Athletes are a favorite of ours, here at Back & Body Medical. As a chiropractor, I treat all kinds of athletes, from weekend warriors to the professionals.
If there’s one thing that can be said for the NFL, it’s that provides one of the most physical sports theaters in the world. NFL players quite literally throw themselves into their chosen sport, acting as modern-day gladiators on the field.
That calls for a serious therapeutic response and that’s why chiropractic care – a true ‘touchdown’ for the NFL, is becoming so important to so many teams.
All 32 teams of the NFL offer their players access to chiropractic care, according to the Professional Football Chiropractic Society (PFCS). Chiropractors work with elite athletes, helping to treat injuries, but we also help to keep players’ skeletal and muscular systems working at full capacity, so they can do what they need to on the field.
Staying in the game.
Just last year, Steve Weatherford, a former punter for the New York Giants, revealed that his longevity in the league was largely due to the support of chiropractors.
In 10 years of play, Weatherford was never benched because of an injury, according to a 2016 media release by the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors.
Weatherford also related that he was a skinny teen who’d attempted to bulk up at the gym. His enthusiasm caused him to develop back pain. Lucky for Weatherford, chiropractic care was there for him and this 108-pound weakling grew to be a 225-pound high school graduate and hot prospect for the NFL.
Because of that experience, Weatherford has relied on chiropractors ever since, pursuing weekly visits to keep himself in fighting form. His experience has led him to assert that all NFL teams should keep a chiropractor on call, 24/7.
High performance players.
NFL players endure contact in virtually every play of every game. Sometimes that contact can represent hundreds of pounds per second, at impact.
Because of their intimate understanding of body mechanics, chiropractors can advise players as to positioning during games, helping them avoid serious injuries of the neck from compression injuries. This aspect of chiropractic care is a boon for NFL players, but younger players should have access to the same kind of informational support.
High Schools should be ready to source the services of chiropractors. Specialists like me can advise players and management about correct body positioning that helps them avoid injury and maintain their bodies in full working condition.
Chiropractors with a grasp of soft tissue manipulation, stretching and kinesiology bring to the treatment of football players another dimension. They bring expert knowledge which can help reduce the instance of serious injury and serve the goal of optimal performance.
Back & Body Medical.
As a chiropractor, I’m proud to work in the multi-disciplinarian context provided by Back & Body. Here, we practice diversified care that offers therapies from the disciplines of chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy and sports medicine.
Contact us to find out more about our award-winning, integrated model.
