Running Backs Need Chiropractors!

Running Backs and Chiropractic Care

In the year 2000, LaDainian Tomlinson won the Doak Walker award for being the nation’s top running

back as a senior at Texas Christian University. At the awards ceremony, he spoke to Emmitt Smith, the National Football Leagues all-time leading rusher. Emmitt gave him his phone number and ask that he call if LaDainian ever needed any advice. Shortly after, he made the call.

The Phone Call

Tomlinson called to ask Smith about his longevity, how he'd rushed for 1,000 yards for 10 straight seasons, where he eventually ended with 11 over his career. Smith's advice? Massages on Monday and Friday and ''find a good chiropractor.''

That's good advice from one of the top athletes of all time. Give Dan O'Brien, Lance Armstrong, or Tiger Woods a call and ask them if regular chiropractic care is an important factor to being at the top of their sport. Don't have their numbers? I'll tell you the answers are Yes, Yes, and Yes.

Fast-forward to January 2011:

LaDainian Tomlinson was recently interviewed by TMR Newswire just prior to what he called, “The biggest game he has ever been in.” This past season his team, the New York Jets played the eventual Superbowl loser, the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game. During the week of preparation he was asked a number of questions including his input on how he was so durable throughout his career. This is what he said:

“It’s all about taking care of yourself and the things that you have to do every week to prepare yourself to take a beating and get ready for the next week – the cold tubs, the hot tubs, the massages, the chiropractor. Whatever has worked for me, which all of these things have over the years, it’s about sticking to it. It is a routine that you have to do it every week. You can’t slack off on it because the little bumps and bruises that you get every week, they pile up, so you’ve got to stay on top of that stuff so you can be able to play next week.”

How has LaDainian Tomlinson faired with the advice of Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith? Regular chiropractic care has been an integral factor in Tomlinson’s 10 year career. He has rushed for 1000 yards 8 times, and has achieved over 15 NFL records, eclipsing many that were set by Smith.

NFL All-Pro Running back Maurice Jones Drew's Chiropractic Experience:

NFL All-Pro Running Back Michael Turner on the Chiropractor:

Michael Turner realizes that collisions come with a heavy physical price. That's why he is taking far better care of his body with a masseuse and chiropractor as well as spending more time in the hot tub than in 2008, when Turner admits he was "young and dumb."

"I had no idea how many carries I was going to get, the toll it takes on your body and how to take care of yourself over the course of a whole season as opposed to being a backup," said Turner, who turns 29 in February. "I now take care of every nick and bruise in the training room. It might seem minor, but you don't want that to build up through the course of a season."