Health Library

As more athletes discover the benefits of chiropractic care not only for injuries but also 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 (NFL) teams throughout the United States.

The article reported on the results of a survey of NFL trainers on their use of and referrals to chiropractic care. Survey participants were head athletic trainers from 36 NFL teams. All participants were men, each with at least 17 years of experience, and they had served with their present team in their current position for a minimum of one year.

The survey results revealed that 45% of trainers had personally received chiropractic treatment. Currently, 31% of NFL teams use chiropractors in an official capacity as part of their staff. However, even if chiropractors aren’t officially on staff, 77% of trainers have referred players to a chiropractor for evaluation or treatment. Perhaps the most telling result of the survey is that 100% of trainers agreed that some players use chiropractic care independently, without a referral from team medical staff.

Several additional questions were also posed in the survey, with responses 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 chiropractors in the NFL, 5% strongly agree, 14% have no opinion, and none disagree.
• Is the role of the sports chiropractor different from that of the team physician? – All (100%) of the trainers believe these roles are distinct from each other.

In addition to NFL players, many athletes from other sports also rely 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 in the Toronto Star, writer Doug Smith asks and answers the question of 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 use of chiropractic, Stockton replied, “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.” He added, “It’s been great for me, and for my family.” Alongside chiropractic care, Stockton also attributes his sustained success to a love for the game and enjoyment with his family.