Chiropractors are no stranger when it comes to working with athletes. Whether you are a cross fit enthusiast, kickboxing guru, weekend parent athlete or two-time Olympic gold medalist, chiropractic care has improved athletic performance, both mentally and physically.
Chiropractic care has come a long way since the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, becoming a key ingredient in the recipe of success for Olympic athletes. The 2017 Olympic Training Camp held at the USA Training Facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado, served as a showcase for the competitive advantage chiropractic care can provide for world-class athletes. It helps them push the limits of their athletic abilities and improve overall success in their gaming performance.
Dr. Anthony J. Deluca, DC, CCSP, director of Deluca Family Chiropractic in Old Bridge, recently accepted the invitation as one of the lead chiropractors at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Facility. Deluca was selectively chosen for this two-week rotation based on his chiropractic expertise and years of field experience both nationally and internationally. For example, he was the team doctor at the World Dancing Championship in Nice, France, as well as part of the medical staff at CSIT World Games in Italy, and at the Pan American Games in Mexico.
During his time in Colorado, Deluca had the opportunity to switch roles and stand on the sidelines. Treating athletes onsite and at the center’s clinic was something Deluca welcomed, being it was different from his day-to-day practice. Usually when a patient or athlete goes to a chiropractic office, they are pre-screened. In other words, when experiencing an emergency, patients go to the emergency room or to their doctor’s office before seeking out chiropractic care. Being on the field allowed Deluca to be the “go-to” with a multitude of traumatic and repetitive strain injuries. Being on the sidelines required Deluca to think quickly on his feet, which provided him with an innovative hands=on understanding of the diverse on-field injuries.
“I learned a lot about gymnastics and the biometrics of the sport. Watching from the sidelines provided me with a visual understanding of the injury which helps me educate athletes on how to prevent a re-occurrence of the problem,” Deluca explained.
Most of the athletes were very receptive to chiropractic care; mostly musculoskeletal injuries of the neck, back, knee, shoulder, wrist and ankle.
“What I loved about the experience was that it was a multi-disciplinary approach: physical therapy, medical doctor on staff, ATC and select athletic trainers. It wasn’t just one or the other,” he said.
Each Training Center is staffed with a full time sports medicine crew which generally includes chiropractors, physical therapists and athletic trainers. In addition to the full time staff, they run a rotating, invitation only, traveling staff which is an experience that sports chiropractors covet and look forward to from the start of their careers in chiropractic school.
Since his return home, Deluca has been invited to go to the third Olympic Training Camp in Lake Placid for 2018 training. He looks forward to playing an active role in the success of the United States Olympic medalists for years to come.
“I think it’s a great, yet entirely different experience to go to the Olympic Training Camp. Upon arrival, a USOC test is required for professionals to understand specific protocol and discipline, which is something I really appreciated,” he said.
It was an experience that not only provided Deluca with the opportunity to work on some of the best athletes in the country, but to also share and gain knowledge with the nation’s finest trainers, coaches and medical professionals.
“It is an opportunity I look forward to experiencing again someday,” Deluca explained. “My goal is to continue on this path, while one-day hopefully serving my country as a USOC medical professional.”
For more information, contact DeLuca Family Chiropractic at 732-679- 2414 or visit at www.dfccares.com. The office’s professional staff located at 2309 Route 516 in Old Bridge is dedicated to tailoring chiropractic programs targeted toward wellness, athletic and personal injury.
