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
