Dr. Cody Rodewald, Lead Chiropractic Physician at ALIGN Integrated Health in Lakeville, Minnesota, has earned advanced concussion certification through the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (ACBSP™), placing him among only four chiropractors in the state with this specialized credential. This achievement represents a significant advancement in local access to specialized brain injury care and reflects the growing recognition of chiropractors as qualified providers in concussion management.
The ACBSP™ concussion certification is a competency-based program grounded in current scientific literature and clinical best practices. It requires providers to demonstrate mastery of concussion-specific knowledge, skills, and clinical decision-making beyond holding a terminal healthcare degree. This certification reflects the ACBSP™'s position that effective concussion management depends on specialized training in evidence-based assessment, management, and recovery protocols.
Concussion care is a rapidly evolving and highly complex area of healthcare that affects diverse populations. Dr. Rodewald emphasized that "concussions affect far more than just athletes" and impact students, parents, professionals, and everyday people. His certification enables him to evaluate, diagnose, and manage concussions across all patient populations using evidence-based, natural approaches that support the brain and nervous system.
The certification carries significant implications for healthcare access and recognition. In several states, including Alaska, Arizona, and Ohio, legislation already recognizes ACBSP™-certified chiropractors as qualified providers for concussion diagnosis, management, and return-to-play decisions. This growing legislative recognition suggests a shift toward multidisciplinary approaches to concussion care and validates the role of properly credentialed chiropractors in this specialized field.
Through ALIGN Integrated Health, Dr. Rodewald provides individualized care plans rooted in current sports medicine and neurological research. His practice focuses on helping patients recover from concussions safely and effectively using non-pharmaceutical, patient-centered approaches. The clinic's website at https://alignlakeville.com provides information about their services and approach to integrated healthcare.
This certification matters because it addresses a critical gap in concussion care availability. With only four ACBSP™-certified chiropractors in Minnesota, Dr. Rodewald's achievement expands access to specialized concussion management in the Lakeville and greater Twin Cities communities. It represents progress toward more comprehensive concussion care networks that include properly credentialed chiropractors alongside other healthcare providers.
The broader implication for the healthcare industry is the validation of specialized certification programs that ensure providers stay current with evolving concussion science. As concussion research continues to advance, certifications like the ACBSP™ program help ensure patients receive care based on the latest evidence rather than outdated approaches. This benefits patients seeking alternatives to pharmaceutical interventions and supports the growing movement toward integrative healthcare models.
For the general public, this development means increased options for concussion management from providers specifically trained in current protocols. It also contributes to greater awareness about concussion risks beyond sports and the availability of evidence-based recovery approaches. As more healthcare providers pursue specialized concussion credentials, patients benefit from expanded access to qualified professionals who can guide them through proper recovery processes.
