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Athletes and Chiropractic:  Not Just for Back Pain

Professional athletes as well as high school and college athletes many times have a team of doctors in place to oversee their well-being. Chiropractors are often part of the team to provide a non-surgical, drug-free, approach to sports medicine.
 
Across Massachusetts athletes and sports teams are turning to chiropractic care, and local chiropractors are even a part of a global effort on healthcare collaboration with the management of sports-related care.  A local sports chiropractor, Dr. Scott Gillman from Natick, has participated in a collaboration team this month at the Pan American Games in Mexico.  The Pan American Games are an Olympic event, the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics.  There will be approximately 46 International Chiropractors on this team offering sports chiropractic care in collaboration with the medical services, both in the host country’s medical clinic and at each of the sports venues.  This team also provides a wide range of health services to the competing athletes. 
 
“I am looking forward to being a part of an elite team to care for athletes from around the word and address their needs immediately. We help thousands of athletes over a three week period.   We can help them feel and function better so they can perform with less pain. We can help them perform at their best as a result,” said Dr. Gillman. “ I have cared for many local amateur athletes and some professional athletes.  They appreciate the unique services that a sports chiropractor provides and find great benefit when the result is less pain and greater ability get back in their game."
 
Dr. Steven Saro of Saro Chiropractic Health Center in Dracut is the team chiropractor for UMass Lowell and has cared for athletes with the Lowell Lock Monsters and the Lowell Devils. He has witnessed first hand how athletes respond to his care. "People are surprised how effective chiropractic care is for athletic performance." says Dr. Saro. "Preventative measures are most important to athletes, and that is why so many turn to chiropractic care for well being."
 
Dr. Michael D. Weinman, DC, CCSP, of Newton is a member of the medical team that provides chiropractic care to the Boston Red Sox.  "A baseball player's body is put to the test both on and off the field. Given these intense physical demands, accompanied by the pressure to win, players value an integrated medical approach that includes chiropractic adjustment,“ says Dr. Weinman. Dr. Weinman has also been the chiropractor for the New England Revolution Soccer team for over twelve seasons.
 
If you have a chiropractic story about caring for athletes that you would like to share, please send it to the MCS at mcs@masschiro.org.