By the time you read this, the summer will be nearly over, but I hope you will indulge me as I briefly reminisce…
Ever since I was a kid, we have headed off to Provence for our summer holidays, this time meeting mum and dad who drove down in their camper van and my brother and his family. So it was a big Button family trip down memory lane.
This year, I had a very important job to do before I could put my feet up in the south of France. So, despite the temptation to just talk here about vineyards, olive groves and lavender fields, I’ll concentrate on the true pre-holiday highlight – working at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Four of us from Cleve Chiropractic – Catherine, Lucy, Charlie and myself – were selected to help athletes at the Games, so we had chiro, physio and sports therapy all covered.
Because of my impending holiday, I was given shifts at the Warwick University campus the week before the Games started. I also volunteered for back-to-back, eight-hour stints so that I didn’t miss too many days at my own clinic.
I was originally a bit disappointed with this placement. I considered Warwick to be away from the central hub and the early shifts maybe a little slow… but, as ever, I headed to my first 7am with my chin up and shoulders back, eager to meet the athletes and my colleagues.
When I arrived, the atmosphere was muted and the energy in the polyclinic was low. As I walked through the double doors it was as if I had entered a Wild West saloon – everyone looked up at me. You could see they were thinking: who is this guy? Perhaps I was the new sheriff!
Some of the physios and sports therapists who had been there for a couple of days told me they pretty much hadn’t seen an athlete since they had arrived. This place needed a lift so I set myself the task of seeing what there was on offer.
The athletes seemed to be walking right past the clinic. Then I clocked that there were loads of rugby players, which started to get me really excited. That’s the sports language I know best.
Soon enough I saw a big group of Aussies walking around clearly getting their bearings so, instead of looking at them looking at me, I went over and said hello and asked if they had been inside the polyclinic for a look round yet. No? OK, would you like me to show you what we have?
It was amazing. As I walked around, the first people I introduced were the dentists and optometrists. Next along the line were the GPs and sports docs, then I introduced the radiologist who was in charge of the digital X-ray, diagnostic ultrasound and the MRI suite.
Next up were the physical therapists. Obviously I explained that I was a chiropractor – I might have mentioned that I have worked in the rugby’s Premiership – and they were surprised to see me working at the Games. They would normally just bring their physio, sports doc and sports therapist along with them. Many had experienced and liked chiro from back home, so we were a welcome sight.
The Aussies’ tour went on to the physios, sports massage, podiatry and osteo teams before we reached the well-stocked pharmacy – who seemed to take great delight in explaining that they were providing more than 50,000 condoms for free at the Games!
After a morning of tours – Tonga, Fiji, Canada, Scotland, England and Mauritius were among those who followed – the afternoon quickly got busy, with my first patient a rugby sevens player from Tonga. As I demonstrated how we can increase a player’s muscle control, making them feel like a million dollars, he was hooked.
He asked if I could see his whole team and, via his telephone, the word started to spread. Before he left, I explained that he would do well with a sports massage straight away, so off he went.
This became the routine. I treated one player, they referred a friend, then promised to come back again. I would offer them access to a scan if they needed or suggested they go and get their eyes checked and teeth cleaned while they were there. The clinic became super busy – not just because of me – but I’m proud of the little kick start I gave it.
When I had a moment, I spoke with all the other professions, spreading the word about chiropractic and giving a few hands-on demonstrations. I believe this really helped dispel any myths about chiro. I explained about the four or five years of full-time university studies we need to complete before we qualify.
I now have great contact with more sports docs, GPs, physios and chiros that I hadn’t met before. A number asked me to help them find a trusted local chiro to them (you start by going to the British Chiropractic Association website). A few were even interested in the chiro conversion course in Bournemouth.
So, as I listen to the cicadas, my children run dangerously around me with water pistols in Provence and I can hear the family wondering which vineyard to visit at lunchtime, I’m signing off, hoping that everyone has enjoyed a happy and healthy summer.
