On the Deck with Team USA- Seattle Chiropractor Report
The Seattle Chiropractor Report- Dr. Kevin Rindal
This week I have the privilege of working with 49 of the best athletes in the world, the USA Olympic Swim Team. After an intense Olympic Trials, that in many ways will be as competitive as the Olympics, the strong survived and will represent the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
This past Friday we arrived in Knoxville, TN for a week long training camp hosted by the University of Tennessee (UT). The team will then travel to France for a 10 day training camp and then travel to London for the Olympic Games. I have been impressed by UT’s facilities, they are unbelievable; three 50 meter pools, three 25 yard pools (both 8 lanes), and 3 diving wells with 5, 7.5, and 10 meter platforms. Two of the pools are indoor and one outdoor. To top it off, they have been incredibly gracious hosts and treat us as if this is our home.
A typical day involves leaving for the pool at 7:30 am and practice until 9:30 am, breakfast follows. We eat Lunch at 1:00pm, practice #2 2:30-5:00pm and dinner to follow. There are 6 of us on the Sports Medicine Team, the Medical Doctor, a Physical Therapist, Two Athletic Trainers, a Physician’s Assistant/Athletic Trainer, and myself. Following practices, during the afternoon, and in the evening we are available to the athletes for post-training stretching/massage and I focus on Active Release Technique, Graston Technique, and Chiropractic. We all work very well together and each of us has very different skills that allows for a variety of treatment options for the athletes. Many of the athletes have Chiropractors that they work with while at home training, so I have stayed busy these first few days, treating athletes who are stiff and sore from the Olympic Trials and traveling to Knoxville.
This is the fourth time I have worked with the US National team over the past 3 ½ years, so it has been fun to re-connect with the athletes who have become friends. This is a very strong bunch of athletes; with many of the veteran coaches saying that this is probably the most talented groups of athletes they have ever seen come through the ranks of USA Swimming. This is also a very young group with 26 out of 49 athletes being first time Olympians. This team is well balanced though, and has several athletes who will be competing in their 3rd or 4th Olympic Games. It will be exciting to follow this team as they compete in London, I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Olympic movement and surrounded by such inspiring individuals; we hope for great success to this team.
To follow the USA Swim Team during the Olympics, go to: www.usaswimming.org
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Kevin Rindal, Seattle Chiropractor at DrRindal@InHealthSeattle.com.