With the Big Game just days away, Northeast College of Health Sciences is spotlighting the growing role chiropractors play in the performance and health of elite athletes, including those in the NFL. Every team in the league now has at least one chiropractor on staff, underscoring the increasing prominence of chiropractic care in professional sports.
According to the Professional Football Chiropractic Society, NFL chiropractors provide 30 to 50 treatments weekly during the season, collectively administering nearly 29,000 adjustments over four months. These treatments aim to optimize players’ performance, aid in recovery, and reduce injury risk.
Northeast College has become a leader in training sports chiropractors. Through its Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) and applied clinical nutrition (ACN) programs, students develop expertise in movement assessment, rehabilitation, and personalized nutrition—key components of athletic care. Alumni of the college, like Dr. Jose Balseca, have excelled in the field, working with athletes on global stages such as the World Games and international sports competitions.
“Athletes are realizing that chiropractors offer a proactive, whole-body approach to healthcare,” said Balseca, who has treated athletes from over 30 countries. Balseca holds multiple advanced certifications and serves as an assistant professor at Northeast College, sharing his experiences with students by organizing events such as a tour of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.
Northeast graduates have also made headlines in professional sports. Buffalo Bills team chiropractor Zachary Musial was nationally recognized in 2023 for being part of the medical staff that saved player Damar Hamlin’s life after a cardiac arrest. Other alumni, such as Joshua Kollman and Nevin Markel, serve with the Carolina Panthers, while Brad Klueber collaborates with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Penguins.
Beyond football, chiropractors support teams in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and even extreme sports events. Dr. Balseca, for example, has served as the event medical manager for Nitro Circus motocross competitions and has worked with soccer and basketball teams near his Pittsford, N.Y., practice. Curtis Bell, another Northeast alumnus, leveraged his applied clinical nutrition degree in his role as athletic director for the Vancouver Canucks after serving with multiple NHL teams.
As chiropractic care continues to redefine sports healthcare, Northeast College graduates are leading the charge—helping athletes achieve peak performance and sustain long careers.
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