Editor's Note: Part 1 of this article appeared in the May 2019 issue and shared memorable moments as experienced by three doctors of chiropractic responsible for treating some of the world's most elite athletes in professional sports. In this article, three other DCs share their most memorable moments.
Beau Daniels, DC
Co-founder and executive director of Mamba Sports Academy, and official chiropractor for the Los Angeles Rams (NFL)
Like many of the other DCs in this feature, Dr. Daniels' most memorable moment also revolved around helping a player become his absolute best.
"A few seasons ago, I worked with an NBA athlete for an entire offseason [who] was rehabbing from a very serious injury that was preventing him from performing his sport at 100 percent," Dr. Daniels recalls. "He had a grade 3 osteochondral lesion in his knee that prevented him from fully sprinting, jumping, and changing direction on that leg."
"This athlete was very physically gifted and really had not trained physically much. Instead, he relied only on "his youth, talent, and God-given physical ability."
Therefore, Dr. Daniels' initial goal was to establish a relationship with this athlete while restoring function in his knee. Then, he was intent on using that relationship to influence the athlete's perception of training and getting him to eat right, ultimately increasing the longevity in his sport.
"Over the last few years, this athlete has changed his view on what it means to truly train and invest in yourself over time," says Daniels. "He eats well, trains hard all offseason, and most importantly, has no knee pain currently." Sometimes a little influence goes a long way.
Hirad Najaf Bagy, DC
Founder and president of United Wellness & Sports Rehab in Falls Church, Va. (suburbs of Washington, D.C.), and team chiropractor for the Washington Redskins (NFL), Washington Nationals (MLB), and D.C. United (MLS pro soccer team)
According to Dr. Najaf Bagy, "One of the most memorable moments was when I was first offered a professional position with D.C. United in 1998. That was a big step for me professionally. It was a snapshot I'll never forget." But how did this offer come about?
"I'm a big soccer fan and D.C. United was practicing around the street from me," say Najaf Bagy. So, he'd often go over there at lunchtime and watch them practice. At one point, he approached the head therapist, but since sports chiropractic was new at the time, Dr. Najaf Bagy was "put on the shelf as a back doctor" and told that they'd let him know if they needed him.
"Shortly after, [the head therapist] started sending a couple of the athletes over for adjustments," says Dr. Najaf Bagy. "Then, one day before playoffs, he asked, 'Could you come here? We have a player with a back injury.'"
Of course, Dr. Najaf Bagy obliged and, with the head coach, head trainer and about half dozen other players sitting there, went to work. "I assessed him and there was a rib subluxation that they had missed or wasn't able to adjust. I adjusted the rib and it made this huge noise. Everybody's eyes opened up."
Dr. Najaf Bagy had the player sit up and take a couple of breaths. At this point, the player turned to the coach and said, "I'm playing tomorrow." After everyone left, Najaf Bagy went to the head trainer and said, "I really want a job here." That's when the trainer responded, "You know what? I think we can make something work."
Though that was a long time ago, great memories are still being made, according to Najaf Bagy, such as this past year, when the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup. This memory is important because it involves both his professional and personal life.
"To be able to have me and my 14-year-old son take a picture with the Stanley Cup with the players, to be able to hold it, to be able to share that with him, that was a big memorable moment for our family," says Dr. Najaf Bagy.
Mary Collings, DC
Owner of Highland Park Spine & Sports Medicine in Dallas, Texas, and team chiropractor for the Dallas Stars (NHL) and Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
Dr. Collings remembers one moment in particular, although instead of it involving any active effort on her part, what makes it memorable is the growth she was able to witness in her players.
It was during the 2011 NBA season and Dallas Mavericks' superstars "Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd were sitting in the hot tub. J. Kidd was explaining to Dirk the need for him to motivate the younger players and assure them that our team was fully capable of winning the championship."
According to Dr. Collings, "Dirk was not particularly 'chatty' in that stage of his career, but Jason told him it had to be from him. So, Dirk went into the locker room, gave the speech, and that's when I saw #41 become the leader he is to this day."
The reason this is so memorable for Dr. Collings is because "it makes me proud to see how these boys learned to 'win.' It takes more than points on a board to win a game. Athletes at all levels have to learn how to practice, sleep, eat, and support each other to become a winning team."
Dr. Collings adds, "I can't wait to see that dedication in each of my athletes in the locker room again someday."
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."
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