The 2014 FIFA World Cup is a tournament for the men’s football (soccer) world championship. It began on June 12, 2014 in Brazil and is expected to conclude with the final game on July 13, 2014. National teams from 31 countries have made their way to this tournament, and their superior athletic skills are on full display. Not surprisingly, the sport and competition can take a major toll on the bodies of the athletes, and many coaches have chosen to have chiropractors available for their teams.
In May 2014 it was announced that Dr. John Pietila, a chiropractor from Minnesota, was selected to be a part of Team Italy at the World Cup. Dr. Pietila has had success with helping professional athletes to recover from injuries in the past. Professional baseball player Corey Koskie of the Minnesota Twins met with Dr. Pietila after suffering a concussion, and he stated that after only six treatments he was surprised that he was able to golf 18 holes.
Dr. Pietila first became known to the soccer world when he attended an injury prevention seminar in Amsterdam a few years ago. An Italian doctor was intrigued by his work and asked him to help with Team Fiorentina and the Confederation Cup. The teams had huge success with few injuries, and this led the Italians to ask Dr. Pietila to join them in their World Cup quest.
It is no surprise that chiropractic care is so popular among athletes. Chiropractic adjustments work to decrease pain and improve physical functioning when compared to other care methods. In addition to helping to manage and relieve acute and chronic pain, chiropractic can improve the function of the nervous system and provide preventive care, which is essential in ensuring that all players remain in peak physical condition while playing for the World Cup.