How chiropractic care has helped ‘fastest man in the world’

DouglasChiropractic-2011-304125_10150355980067658_2731291_nUsain Bolt has been declared the โ€œfastest man in the world.โ€ While this hasnโ€™t always been technically true, he has won so consistently at the 100 meter distance throughout his career that the nickname โ€œlightning boltโ€ seems like a pretty good fit. He has won six Olympic gold medals, never placing for silver or bronze. In other world championships, he has collected eight first-place wins and two second-place finishes. During his time competing in youth championships, he regularly took first place, rarely second, and never third.

For the tiny island nation of Jamaica, Usain Bolt is a hero. Heโ€™s confident. โ€œI told you all I was going to be No. 1, and I did just that.โ€ While heโ€™s a supremely confident competitor, heโ€™s also humble and cordial.

โ€œManners is the key thing,โ€ said Bolt. โ€œSay, for instance, when youโ€™re growing up, youโ€™re walking down the street, youโ€™ve got to tell everybody good morning. Everybody. You canโ€™t pass one person.โ€

But his success on the track and his international stardom has not come without challenges. As a young man, Bolt suffered from scoliosis.

โ€œWhen I was younger, the scoliosis wasnโ€™t really a problem. But you grow and it gets worse. My spine was really curved bad. The early part of my career, when we didnโ€™t really know much about it, it really hampered me because I got injured every year.โ€

Dr. Michael Douglas adjusting Usain Bolt.

Dr. Michael Douglas adjusting Usain Bolt.

Instead of using a brace or enduring dangerous surgery to correct the abnormal curvature of his spine, Usain Bolt used chiropractic treatments. โ€œIโ€™ve worked hard over the years. Iโ€™ve been injured and Iโ€™ve worked hard through it, and Iโ€™ve made it.โ€ Bolt uses chiropractic not only to bounce back more quickly from injuries, but also to enhance his performance while healthy. โ€œAs long as Iโ€™m in great shape, nobody beats me, for sure.โ€

Dr. Michael Douglas has worked with Bolt for many years. As founder of three South Florida Douglas Rapid Rehab Centers, he is also the Jamaican Olympic Teamโ€™s official chiropractor. He has held that position since 1996 and retains a certificate in Chiropractic Neurology. He combines traditional chiropractic techniques with sports injury rehabilitation to keep the Jamaican team in top condition.

Like all world champions, Usain Bolt realizes that his work is never done. โ€œFor me, Iโ€™m focused on what I want to do. I know what I need to do to be a champion, so Iโ€™m working on it.โ€ For Usain Bolt, chiropractic care has beenโ€”and continues to beโ€”an essential part of his overall strategy for remaining healthy and competing successfully.

— By Aaron Martin, DC

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