Dr. Kent Hagen received a phone call from a former patient early in December of 1990. Jose Caraballo had been pleased with Dr. Hagen's treatment of his lower back pain, but now was calling in his official capacity as the assistant varsity basketball coach for St. Joseph's Catholic High School in Alameda, California.
Mr. Caraballo inquired if Dr. Hagen would help treat injuries sustained by two of his players in their previous basketball game. Jose Caraballo's major concern was with the team's premier player, 6'4", 200 pound point guard, Jason Kidd, who had sprained his ankle.
Dr. Hagen understood how important basketball was to St. Joseph's. The school has a student body of only 500, yet the basketball team petitioned to compete as a division I school, thus allowing them to play against the largest schools. Despite St. Joseph's diminutive numbers, the team was highly rank and considered a threat to win the state title.
Dr. Hagen says, "I treated his (Jason Kidd's) sprained ankle with physical therapy, massage, manipulation, tilt boards, and PNF rehabilitation exercises. After his successful recovery, I began working with the rest of the team for injuries ranging from ankle, knee, and low back sprains, to deep thigh contusions and flexibility problems."
As the school does not have an athletic trainer, Dr. Hagen has volunteered his chiropractic services to the team, performing adjustments on players before their games, in addition to taping ankles and other concerns of the athletic trainer.
Dr. Hagen also takes time to teach the players about chiropractic. "I also educate them on the benefits of manipulation, and stretching to maintain their health and keep them performing at an optimal level."
The players relate well with Dr. Hagen because of his background as an athlete. As an undergraduate, Kent Hagen played three seasons for the Weber State College Division I basketball team. The 6'4" guard finished his senior season ranked 5th in the nation in freethrow percentage (92%); at one point in the season he hit 51 straight freethrows.
In discussing the players injuries at St. Joseph's, Dr. Hagen says: "I have had some of the same injuries that I am treating them for. I know what it takes to rehabilitate an injury to the point where they can return to play without the risk of re-injury. I also understand the proper fundamentals of basketball so we can work together to improve their performance."
The combined talents and resources of a basketball program, with an assist from chiropractic, resulted in St. Joseph's defeating Fremont High of Los Angeles for the bragging rights to be called the California State High School Division I Basketball Champions for the 1990-91 season.
Now that the basketball season is over, Dr. Hagen is working with some of the players on the St. Joseph's baseball team.
What are the odds of the St. Joseph's baseball team winning the state championships?
Steve Kelly
Assistant Editor
Editor's Note: Dr. Kent Hagen, D.C., C.C.R.D., received his undergraduate degree in physical education, with a minor in chemistry from Weber State College in Ogden, Utah, where he was an Honorable Mention Academic All-American. He was the recipient of a postgraduate NCAA scholarship and attended LACC, receiving his diplomate in 1988. Dr. Hagen persued postgraduate studies to become a Certified Chiropractic Rehabilitation Doctor. Dr. Hagen began his chiropractic practice in August of 1989 in Hayward, California. His practice is oriented towards sports injuries and workers' compensation and personal injury cases.
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