Sunday, August 16, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Last Day in Clinic
Today was my last day in the clinic. Tomorrow I get a chance to do some more sight seeing. While doing this 2 week volunteer rotation I got to meet some great people! Overall the athletes were very appreciative of the care we provided for them. These young men and women put their mind, body and souls through things that us regular folk would never be able to do or could imagine. The saying that goes "seeing is believing" certainly holds true for the most part. I have seen what they do and at times it's still hard to believe! One of the best experiences I had during my 2 weeks was working with the Paraolympians. Their positive attitudes and friendliness was quite refreshing. I think we overlook these athletes, when we really should take more time and look at their incredible stories and accomplishments!
I must say when I first got to the Olympic Training Center sports medicine clinic I really didn't know what to expect. Would me being a chiropractor cause the other clinician to be wary of me or not accept me as a fellow health care provider? It was some what comforting to know that the clinic already had two staff members who were chiropractors. As the first couple of days went by I had to feel things out to see where I stood. To my relief everyone worked well together. The permanent staff that was made up of 1 medical doctor, 2 chiropractors, 4 athletic trainers, and 1 physical therapist, were great people. Their philosophy was an integrated approach for the care the athletes. Everyone helping each other to get the best possible care for the athlete. This environment was quite refreshing. The individuals that came in with me for a 2 week rotation were incredible people also. Jeff Konin is an Phd., PT, ATC who works at the University South Florida. He has written several books on sports medicine and has considerable knowledge about musculoskeletal ultrasound. Over the 2 week period we have become good friends. We were able to sit down during lunch and dinner and talk about several sports medicine topics, along with other things. He explained to me how he has been working with chiropractors at USF for some time. He even let me give him an adjustment the other day. He explained it was the first time he could move his neck with full rotation in several weeks. He's hoping it will help his hockey game. The other 2 weeker is Pam Ryan who is a massage therapist. She has extensive experience working with Olympic gymnast. She named several of them however the only one familiar to me was Nastia Liukin. She also works with Bradie James the linebacker from the Dallas Cowboys. Pam has also been a great friend. She is always smiling and never lets her positive attitude waiver. Even when things would get hectic for us at the clinic. Another individual I got to work with was Ray Tufts the head athletic trainer of the San Jose Sharks. I only got to work with Ray for 1 week, but in that week I learned a lot from him. He explained how he has integrated chiropractic into the care of the hockey players in San Jose. Hearing how these other health care professional utilize chiropractic services for their athletes and seeing it at the Olympic Training center is very encouraging! One other person I was able to work with was Zach Veres. He is a D.O. from the Cleveland area. He has a lot of experience working professional boxing matches and MMA. We got a chance to share a lot for the week he was at the clinic also. He promised me he would let me go down ring side to the next WEC event. I'm certainly looking forward to that!
Overall my experience here has been a very positive one. It was certainly a chance of a life time that I couldn't pass up. With that being said I can't wait to get back to good old Delphos, Ohio! We may not have mountains or Olympic athletes back home but as Dorthy said while clicking those ruby slippers together... there's no place like home.... there's no place like home!
We will be going to the garden of the gods tomorrow. I'll post pictures when I get back.
Until next time, God Bless!
J
I must say when I first got to the Olympic Training Center sports medicine clinic I really didn't know what to expect. Would me being a chiropractor cause the other clinician to be wary of me or not accept me as a fellow health care provider? It was some what comforting to know that the clinic already had two staff members who were chiropractors. As the first couple of days went by I had to feel things out to see where I stood. To my relief everyone worked well together. The permanent staff that was made up of 1 medical doctor, 2 chiropractors, 4 athletic trainers, and 1 physical therapist, were great people. Their philosophy was an integrated approach for the care the athletes. Everyone helping each other to get the best possible care for the athlete. This environment was quite refreshing. The individuals that came in with me for a 2 week rotation were incredible people also. Jeff Konin is an Phd., PT, ATC who works at the University South Florida. He has written several books on sports medicine and has considerable knowledge about musculoskeletal ultrasound. Over the 2 week period we have become good friends. We were able to sit down during lunch and dinner and talk about several sports medicine topics, along with other things. He explained to me how he has been working with chiropractors at USF for some time. He even let me give him an adjustment the other day. He explained it was the first time he could move his neck with full rotation in several weeks. He's hoping it will help his hockey game. The other 2 weeker is Pam Ryan who is a massage therapist. She has extensive experience working with Olympic gymnast. She named several of them however the only one familiar to me was Nastia Liukin. She also works with Bradie James the linebacker from the Dallas Cowboys. Pam has also been a great friend. She is always smiling and never lets her positive attitude waiver. Even when things would get hectic for us at the clinic. Another individual I got to work with was Ray Tufts the head athletic trainer of the San Jose Sharks. I only got to work with Ray for 1 week, but in that week I learned a lot from him. He explained how he has integrated chiropractic into the care of the hockey players in San Jose. Hearing how these other health care professional utilize chiropractic services for their athletes and seeing it at the Olympic Training center is very encouraging! One other person I was able to work with was Zach Veres. He is a D.O. from the Cleveland area. He has a lot of experience working professional boxing matches and MMA. We got a chance to share a lot for the week he was at the clinic also. He promised me he would let me go down ring side to the next WEC event. I'm certainly looking forward to that!
Overall my experience here has been a very positive one. It was certainly a chance of a life time that I couldn't pass up. With that being said I can't wait to get back to good old Delphos, Ohio! We may not have mountains or Olympic athletes back home but as Dorthy said while clicking those ruby slippers together... there's no place like home.... there's no place like home!
We will be going to the garden of the gods tomorrow. I'll post pictures when I get back.
Until next time, God Bless!
J
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursdays Blog
Hard to believe another week is almost over. Time has went by quickly. Today, I was able to go out and watch some of the cyclist practice at the outdoor velodrome. It is crazy how steep the banks are at the turns on these tracks! The one picture shows the coach riding a motorcycle in order to set the pace for the athlete. I thought that was cool!
The bottom pictures shows the clinic where I spend most of my time treating the athletes.
The picture of the statue, is my buddy I say hello to every morning on the way to the clinic. He has yet to say hi back to me.
Until next time, God Bless!
J
The bottom pictures shows the clinic where I spend most of my time treating the athletes.
The picture of the statue, is my buddy I say hello to every morning on the way to the clinic. He has yet to say hi back to me.
Until next time, God Bless!
J
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Another Tuesday in Colorado Springs
Nothing real exciting going on. The clinic was a little slow today and yesterday. I did get a chance to treat a Judo athlete today and yesterday. That was kinda of cool! During some of the slower parts of the day one of the gentlemen I am doing the rotation with introduced me to diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound. This is a great way to help diagnose musculoskeletal injuries. It's a similar machine as an obstetrician would use to view an unborn child. At first it looks like a bunch of gobbly gook on the screen! However, after being showed what structures are what and what to look for, the pictures start to make sense. The machine they have in the clinic cost $50,000 normally, but GE donated it to them. I was thinking about packing it up and taking it home with me, but I'm sure they would miss it. Maybe there might be a used one on ebay I could pick up for a reasonable price. Or maybe mom and dad could get it for me as a Christmas gift.
Sorry for the boring post, but that's the best I could do. Until next time, God Bless!
J
Sorry for the boring post, but that's the best I could do. Until next time, God Bless!
J
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Sunday In Colorado Springs
The clinic was closed today. In the morning watched wrestling practice for about an hour. After watching wrestling me and two other people doing the two week rotation decided to tackle "The Incline". "The Incline" is a mile long hike up an old cable car railway. It averages at a 40% incline and at the steepest 68%. This hike is brutal! As I type my legs still feel like Jell-O!! I can only imagine how sore I'm going to be tomorrow. I might need the athletes to adjust me in the clinic tomorrow. There were several times I wanted to turn around and go back to the car. Well I'm certainly glad I didn't. The view was truly spectacular. Any words I write would not do it justice. I was truly speechless. I will post more of these pictures later. If you haven't been out here I would highly recommend it. If you don't want to hike, they have a train that can take you to the top. OK time for me to pass out. I'll let you know how sore I am tomorrow.
If you scroll down you will see the pictures of "The Incline".
Until next time, God Bless!
J
If you scroll down you will see the pictures of "The Incline".
Until next time, God Bless!
J
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Another Day in Colorado Springs
Hello everyone! The morning at the clinic today went kind of slow. However this afternoon was busy. The wrestlers finished with a simulated tournament in the afternoon and some of them got banged up. So this kept us busy for quite some time. Later on in the evening I got to watch the wrestlers do another simulated tournament. It was fun to watch these guys. Wrestling some times gets a bad rap, but the amount of work and the wear and tear these guys put on their bodies is amazing. If you take the time to understand the sport, it really is fun to watch. I've been around athletics for most of my life and I can think of no tougher and demanding sport than wrestling!
I hope to take some pictures and post them on my Blog this weekend. It is hard to believe it is the weekend already. Time is flying by. I'm not sure if I mentioned it in a previous blog but the food that they serve here in the cafeteria is very good. There is quite a variety and just about everything I have eaten was delicious.
Well until next time, God bless,
J
I hope to take some pictures and post them on my Blog this weekend. It is hard to believe it is the weekend already. Time is flying by. I'm not sure if I mentioned it in a previous blog but the food that they serve here in the cafeteria is very good. There is quite a variety and just about everything I have eaten was delicious.
Well until next time, God bless,
J
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Day 4
Sorry for not posting yesterday. Had a long day and didn't get back to my room until late. The range of athletes I have treated, been involved in their treatment or observed being treated has ranged from sports I am familiar with and others I never knew existed. There are bobsledders, basketball players, wrestlers, air pistol shooters, skeet shooters, modern pentathletes, weightlifters, gymnast, triathletes, paraolypians, skaters and a few I'm sure I left out. In just four days I have been exposed to many different aspects of treating athletes, some I am very familiar with and others that are new to me. This afternoon there was a meeting in which we discussed several different cases involving the athletes that are being seen. It was exciting to set down with other health care professional and discuss the care and management of these athletes.
I know what I'm about to say gets over used quite a bit but the view of the mountains in the morning walking to the clinic is breath taking. Not quite as breath taking as the ducks crossing 10th street in the morning on my drive to the office, but close! It is my hope when we have some more down time in the clinic to explore Colorado Springs more. Everyone keeps telling me I have to go and see the Garden of the gods. They say the rock formation are incredible.
Ok time to do a little reading and go to bed.
Until next time, God Bless!
J
I know what I'm about to say gets over used quite a bit but the view of the mountains in the morning walking to the clinic is breath taking. Not quite as breath taking as the ducks crossing 10th street in the morning on my drive to the office, but close! It is my hope when we have some more down time in the clinic to explore Colorado Springs more. Everyone keeps telling me I have to go and see the Garden of the gods. They say the rock formation are incredible.
Ok time to do a little reading and go to bed.
Until next time, God Bless!
J
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
First Day in Clinic Over
Today was my first day actually working in the clinic. Boy were my eyes opened. These young men and women training to be the United States best are incredible people! The work and dedication that they have to be an Olympian is truly amazing. It certainly is a privilege to be able to work with these athletes. Everyone I talked with was polite and appreciative. If you saw one of them walking down the street in Delphos you would never know they were Olympic athletes.... well except maybe the wrestlers and their cauliflowered ears!
Till next time God Bless,
J
Till next time God Bless,
J
Monday, August 3, 2009
Arrived in Colorado
Finally got some time to post. My flight went well. Since arriving here at the training center it has been a whirlwind. Finally got to my room and unpacked a few minutes ago. The 2 hour time difference is going to take some getting use to. Colorado Springs is a beautiful place. Haven't seen a lot of it but what I have seen is amazing. From what I have seen of the training center it to is pretty cool! I will post more as I go. Right now it is time for me to go to bed. This chiropractor isn't as young as he use to be. Talk to you soon.
J
J
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