Sports

In the February 14, 1999 issue of Parade magazine appeared a small feature article about chiropractic. The article written by Michael O’Shea, founder and chairman of Sports Training Institute, appeared under the Better Fitness column in the magazine. In this article Mr. O’Shea starts off by saying, “A chiropractor focuses on the spinal column and its relation to the nervous, muscular, and circulatory systems and their combined effect on overall health. This article clearly defines that differences exist between Doctors of Chiropractic and Medical Doctors, stating that “Chiropractors rely neither on drugs nor surgery.”

The author goes on to note that presently more than 55,000 chiropractors practice in the United States in addition to the growing number of chiropractors practicing internationally. He points out that Doctors of Chiropractic complete a minimum of six years of college training in such subjects as anatomy and physiology as well as be licensed in all states they wish to practice. O’Shea then goes on to give a personal testimonial of how his neck problems were helped by chiropractic.

The article was a nice reminder that the popular press is beginning to realize what chiropractic patients have known for over 100 years, CHIROPRCTIC WORKS!

As more athletes discover the benefits of chiropractic care not only for injuries but additionally for increased performance, more athletes and teams are using chiropractic to gain an important edge. A recent study published in the March/April 2002 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, (JMPT) examined the usage of chiropractic care by National Football League teams throughout the US.

The Journal article reported on the results of a survey of NFL trainers on their usage and referral to chiropractic care. Participants of the survey were head athletic trainers of the 36 National Football League teams. They were all men, and all had at least 17 years of experience and had served with their present team in their current position for a minimum of 1 year .

The results of the survey showed that 45% percent of the trainers themselves have been treated by a chiropractor. Presently 31% of NFL teams use chiropractors in an official capacity as part of their staffs. However, even though not necessarily on the staff of the NFL team a full 77% of the trainers have referred to a chiropractor for evaluation or treatment. Probably the most telling result of the survey is that 100% of trainers agree that some players use chiropractic care without referral from team medical staff.

Several other questions were also asked in the survey and the answers were as follows:

Should trainers refer players with suspected spinal subluxations to chiropractors? – Five percent of trainers strongly agree, 48% agree, 24% disagree, and 19% have no opinion.

Is there a role for the doctor of chiropractic in the NFL? – Eighty-one percent agree that there is a role for the chiropractor in the NFL, 5% strongly agree, 14% have no opinion, and none disagree.

Is the role of the sport chiropractor different from that of the team physician? – All (100%) of the trainers see these roles as different from each other.

In addition to NFL players, many athletes from many sports depend on chiropractic care. One such athlete is John Stockton, a professional basketball player and future hall of famer with the Utah Jazz. In an April 2, 2002 article that appeared in the Toronto Star, writer Doug Smith asks and answers the question concerning John Stockton’s longevity, “What is the secret to John Stockton’s continued success on the NBA basketball court at age 40? A Good Chiropractor.” When asked to explain his usage of chiropractic John’s response was, “I’m not a good enough expert on what that (chiropractic) entails, but it’s not just adjustments, it’s balancing muscles and overall health.” John then added, “it’s been great for me, and for my family.” The article reports that along with chiropractic, Stockton says that a love for the game and fun with his family are two other secrets to his continued success.

Thomas Bjorn is a professional golfer from Denmark who made a bit of sports history at the 87th PGA Championship when he shot a round of 63 and tied the record for the lowest score in a major PGA tournament. However, this accomplishment of sports history and Bjorn’s second place finish in the 2005 PGA Tournament might not have been possible without the chiropractic care Bjorn received during the practice rounds prior to the start of the tournament.

The August 15, 2005 Daily Record of New Jersey tells the story of how a local Morris County chiropractor can take at least partial credit for Thomas Bjorn’s record-setting round Saturday at the PGA Championship. Dr. Patrick Ryan was seeing patients when he received a call from a colleague in London who was the chiropractor for Bjorn. Shortly after this Bjorn, drove straight to Ryan’s practice in Randolph NJ, complaining of a restriction in his neck that kept him from turning his head properly in his swing. According to the Daily Record, Bjorn had been forced to stop practicing after six holes prior to the tournament because of pain in his neck that affected his swing.

Dr. Ryan performed scans on Bjorn and reviewed information from his London chiropractor and came to the conclusion that Bjorn was suffering from a subluxation of the first thoracic vertebra, the point where the head and shoulders meet. This created severe muscle spasm at the base of Bjorn’s neck and prevented proper rotation.

Bjorn then received an adjustment, and asked to return the next day. On the following visit a new scan showed Bjorn’s imbalance had improved from severe to mild. Bjorn reported that he felt terrific. On Saturday, Bjorn shot a 7-under-par 63. That score tied the record for the best round of golf ever in a major tournament. In interviews after the tournament, the Danish pro credited a new pain-free swing.

On March 5 2011, in Columbus Ohio, the sports and fitness world shared a common interest in performance with the chiropractic world. It was on this day that the Arnold Classic Sports Festival was held along side the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) Sports and Fitness Symposium. The Arnold Classic brought thousands of athletes including the elite in fitness and bodybuilding. The ICA brought some of the best chiropractic experts on care for athletes and performance enhancement.

Celebrities were aplenty at these events but several stars made special appearances at the chiropractic event to specifically address the chiropractors. One such celebrity was Lou Ferrigno, an actor and former champion bodybuilder, who won the International Federation of Body Builders Mr. America title and two consecutive Mr. Universe titles. He spoke to the group of doctors and stated, “I have to say thanks to you because you people will help a lot of people, keep them from having surgery unless they have to have surgery”. Ferrigno noted that he recently had to have his knee and hip joints replaced due to years of heavy training. He credited chiropractic for helping him recover and noted, “I need to have chiropractic once a month, or twice a month. Sometimes I go every week because I think it is very vital.”

The most anticipated portion of the chiropractic event was when Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a talk to the attendees. He started his address by praising the relationship that his fitness expo has had with the chiropractors over the past 19 years. He noted that in past years the bodybuilding world and the chiropractic world both had a problem with their image in some peoples’ minds. He explained by saying, “Some people have a terrible image of chiropractic. This is why you are at this convention here. This is why I myself have always been out there campaigning and talking well about chiropractic.” Arnold continued, “We’ve got to let the people know that there is a necessity, it’s not even an option, it’s a necessity to have a chiropractor. As much as it is a necessity to have a dentist, if you have a dentist for the family, you should have your chiropractor for the family.”

Former California Gov. Schwarzenegger then talked about how chiropractic has personally helped him and his family by saying, “I have seen it over the years, over the 40 years since Franco Columbu, my dear friend, became a chiropractor, and how this has helped our family, how many times he has saved the day in our family. So we know the value. We talk about it all the time. Every seminar that I do about exercising and training, weight resistance training, good nutrition, I talk about the importance of chiropractic.”

A YouTube video of Gov. Schwarzenegger making the above remarks can be seen at the following address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgKlXPS9Jr4

For the sixteenth consecutive year, global superstar and now California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was the highlight of the Symposium on Natural Fitness organized by the International Chiropractors Association (ICA), held February 29-March 1, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.

Each year, the chiropractic event is held in conjunction with the Arnold Schwarzenegger Fitness Weekend and Sports Festival. This event, known by many as simply, “The Arnold”, is the biggest fitness festival in the world with over 15,000 athletes competing in over 30 different sports competitions, many of which are conducted at the Olympic level.

Governor Schwarzenegger is a vigorous advocate of chiropractic care for people of all ages and even holds an honorary chiropractic degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College. The Governor personally spoke to the Chiropractors and other attendees at the symposium about his own experience with chiropractic. He credits the care he has received throughout the years for his success in bodybuilding and for his ability to maintain such a rigorous public service, travel and appearance schedule.

Governor Schwarzenegger told the chiropractic audience, “As Governor, you have a chance every day to help people. This is what we have in commonWe are friends of chiropractors because chiropractors are dealing with health, fitness, strength and energyThat’s what chiropractors are all about, helping people, to make them strong and fit and get their lives back together. Here we are now in our 16th year of partnership and I just wanted to tell you how proud we are of all of you, and how happy we are that we have joined together in this great program.”

Governor Schwarzenegger also spoke about his own personal experience with chiropractic, telling the audience: “I have been the beneficiary of chiropractic for many years, and many of you know Dr. Franco Columbu, a great body builder and good friend. I watched him go through chiropractic college, studying hard to be a great chiropractor, and I know from personal experience what great care you take of people. Also, my whole family has had the benefit of chiropractors and we are all grateful for what you are able to do.

Held annually in Columbus, Ohio in conjunction with the Arnold Fitness Festival, the ICA Natural Fitness Symposium focuses on the close relationship between chiropractic, fitness and health. In a March 10, 2008 release on the symposium by the ICA they note, “Chiropractic offers athletes in all sports and of all levels of ability a natural, drug-free way to enhance peak performance, prevent injury and sustain a demanding training schedule.”

For the 15th consecutive year, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California was once again the star at the International Chiropractors Association’s (ICA) 15th Annual Symposium on Natural Fitness held March 2-3, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. Crediting chiropractic for keeping him going as a bodybuilder when injuries would have sidelined any other competitor, and then through his movie and political careers, Arnold again spoke of doctors of chiropractic as “the greatest profession, helping people in important and special ways.”

Also at the event, and showing his support for chiropractic, was Cincinnati Reds baseball star Barry Larkin. A 19 year baseball veteran, Larkin has been acknowledged as one of the greatest shortstops of all times. Mr. Larkin told the crowd about his powerful, career sustaining experience with chiropractic and spoke about the need to extend access to chiropractic care to all athletes, in all sports.

ICA honored Governor Schwarzenegger with a special “Crystal Award” (shown above) celebrating the 15 years of exciting partnership between Arnold and the chiropractic profession. Also honored by ICA at this event, was legendary bodybuilder and mentor to Arnold, Mr. Reg Parks. The photo above taken at the ICA Sports and fitness symposium shows, (left to right) Barry Larkin, Dr. Gerry Mattia president of the ICA Sport Council, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, ICA President Dr. John Maltby, and Reg Park.

Some will probably say that it was just a coincidence, but the USA’s best ever showing in a Winter Olympics was the first year that the team officially had a chiropractor as part of their sports medicine team. An Ohio chiropractor, Dr. Robin Hunter was appointed as the official and sole Doctor of Chiropractic on the United States sports medicine team for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. She is the first Chiropractor ever appointed to a U.S. Winter Olympic team. In additon to Dr. Hunter the team consisted of 14 MDs, 12 trainers, and a massage therapist.

Dr. Hunter a practicing chiropractor for 17 years from Columbus, Ohio, said, “We worked elbow-to-elbow in a clinic in the Olympic village, with people in and out all day, and it was fantastic!” She added, “The fundamental principles of our profession apply so well to athletics. Correcting biomechanical faults and misalignments, and treating injuries with hands-on work, so that the athletes can return to play faster and better, is what sports chiropractic care is all about.” She concluded by saying, “It’s truly overwhelming to represent our country and profession. I have a deep sense of pride when touring Salt Lake City and the Olympic Village with the Team USA uniform on.”