DCs from Farmington, Michigan don't often get the opportunity to adjust television celebrities. But Farmington's Dr. Brian Nocella got to do just that when he treated some very athletically inclined television celebrities -- the "American Gladiators" -- during their recent tour stop in Detroit.
Dr. Nocella volunteered his chiropractic services to the athletes after he learned they would be appearing at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena as part of their nine-month cross-country tour. The Gladiators have a trainer who travels with them, but they do not have regular chiropractic treatment. Dr. Nocella spoke with the Gladiators' main office in Los Angeles, and the management there directed him to Idaho, where the Gladiators were competing at the time. He said that when he called them in Idaho "one of the Gladiators heard the road manager talking to me on the phone and said 'Yes, we want this guy.'" The management then faxed Dr. Nocella the Gladiators' case histories in preparation for the athletes' visit.
Dr. Nocella treated the Gladiators both before and after the competition, and watched the action from the players' bench. He said that occasionally the Gladiators needed him during the event, especially after the "powerball" segment of the competition. Said Dr. Nocella, "The difference (between the Gladiators and his regular patients) is they have other people trying to inflict damage on them. You're body reacts to it, and it's kinda nice to get put back in line."
He treated eight of the 10 Gladiators including Tower, Ice, Diamond and Sky. According to Dr. Nocella, they were extremely friendly and accepting, but their reaction to the local challengers was quite different. Dr. Nocella said, "One of the competitors entered the room, and one of the Gladiators asked, 'What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here. Get out of here.' They're a close-knit group, and I don't think they wanted anybody to come into their circle."
At the end of the competition, the Gladiators gave Dr. Nocella a t-shirt they had all signed, and the women gave him appreciative hugs. "They were thrilled that I was there for them," said Dr. Nocella, "I would jump at the chance again, because I had so much fun."
Barbara Migliaccio
Second Assistant Editor
