normal session, the driver’s existing sub- luxations are aggravated, the function of the nervous system is reduced, and so is the driver’s performance. Allow me to offer another excerpt, this time, from the American Journal of Pain Management: “Posture affects and moderates every physiological function, from breathing to nervous system function, and despite the considerable evidence that posture affects physiology and function, the sig- nificant infl uence of posture on health is not addressed by most physicians.”4 Recently U.S. Amateur Wrestling (AW) and Maximized Living established a Wellness Advisory Council involving certifi ed doctors who can provide chi- ropractic, nutrition and comprehensive wellness programs, and care, to U.S. AW athletes who are preparing for national and international competition. Their model is designed to build and create health, which is essential to any athlete of any sport or calibre. In order to achieve peak performance, this is exactly what a driver requires. A driver must be able to concentrate in- tensely, with perfect focus for 20 minutes – at the amateur driving school level – to hours at a time, in an endurance race. The nervous system is at the core of their ability to do so. Reaction times, mental endurance, and physical stamina must be at their peak. While the body of re- search on the neurological benefits from adjustments is growing, the advantages of keeping the nervous system clear and functioning at its peak are clear to chiro- practors and athletes alike.5,6,7,8,9 I sincerely feel that the drivers of the American Le Mans series who drive 12- 24-hour-long races need chiropractic in their pit lane. Come to think of it, after 20 minutes on the track at Mosport, so do I. • Canadian Chiropractor would like to thank Stuart Sherman, Track Chair and Board Member for BMW Club, Canada, President of Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame and instructor for Ferrari, BMW, Hanson International and Apex Driving Schools, for suggesting an article regard- ing chiropractic for the performance driver. (Sherman also provided photographs for this piece.) For more information regarding driving on the track, Stuart Sherman can be contacted at [email protected] REFERENCES: 1. 2. The Successful Race Car Driver: A Career Development Handbook by Robert Metcalf. Edition: illustrated. Published by SAE, 1999, p. 14. Strength Trainng for Performance Driving (paperback) by Mark Mar- tin, Published by Motorbooks, Janu- ary 1994. 3. 4. 5. http://www.formula1.com/inside_ f1/understanding_the_sport/5298. html 6. 7. 8. 9. Lennon, J, PhD. January 1994, Amer- ican Journal of Pain Management. Athletic Performance and Physi- ological Measures in Baseball Play- ers Following Upper Cervical Chi- ropractic Care: A pilot study. Jon Schwartzbauer, DC; Jason Kolher, Mitzi Schwartzbauer, DC, John Hart, DC, John Zhang, MD, PhD Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, Vol. 1. No. 4. 1997. Effects of Pre-event Manipulation on Jump Height and Running Veloc- ity. I. Shrier, D. Macdonald, and G. Uchaczz. Clin J Sport Med, Vol. 16, No. 2, March 2006. Chiropractic effects on athletic abil- ity. Lauro A, and Mouch B. Chiro- practic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation. 1991; 6: 84-87. Chiropractic Effects of Athletic Ability. Lauro, A. and Mouch B. The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation. 1991, pp. 84-87. Use of a mental rotation reaction time to measure the effects of upper-cervi- cal adjustments on reaction time. Kelly DD, Murphy BA, Backhouse DP, J Ma- nipulative Physio-logic Therapeutics. 2000 May; 23(4):246-51. BC CHIROS SUPPORT UBC PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMERCIAL “British Columbia’s chiropractors are to be acknowledged for their support of research and education in BC, but also their support for the production of quality TV media,” says Dr. Don Nixdorf, executive director of the British Co- lumbia Chiropractor’s Association (BCCA) and College of Chiropractors of British Columbia (CCBC), in reference to a television message by chiropractic researcher, Dr. Jean- Sebastian Blouin. The television commercial, which was released in Febru- ary of 2007, features Dr. Blouin – chiropractor and Cana- dian Chiropractic Research Foundation (CCRF) professor in Spine Biomechanics and Neurophysiology at the School of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia (UBC) – talking about cutting-edge research on spine and spine- related injuries. The ad mentions the profession’s support, through the CCRF, for research at UBC, and represents a formidable public messaging vehicle for chiropractic. The ad has been shown mostly in British Columbia but has also been seen across Canada via CBC and TSN. Blouin notes that participating in the ad was an 22 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | SEPTEMBER 2009 opportunity for him to discuss the work that he is doing in conjunction with his CCRF professorship at UBC. On July 14, 2009, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) – a major British Columbia health research funding body which also supports Dr. Blouin’s work – issued a report calling attention to the TV commercial and, concomitantly, the CCRF’s support for spine (basic to clinical sciences) research specifi cally at UBC but across Canada as well. The MSFHR report then goes on to summarize Dr. Blouin’s work. Nixdorf says of the TV ad, “This is an excellent example of outcomes from member’s awareness, and support of chiropractic research chairs at universities,” and adds, “examples such as this signifi cantly support the ongoing process of education in BC as well as the many initiatives across North America.” For those interested in viewing the TV commercial fea- turing Dr. Blouin, please go to: http://www.hkin.educ. ubc.ca/School/index.htm and click on, “HKIN - Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation - TV Ad - Feb 2007”. www.canadianchiropractor.ca news
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