Two California chiropractors, Drs. Vickie Culp and Diana Heying, were recently appointed crew doctors for the Spanish America's Cup sailing team that is competing in the America's Cup races off the coast of San Diego.
According to the coordinators of the Spanish team, the DCs were chosen because of chiropractic's aggressive yet non-invasive method of treating soft-tissue injury compared to standard medical care; the philosophy of a drugless approach to injury management; and the variety of clinical skills which chiropractors possess.
The DCs' involvement began when Dr. Culp learned that San Diego had won the right to host the America's Cup, and made it a personal priority to work with the one of the teams. She had visited Spain in 1985 and thoroughly enjoyed it, so she targeted the Spanish team as the one she wanted to work with. Dr. Culp met with the operations coordinator, Clas Krueger, to discuss the advantages of having a chiropractor as a crew doctor. Later she had meetings with trainer Mike Douglass, a former NFL player, and with sailing coach Peter Lester. She was approved as the crew doctor and chose Dr. Heying to work along side her.
Dr. Culp is a former faculty member of Cleveland Chiropractic College Los Angeles (CCCLA), where she held the position of assistant clinic director and director of the Sports Injury Program. She currently teaches at Mueller College in San Diego, where she lectures on sports injuries and kinesiology. She is also a physical performance consultant to athletes in golf, volleyball, and distance running. In 1985 and 1986, Dr. Culp traveled with the Ladies' Professional Golf Association tour as their chiropractor.
Dr. Heying is a summa cum laude graduate of CCCLA and has a thriving private practice in San Diego. She is the team doctor for the San Diego Golf Club and works with various individuals at weekend aquatic meets.
Barbara Migliaccio
Second Assistant Editor
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
