About FICS

Download FICS Statutes QP044_V1.0 20250428

The update to the FICS statutes was approved by the members at the General Assembly on 14 March 2025. 

The purpose behind the proposed changes to the FICS Statutes is to better align them with the FICS Strategic Plan, organisational model, and management and reporting structure. These were designed specifically to enable the organisation to achieve its growth aspirations and to position FICS as the “thought leader in sports chiropractic”.

FICS has become a significant international organisation with a worldwide membership. Its statutes reflect an organisational structure more reminiscent of a contemporary commercial organisation, where strategic and operational responsibilities are separated.

Separating strategy from the day-to-day management and administration of operational and tactical affairs and monitoring the organisation’s health is important to ensure good governance and that the decision-making process reflects organisational needs. The Statutes allow FICS to be led by a strong:

• Strategically focused Executive Council made up of regional members.
• An operationally focused Executive Management Team selected against an organisational skills matrix will ensure real-time delivery of the activities required to achieve the organisation’s strategic objectives.

It establishes a succession planning capability, whereby individuals will be rewarded for their valuable service to the Commission and the Executive Management Team, with the opportunity to sit at the Executive Council level. This will enable FICS to start grooming the organisation’s future leaders.

Download: FICS_Flyer_Vision_Mission

FICS Vision

Every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic

As the leaders in Sports Chiropractic, FICS strive to provide equitable access to sports chiropractic care, education, mentoring and research to all athletes and sports chiropractors regionally, nationally and internationally. Our Mission is to empower athletes so they can achieve their optimal performance naturally.

FICS’ organisational goals describe the future end-state or desired outcome that is supportive of the mission. They are used to shape the way ahead in actionable terms and put a strategic focus into the organisation.

We will achieve this through:

• Facilitating athlete’s access to sports chiropractic care which involves treating and preventing athletic injuries naturally
• Being the international (recognised) voice and leader of the specialty of sports chiropractic
• Providing mentored experiential learning to develop sports chiropractors
• Working with other special interest groups that are progressing in sports chiropractic through their own endeavours
• Working with other healthcare professions to provide the best
  patient-centred care possible

FICS Value Statement

As the leaders in Sports Chiropractic, we strive to provide equitable access to sports chiropractic care, education, mentoring and research to all athletes and sports chiropractors regionally, nationally and internationally.

The FICS value statement is a declaration that informs our stakeholders and members about what our core principles are. It is used to create a positive image of the organisation and to help us achieve positive outcomes for our stakeholders.

FICS Strategic Goals

• Ensure all athletes in all sports have access to, when needed, the specialised skills of sports chiropractors, as part of their sport health care
• Promote excellence in postgraduate education and practice in sports chiropractic around the world
• Promote research in sports science and sports chiropractic
• Be recognised as the global representative of the Chiropractic profession in sport
• Establish National Chiropractic Sports Councils (NCSC) throughout the world
• Forge relationships with International Sports Organisations throughout the world
• Ensure the highest levels of professionalism are displayed by our members

International Federation of Sports Chiropractic / Fédération Internationale de Chiropratique du Sport (FICS) was initiated in 1987 at a meeting of national sports chiropractic leaders held in London, England, forming the FICS founding board.  Since that time, FICS has represented sports chiropractic on an international basis. Since 1998, FICS has been governed by statutes under the Swiss Civil Code. These statutes, which may be found on this website, now provide for an Executive Council elected according to seven world regions – Africa, Asia, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Pacific.

Over the past thirty years, major FICS activities have included building relationships with international sports federations, athletes, other health care professionals, and their representative organisations; developing and presenting postgraduate educational programs for sports chiropractors; and coordinating teams of properly credentialed sports chiropractors to provide services to athletes at major sporting events, up to and including the Olympic Games.

In 1998, the FICS headquarters moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, home of the Olympic Movement. In 2018, the FICS administrative service was put out to a worldwide tender. The administrative function of FICS is now managed virtually, with headquarters at the House of Sport in Lausanne. This is supported by a virtual organisation with an international member base.

Past Presidents:
Photo taken at the 2024 Members Meeting Portugal. Left to Right. Dr Noel Patterson (Australia), Dr David Pierson (USA), Dr Daniele Bertamini (Italy), Dr Roland Noirat (Switzerland), Peter Garbutt (Australia), Dr Mustafa Ağaoğlu (Turkey), Dr Bradley Sandler (South Africa), Dr Martin Isaksson (Sweden, Current President) Email: Pres@fics.sport 

 Absence: Dr Stephen Press (USA), Deceased, and Dr Sheila Wilson (USA)

Download click here:
FICS Strategic Plan 2025-2027

Dear FICS Members and Sponsors,

On behalf of FICS, the Executive and Commissions I present to you a copy of the FICS Strategic Plan for 2025 – 2027. We felt it important to provide you with a copy of our strategic plan as you are part of the team that will see the FICS vision come to light. By sharing our plans with our valued members and sponsors, we hope it provides a clear picture of what the organisation is building on behalf of you.

You will see there is a growth path for the future and our goals to achieve this. We have set specific time frames for the achievement of these goals so we can remain focused and measure our successes. This important document will be underpinned by an operational plan that will contain the tactical activities needed to achieve the overall goals and responsibilities and ensure people remain focused on the tasks at hand.

For members, if you feel like you can contribute to the future of FICS and have particular skill sets that will be beneficial to the organization then please inquire as to how to become a volunteer within the organization.

If you are a sponsor and wish to become more involved then please reach out and lets discuss what those opportunities may look like.

It has been a pleasure to have been able to put this document together and FICS look forward to working with you to make it a reality.

Yours in Sports Chiropractic
Head of Operations.

The Marketing Commission’s role is to ensure FICS has the marketing infrastructure to adapt to change and can embrace new technological opportunities by creating innovative ways to share the FICS story on a global stage. We achieve this by:

Keeping you up to date on all things FICS! “Enabling athletes to perform better naturally”

A key mission statement for FICS is that it is the internationally recognised voice and leader of the specialty of sports chiropractic. The Marketing Commission is responsible for the internal and external communication within FICS, drawing together and sharing all the news and activities of our members worldwide with current and prospective stakeholders. FICS uses a range of marketing mediums, including social media platforms, FICS website, quarterly E-News, representation at meetings and events, and volunteers at games internationally, nationally, and locally.

FICS’ mission is to ensure every athlete has access to sports chiropractic. The Marketing Commission’s role is to keep our community updated on what is happening, upcoming opportunities to volunteer, news about professional development and educational updates, and local news from around the world. This provides our members, stakeholders, partners, and sponsors with a wider reach, staying connected with all the latest news and events.

This commission works closely with the Executive Management Team. 

Social Media & Website: Trish Donoghue and Megan Jerrard, Australia; Julia Adamska, UK

FICS, provides a wider reach globally to ensure every athlete has access to sports chiropractic!

Chair: Dr Shea Stark, USA

Commission Members:
Cameron Gholampour – USA
Amber Gregory – USA
Renita Rasmann – Italy
Ivan Sin – Malaysia
Ruben Desimpele – Belguim
Christina Landreth – USA

The Research Commission is responsible for:

• The promotion and encouragement of research in Sports Chiropractic and the dissemination of research to FICS members.
• Fostering and developing research in the area of Sports Chiropractic.
• The development of recommended reading materials in the area of sports chiropractic.
• Creating a research agenda for dissemination through our educational contacts.
• Managing the creation of Research activities within the FICS membership

The Research Commission will engage in a common set of functions to administer and expand the FICS research capability. These will include:

• Facilitate the development of a research agenda in sports chiropractic
• Revise Guidelines for research at FICS-sponsored or sanctioned events
• Develop a registry of sports chiropractic researchers
• Add to the NCSC reports research outcomes

Chair: Henry Pollard, Australia

Commission Members:
Alex Lee – Canada
Claudio Merkier – UK

Committee Restructuring

In alignment with our 2025 members meeting in Malaysia and updated strategic research objectives, the FICS executive board has approved a restructuring of the Research Committee. As part of this reorganisation, committee members will hold research degrees or are currently in the process of acquiring one.

This change aims to leverage academic networks and research methodologies that will enhance FICS’s position in the research community and strengthen our contributions to the field. The restructured committee will focus on developing evidence-based frameworks and establishing stronger connections with academic institutions, whilst performing analyses of existing game data.

The FICS Student Commission is responsible for:

• The creation of opportunities for students interested in sports chiropractic and the dissemination of information relating to education and opportunities.
• Managing the FICS Student Scholarships and Awards.
• Managing the FICS Mentoring Program.
• Managing FICS Student Clubs (FSCs).

Chair: Kelsi Holz – South Africa

FICS Scholarships and Awards Chair: Gillian Johnston – Netherlands

Commission Members:

• Ray Gaskey – USA – FSC North American Liaison/ Coordinator
• Samuel Tiley – Wales – FICS Mentoring Program Coordinator, FSC European Liaison/ Coordinator
• Henry Jackson – Australian/ NZ Liaison/ Coordinator
• Zoe Campbell – USA
• Oleg Gonorovski – UK
• Muhammed Tagari – South Africa
• Lori Louise Niemand – Scholarship Student 2024
• Thujivan (TJ) Kathiravelu – Scholarship Student 2024

8th November 2024:

FICS Appoints Catherine Quinn as ParaSport Development Officer, Driving a Strategic Approach to Inclusive Sport Chiropractic

The International Federation of Sports Chiropractic (FICS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Catherine Quinn to the newly established role of ParaSport Development Officer. In this role, Dr Quinn will lead FICS’s efforts to bring chiropractic to athletes within the wide-ranging community of ParaSport at every level, from grassroots initiatives to the Paralympics and other high-profile disability sports events, such as the IWAS World Games.

A Structured Approach to ParaSport Integration

The appointment of Dr Quinn comes as FICS launches a structured, multi-phase approach to integrate ParaSport into the organisation’s strategic goals. The new initiative, led by Dr Quinn, will involve conducting a comprehensive scoping review of FICS members, developing specialised educational modules in collaboration with the FICS Education Commission, and embedding ParaSport competencies into the International Certificate in Sports Chiropractic (ICSC) program. This process will help ensure that chiropractors are well-equipped to support ParaSport athletes at events and in their ongoing training.

Quote from Dr Catherine Quinn: Dr Catherine Quinn shared her enthusiasm for the role:

“It is an honour to lead FICS’s efforts to bring sports chiropractic to an underserved and truly inspiring group of athletes within the disability and ParaSport communities. This is a remarkable opportunity to contribute to a community where access to high-quality MSK healthcare can make a profound difference. By working closely with federations and building a sustainable model of support, we can ensure that all athletes have access to sports chiropractic as is FICS vision, whether at local events, international championships, or the Paralympic Games. My goal is to understand and address the unique challenges these athletes face in collaboration with key stakeholders so we can help provide long-term, meaningful support.”