Category: announcements_EN

The 31st “Spartathlon” ultramarathon race (246 km), run from Athens to Sparta, took place on the 27-28th September 2013.  Like every year the applicants were many, but only 320 athletes had the honor of participating.

Once again three members of the Hellenic Chiropractors’ Association provided valuable assistance to the athletes. Thank you to George Giannopoulos, Nikos Kalogeropoulos and Michael Kalinderis. With specific Chiropractic adjustments, which helps restore normal joint function, and some specialized muscle work, most of the runners where able to complete the race. Chiropractic care is important during a race/event but also even more important during preparation for this and any athletic event. By managing and restoring normal function of the spine, the nerves are allowed to function optimally, and hence the body is able to perform more efficiently.

The gratitude received from the athletes was overwhelming, which only makes it easier to committing ourselves to renew our arrangements next year!!

September 18th, 2012 marked the 117th anniversary of Chiropractic! On Sept. 18, 1895, Dr. D.D. Palmer of Davenport, Iowa, gave the first chiropractic adjustment. His patient was Harvey Lillard, a cleaner in Palmer’s building, who had been deaf since a traumatic accident several years earlier. Palmer, who had been studying the spine and nervous system, found a bump on Lillard’s spine that he presumed to be a spinal misalignment. After adjusting Harvey’s spine his hearing returned – thus the beginnings of Chiropractic was born. As Palmer (founder and “father” of modern Chiropractic) had suspected there was a relationship between spinal misalignments and a body that wasn’t functioning as well as it was capable of.

In many ways it was a rediscovery of the ancient art of spinal care found in nearly every culture and practice throughout the world. These early healers understood the relationship between health and the condition of the spine. Asklepios, was a noted physician of his time (1200 B.C.), who was later exalted to the god of medicine and healing, was known to use his hands to affect the body and regain ones health. Hippocrates (460 B.C.), currently known as the father of medicine advised: “Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases.”

On the 24th and 25th of September, for the first time in twenty years, three Chiropractors joined forces with the physiotherapist, to volunteer their services in maintaining the physical body of an ultra marathons quest to conquer the Spartathlon.

One of the cruelest and toughest road races takes place from Athens to Sparta to commemorate Pheidippides quest, 2500 years ago, whom reached Sparta (36 hours from departure) to request the help of the Spartans! This is a 246 km run against the forces of nature and man himself. By the athletes side was an exceptional Chiropractic team, which offered their services and gained knowledge from such an elite athlete. Through extreme temperatures of heat in the day to a wet wintery night, the athletes and volunteers alike were unstoppable! Seeing all kind of problems from back pains, fatigue, dehydration, muscle cramping, painful tight muscles, exhaustion and mental fatigue, etc. We did our best and made our services known within that community of athletes and physiotherapists.

I would like to thank George Giannopoulos, Michael Kalinderis in joining me to represent the Hellenic Chiropractors Association in this historic event. I would like to see more volunteers in the future and for it to become an annual event!