Return to Featured Posts and Health Information

Chiropractic Supports Olympic Athletes

What does it take to be an Olympic athlete? Training. Talent. And support from excellent medical staff – among them, Chiropractors.

Throughout the years, chiropractic has become a mainstay in the care of world-class athletes, leading to a growing number of D.C.s included in the Olympic Games. Countless athletes attribute the care they receive from their chiropractors – working along-side other health care professionals – as a key to properly preparing their bodies to perform optimally.

Chiropractic care has experienced several major moments in Olympic history, dating back to Leroy Perry, D.C., who provided chiropractic care to athletes representing Antigua during the 1976 Games in Montreal, Canada. During the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, NY, George Goodheart, D.C., became the first official chiropractor appointed to the U.S. team. With each subsequent Olympic Games and Pan American Games, the U.S. teams – along with a growing number of other national teams – have included at least one doctor of chiropractic on their medical staff, culminating with the 2010 Winter Games incorporation of chiropractic care inside the Polyclinic.

In fact, it was a Chiropractor who was the coordinator for the multidisciplinary PolyClinics at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.  This was the chance for chiropractors to shine, and shine they did!  For the first time ever, ALL health care disciplines worked under the same roof and had wonderful cooperation with their colleagues.  So, chiropractors worked with the physiotherapists who worked with the massage therapists who worked with the orthopedic surgeons and family doctors and acupuncturists!  Everyone worked together for the athlete and egos were set aside to be able to offer the athletes the best treatment possible.

This was repeated at the 2014 Pan American Games here in Toronto.  Both Dr. Trim and Dr. Tara were medical volunteers at the Games and saw this cooperation firsthand !  It was a great experience.

Congratulations and good luck to all the Olympic athletes! The Chiropractic profession has your back!