Football is one of the most physically demanding sports on the planet. Every year, NFL teams spend millions of dollars to ensure their players are ready to play every week.
Some people are surprised to learn that all 32 National Football League teams make chiropractors available to players. Over 50% of NFL teams also keep professional chiropractors on-staff.
Thanks to team chiropractors, players can request chiropractic adjustments as needed to make sure they’re able to continue performing at a high level. They do not have to rely on invasive surgeries, prescription pain medication, and other potentially harmful treatments.
Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and other A-list athletes have also publicly expressed their support for chiropractic care.
How do chiropractors improve athletic performance? Why do so many athletes depend on chiropractic care to perform at the highest levels in their fields? Let’s take a closer look.
Tom Brady and the New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are one of the top dynasties in sports history. That dynasty has been fueled by more than just Tom Brady and Bill Belichick: team chiropractor Dr. Michael Miller has also played a crucial role since joining the team in 1982.
Dr. Michael Miller has been the chiropractic team physician for the New England Patriots for the past 35 years. He reportedly works with anywhere from 30 to 40 Patriots players before each game. During the game, he also works with players to specifically treat certain mid-game injuries.
According to a report, most of Dr. Miller’s work takes place before the game, when he makes adjustments to the players’ knees, shoulders, ankles, and backs. These adjustments help them avoid injury even while being tackled by some of the biggest and most powerful athletes in the world.
With eleven Super Bowl appearances and six Super Bowl championships on his record, it’s clear chiropractic care by Dr. Miller has played a critical role in the success of the New England Patriots over the past four decades.
Joe Sakic
Former Colorado Avalanche superstar and current Avs General Manager Joe Sakic brought the Stanley Cup to Denver twice during his illustrious career, receiving awards like the Conn Smythe Trophy and All Star Game MVP on his way to being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Sakic also swears by chiropractic therapy. According to a report from the Palmer College of Chiropractic, Sakic used chiropractic adjustments throughout his professional career to increase his mobility:
“I see the chiropractor on a regular basis. I find that after my treatments I have better flexibility and improved range of motion. I recover quicker from injuries. I have more “jump” in my game and it improves my performance.”
Michael Phelps and Other Olympic Athletes Rely on Chiropractors
Michael Phelps sent the internet buzzing when he was spotted at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro with distinctive ‘cupping’ marks on his body.
Phelps and other American Olympians swear by the procedure when it’s performed by a skilled chiropractor, according to a report by the New York Times:
“Kevin Rindal, the chiropractor for the United States swim teams, is one of only four chiropractors Phelps trusts to work on him.”
American gymnast Alexander Naddour was also spotted with purple cupping marks during the Olympics:
“That’s been the secret that I have had through this year that keeps me healthy,” said Naddour in a statement to USA Today. “It’s been better than any money I’ve spent on anything else.”
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is another A-list athlete who has been outspoken in support of chiropractic care. Kobe reportedly relied on chiropractors to keep playing at a high level until the day he retired.
According to a report by ESPN, Kobe relied on two chiropractors – one near his home in Orange County and another in Los Angeles – to keep him elite well into his mid-30s.
When he was younger, Kobe claims he spent “zero” time stretching, dipping into ice baths, or getting massages. When he was 37-years old during his last season, however, with an injury history in nearly every major joint and 56,000-plus total NBA minutes on his resume, Kobe had to increasingly rely on outside therapy – including his two chiropractors.
Improve Athletic Performance in Denver Today
Renew Chiropractic in Lakewood, Colorado has a proven history of helping athletes maintain elite levels of athletic performance using skilled chiropractic adjustments.
Schedule an appointment with Renew Chiropractic today to see how chiropractic care can help enhance and maintain your athletic performance at any age.
