Chiropractor serves as team doctor at World Figure Skating Championships

April 12, 2010 — Anthony J. De Luca, DC, recently served as team doctor for the Great Britain and Republic of Georgia ice dancing skating teams competing in the 2010 World Figure Skating Championships in Torino, Italy.

DeLuca administered to the ongoing care of Sinead and John Kerr, the seven-time British Ice Dance Champions from Scotland; Allison Reed of Warren, N.J.; and Otar Japaridze of Mt. Laurel, N.J., who skated as a team on behalf of Georgia.

“This was an exceptionally high-level event that deserved the very best support,” says Evgeny Platov, coach and choreographer of the Great Britain and Georgian teams as well as a gold medalist in ice dancing at the 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics and four-time World Figure Skating Champion. “I’ve been working with Tony for years and have the utmost faith in his ability to deliver the quality care that these world-class athletes require. He has supported my teams at several other international competitions and in every instance demonstrated a level of professionalism, compassion and efficacy that immediately gained the respect and trust of all my skaters.”

A Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician and personal fitness trainer with a certificate in sports rehabilitation, De Luca helped each skater throughout the championships to maintain and improve flexibility, while also working with them to alleviate the cause of any number of back, calf, ankle, hamstring and musculoskeletal problems, which are extremely common in the sport of ice skating and dancing.

“I deeply appreciated the honor of working with these skaters at the world championships,” said DeLuca. “It is a significant challenge that pays endless rewards. Although these services were provided free-of-charge, my efforts were repaid by knowing I at least played a small role in helping these phenomenally dedicated athletes compete at the highest possible level in one of the sport’s most prestigious ice skating competitions.

“As for the future, it is my goal to work even harder and one day represent my profession as a member of the medical staff working with our athletes on the United States Olympic team. In the meantime, my everyday passion is to help the people within my community, no matter age, size, fitness or skill level, to overcome physical challenges and achieve optimal health and wellness. ”

In addition to working with Great Britain and Georgia at the 2010 World Championships, De Luca has also served on the medical staffs of numerous teams participating in leading international sporting events. This includes serving as team doctor for the Great Britain and Georgian national teams participating in the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles, Calif., as well as team physician for the Israeli team competing at the 2007 World Skating Championships in Japan and the Great Britain team entered in Skate America 2006.

Other notable sporting events where De Luca provided his medical expertise include the ongoing tournaments of the Professional Bowling Association, the Garden State Games and the Race for the Cure.

Source: Anthony DeLuca, DC, www.dfccares.com