.
Speaker 1:Yes. So what I'm hearing you say is it's possible to have a sports injury practice because you have one.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean that's, and I think that's something that students today, you know, are asking Can.
Speaker 2:I major in sports and have a sports injury practice, or am I going to have that as a sideline? Well, yeah, but on average I would say it's going to be more of a sideline because I've it's just the last see I've been. May will be 38 years for me, in practice it's just, or 34 of it anyway. I in the office to pay bills too. I mean the sports things do pay you, but it's not like it if you're in your office every single day seeing multiple patients, that's going to be more lucrative.
Speaker 1:That was what I was asking, because sometimes young students think all I got to do is nail one team and I can live off that. I'm not sure I'm hearing you say that that's possible. That's definitely not the norm.
Speaker 2:You know I heard there was one. God, that's super rare. You know there was a chiropractor for the Utah Jazz but back when Stockton and Carl Malone were there, stockton and Carl Malone liked this chiro so much he did have a full-time job with the jazz, but that's the. That's the only instance I'm aware of where a chiropractor that's all he or she did was take care of a professional sports team well you know this has been very helpful because that was one of the reasons.
Speaker 1:Besides, I told you when I called you the other day I didn't thank people that recognized what you have done as far as the sports injury world, because you were one of the first ones out there that got into quote, unquote the big time, and I wanted kids to know that you know coming up, you can have a future in it and it can be helpful to build your other practice too, and very important to build your other practice, I would say.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But I mean, it can be, it can work side by side, I guess.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's why I would think that's probably the, the Kairos that are involved with some professional teams. I'm these ones that I know personally. I know that's their existence, they, they have their personal practice, and that brings up another good point. They have their personal practice, and that brings up another good point. It depends on how involved you want to get with sports, because it takes time out of the office, takes time away from family. So there's a lot of things to juggle and balance.
Speaker 1:Yes, especially if they're on the road and things like that. Yeah, it's really difficult, yeah, that's a hard one to manage. So well, dr Monty Hessler, the chiropractor for the Phoenix Suns and the San Francisco Giants, we really appreciate your time today because I know you're busy and I just wanted to give a perspective to the young students coming out of school about you know it can be done and here's how you start and this is what you want to get registered in, and so thank you again. You bet, you bet Arlen.
Speaker 2:I appreciate it. Yep, thank you. If there's ever any questions along the way, if you feel a question from someone you want to reach out to me, feel free. Oh, thank you.
Speaker 1:You're welcome, and that's to everybody out there too. You know you've got our address and Thank you. You bet, Thank you.
