CARMICHAEL, Calif. – February 5, 2009 – For the first time in the history of the Olympic
Games, the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, will include chiropractic care inside the
Olympic Village Polyclinic, a multi-disciplinary facility that offers comprehensive health care and
medical services. While doctors of chiropractic (D.C.s) have historically been included on the
Olympic medical staff, the upcoming events mark the first time that D.C.’s from the host country
will be treating athletes and officials from around the world directly inside the Polyclinic.
“This is an historic event not only for the chiropractic profession, but also the athletes who will
now have access to the care that will help them prepare their bodies for competition,” states
Michael Reed, D.C., MS, DACBSP, and Team USA Medical Director (USOC). “These athletes
train hard and endure significant physical demands. Sports-focused D.C.s, along with other
members of the sports medicine team, are specially skilled to assist them in reaching peak
performance.”
Throughout the years, chiropractic has become a mainstay in the care of world-class athletes,
leading to a growing number of D.C.s included in the Olympic Games. Countless athletes
attribute the care they receive from their chiropractors -- working along-side other health care
professionals – as a key to properly preparing their bodies to perform optimally.
Chiropractic care has experienced several major moments in Olympic history, dating back to
Leroy Perry, D.C., who provided chiropractic care to athletes representing Antigua during the
1976 Games in Montreal, Canada. During the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, NY,
George Goodheart, D.C., became the first official chiropractor appointed to the U.S. team. With
each subsequent Olympic Games and Pan American Games, the U.S. teams -- along with a
growing number of other national teams -- have included at least one doctor of chiropractic on
their medical staff, culminating with the 2010 Winter Games incorporation of chiropractic care
inside the Polyclinic.
“Inclusion inside the Polyclinic is another major milestone for the chiropractic profession, and we
are grateful to the Host City of Vancouver, the head of Medical Services at the Polyclinic, Jack
Taunton, M.D., and to Robert Armitage, D.C., who helped make this possible,” concludes
recently promoted USOC Director of Sports Medicine Clinics, Bill Moreau, D.C., DACBSP.
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About the Olympic Polyclinic:
The polyclinic is a 10,000-square-foot multi-disciplinary facility that includes comprehensive health care
and medical services including emergency medicine (available 24 hours); primary care and sports
medicine; a full range of therapy services; dentistry; an eye clinic; imaging; a diagnostic laboratory; and a
full spectrum of consultant specialists. Essentially, most health-care needs for athletes or officials residing
at the village will be provided at the polyclinic. For life/limb-threatening conditions, Vancouver General
Hospital (VGH) is a short distance away.
The above article was written and released for publication by a not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. Contact them for more information on the role of chiropractic in today's world.
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