Olympic Games, NFL, Weekend Warriors and Chiropractors

Did you know that there is such a thing as a Certified Sports Chiropractor?  This is a doctor who has spent a lot of extra time in classes learning about sports injuries and the chiropractic, as well as medical and physical therapy, treatments for those injuries.  But the connection between sports and chiropractic is much broader than just injuries.

In 1987 my nephew, who is now 6’ 8” tall, was playing basketball for Mesa Junior High.  One afternoon he called and asked if I could adjust him because his back was hurting.  I helped him get out of the pain that day, and he started getting adjustments about every two weeks.  Around the fourth or fifth treatment he asked me, “Can adjustments help you play better?”  I said, “Why do you think that all professional sports teams now have at least one chiropractor?  Why do you ask?”  He explained that for several days following a chiropractic treatment he would score more points, and could think of no other explanation.

During the pre-game show for Superbowl XXIV in 1990, Joe Montana did an interview while lying on a portable chiropractic table in his hotel room. He was being adjusted by Dr. Nick Athens, a chiropractor from San Carlos, CA.  Irv Cross spent several minutes of the interview questioning Dr. Athens about chiropractic and its benefits – apparently, a number of the 49ers received regular chiropractic care from him.  They ended up winning the bowl game, and Montana gave a portion of the credit to Dr. Athens and his treatments.

Just recently, the Olympics started, and Doctor Aaron Rose, a chiropractor from Columbia, MO is going to London to serve as one of the chiropractors for the US Olympic team. There have been chiropractors serving at the Olympics since their unofficial presence in 1976.  They were officially recognized in 1991 by the USSR Olympic team, and today there exists the International Academy of Olympic Chiropractic Officers coordinating the efforts of the more than 60 chiropractors who serve at each of the Olympic games.

Sports is one of our activities which can definitely lead to injuries, even when everything is done to prevent them.  More importantly, sporting events demand our very best efforts, and a spine which is kept in line by regular chiropractic adjustments not only will hurt less, but will allow the nervous system, and thus the body, to function better, delivering a better performance with less injuries.

Go Team USA!

Getting rid of your pain,

Dr. Steven Ray, Chiropractor

Val Vista Chiropractic