Football and Chiropractic: The Bucs Stop Here
Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.
By Paul Rothbart
When fall begins in Tampa, the locals don’t experience the cooler temperatures and colorful foliage people up north do. They do, however, get to experience one of the nation’s most anticipated fall events in the temperate comfort of the Sunshine State; the start of the NFL season.
When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick off the season, the Tampa faithful devote themselves to living the highs and lows with their team. Young boys and girls learn the names of Baker Mayfield and Calijah Kancey. And there’s always the hope that this year will turn out like 2020 -- or 2002 when the Bucs rolled the 49ers, Eagles, and Raiders by a combined 69 points en route to their first Super Bowl victory. The Bucs were once good before Tom Brady arrived.
But the Super Bowl depends on a lot of things, including injuries. Nick Chubb of the Browns and Aaron Rodgers of the Jets didn’t make it through the first two games of the season, vastly impacting the Super Bowl hopes of those organizations. The 49ers wince every time Christian McCaffrey lands funny. Dolphins fans have their fingers crossed in perpetuity hoping that Tua Tagovailoa doesn’t bump his head.
Health is important. It’s important in the NFL, and it’s important in the daily lives of the fans who live and die with every score.
Hospitals may be the only employers with a medical staff bigger than an NFL team. If you’re not in tip-top shape, no way can you survive the rough-and-tumble game of football.
Behind every successful team, there’s a team in the background that often goes unnoticed. But not today.
What’s an NFL Medical Staff Look Like?
NFL teams have extensive medical staffs, and that includes the Buccaneers. A team of four MDs and a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) constitute the Tampa Bay team physicians. In addition, the Bucs employ a head athletic trainer and three assistants. They also have two orthopedic surgeons available.
Sports chiropractors play a vital role in treating NFL players. The Buccaneers have entered a partnership with The Joint Chiropractic and named it an official team chiropractor. Chiropractic care has been shown to help treat and prevent injuries in athletes from the top pros down to amateur and prep school players.
What Injuries Are Football Players Prone to Having?
Every sport carries the risk of injury and there are several that are common to football players. The constant running and frequent jumping in close proximity to other players make ankle sprains one of the most common football injuries.
As even the most casual fan knows, knee injuries run rampant, with anterior cruciate ligament tears being the most common. Other lower body injuries such as groin, hamstring, and quad strains occur frequently. Dislocated shoulders, hip pointers, and injuries to the wrists and hands also make the list.
of the most common and most damaging injuries happens when a player suffers a concussion. Although illegal, helmet-to-helmet hits still occur and, in a sport with as much violent physical contact as football has, the head is going to get slammed around.
The NFL is constantly adapting equipment, rules, and protocols to minimize concussions and the damage they can cause.
Is Chiropractic Important to Football Players?
Football players can and do benefit from chiropractic care. Injuries to the spine and joints are frequently tied to subluxations and damage in those areas. A chiropractic treatment plan can correct those problems, relieving pain and increasing recovery times to get players back on the field.
Regular chiropractic treatments can help prevent injuries by ensuring that the spine and joints are properly aligned and the body is functioning as a whole the way it was intended to. One benefit of chiropractic is achieving full range of motion, so when Mike Evans or Chris Godwin lays out for a fingertip reception for a Bucs first down, chiropractic has played a role.
Chiropractic care may boost performance. Correctly aligned joints and spine are more flexible and function through their full range of motion. A properly aligned spine takes pressure off the spinal cord and can speed reflexes to give a player the extra edge needed to compete at the highest level.
The same benefits that chiropractic provides the professionals also applies to college, high school, and Pop Warner players -- as well as their parents.
Do All NFL Teams Have Chiropractors on Staff?
All 32 NFL teams have chiropractors on their medical staffs. Chiropractic care is recognized as a viable form of medical treatment for many kinds of injuries. Teams that compete in the world’s most elite leagues, whether it’s the NFL or something less physical like Major League Baseball, need every available edge to keep players healthy and performing at their best. Chiropractic care is an important tool for providing that edge.
Is Chiropractic Important for All Athletes?
Football is not the only sport that benefits from chiropractic. Every game that human beings play involves some level of physicality and a risk of injury. Chiropractic treatments can help treat and heal many kinds of injuries common in any sport. The same performance boosts enjoyed by football players can be applied to other sports, whether it’s above the net in volleyball or below the waterline in water polo. No matter the level, chiropractic is important to all athletes.
Which Athletes Have Endorsed Chiropractic?
The list of athletes who have endorsed chiropractic is long and prestigious. There’s no better place to start than with the GOAT, Tom Brady, who brought his championship pedigree to Tampa and guided the Bucs to a Super Bowl victory after a legendary career with the Patriots.
Two other NFL legends, Jerry Rice and his 49ers teammate, Joe Montana -- both of whom can make valid claims to be the GOAT at their positions -- also swore by chiropractic while winning multiple Super Bowls. Another guy who knows a thing or two about winning the Super Bowl, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, Emmit Smith, attributes much of his success to regular chiropractic treatments.
Champions who endorse chiropractic are not limited to the NFL. The NBA’s GOAT, Michael Jordan is well known for his reliance on chiropractic to keep him on top of his incredible game. Many professional golfers, including the legendary Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have endorsed it as has champion bodybuilder, actor, and former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Terminator found it so helpful that he told his chiropractor, “I’ll be back.”
What Is the Benefit of Chiropractic for Weekend Warriors?
Amateur athletes, known fondly as weekend warriors can also benefit from chiropractic. Leagues exist for many popular sports such as softball, touch football, basketball, soccer, and hockey. Tennis and golf are two other sports enjoyed by millions.
Although amateurs generally don’t play at the level as professionals, they can still be intense and are prone to similar injuries. Pain relief and fast recovery get them back in the game and, more importantly, prevent lost time at work.
Although their livelihood doesn’t rely on the outcome on the scoreboard, weekend warriors take pride in winning and playing well. Chiropractic can boost their performances just like it can for the pros.
Athletes who represent their schools are amateurs but nevertheless play hard and strive to win. Prep athletes can certainly benefit from chiropractic care. High school football is a hugely popular sport that entire communities take pride in. These players tend to push themselves to the max and need all the help they can get.
The NFL season is underway and we are starting to see who the contenders and pretenders are. Injuries play a major role in the fortunes of every team. Whether you root for the Chiefs or Chargers, Vikings or Packers or Bears, Seahawks or 49ers or Raiders, you can bet the chiropractors on their medical staffs are working hard to keep the team as healthy as possible during the brutal season.
The Buccaneers are smart enough to align with The Joint Chiropractic, but there are locations throughout the U.S., not just Tampa. No appointment is needed, and you could probably get an adjustment in the time it takes for halftime. See what chiropractic can do for you while rooting on the team that wears your colors.
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